That's why Sharpton sounds disingenuous when he claims, "The issue for us is not and has not been the person of Don Imus. It has been the use of the airwaves to blatantly promote sexism and racism." After all, if he really wanted to crack down on sexism and racism, he'd have to start by condemning black rappers, who are by far the biggest purveyors of hate speech.
For proof, take a look at the top of the "Billboard Hot Rap" chart this week. Columnist Michelle Malkin did, and she points out that the top six rap songs in the land contain lyrics demeaning to women or blacks in general. In his book "Enough," journalist Juan Williams asked, "Has anyone seen the civil rights leaders at the head of a march against bad schools or a boycott against the minstrel acts and sex, beer, and gangster images that are promoted as authentic black identity on Black Entertainment Television?" The answer, of course, is no.
Rappers claim that it's different when they insult women. "[Rappers] are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We're talking about hos that's in the 'hood that ain't doing sh--, that's trying to get a n---a for his money. These are two separate things," Snoop Dogg insisted in an interview with MTV.
He needs to take a lesson from Coach Stringer. "To utter such despicable words are not right, whether spoken by black, white, purple or green, male or female, tall or short, skinny or fat, whatever, it is not right. It's time for everybody to reflect on what is going on. Oh, it's time, ladies and gentlemen, it's been time.”
Imus reminds us of that. As these women go on to successful lives, he'll go on as a "shock jock" at some other radio station, saying outrageous things and then trying to avoid getting fired. Ten years from now, he'll probably envy the success the Rutgers graduates are enjoying.
"Here at Rutgers University the Scarlet Knights are just not playing basketball games; we're preparing for life. We're preparing for leadership roles in societies," Stringer says. One lesson her players should learn from this is that there will always be foolish people out there. People who attempt to cut you off on the interstate. People who lie to get ahead (or just because they enjoy lying). People with hate in their heart.
These people can't stop you. That's a lesson for all of us.