Beyond Imus, it's time to step up: disgraceful episode creates opportunity to reclaim our voice

The recent saga with radio host Don Imus exposed both the worst in America and the best in America.

His hateful language, callously describing the women of Rutgers University's basketball team in words I will not repeat here, reminded us how alive and well racism is in our nation. He casually used the public airways to throw around insulting terms as mere punctuation, and then had the nerve to blame it on Black folk. "The rappers," he insinuated, "made me do it."

But the immediate and complete response from the Black community--from the initial leadership of the National Association of Black Journalists, The National Action Network, The National Urban League and scores of other organizations--coupled with intense media coverage and overwhelming outrage expressed by many in White America showed that decency and civility can still trump hate and ignorance in our land.

In a moment, America said, ENOUGH!

But then, right after Imus, his supporters started pointing the finger at us. They tried to change the subject by equating what this shock jock said with what some of our artists express about our own culture. But we know better. The Blacker we allow this argument to become, the more we miss the larger societal issues.

While we largely consider these issues to be apples and oranges, we, nevertheless, still need to deal with the underlying reality.

We know that in our own communities, we still have much work to do. We know that we have quietly tolerated language and behavior in our culture that pulls us down, rather than lifts us up. We know that we have allowed our women--the most powerful force in Black America--to be defamed and dismissed to the backbeat of a catchy tune or provocative video.

Sure, this use of language is "in the family." The language expresses the authentic struggles and very real environments our children see. We have been through so much, and we have rightfully used our art to express that pain.

However, when we use words that hurt--describing women and children in terms that offend, or support imagery that denigrates and those who profit from it--we slowly sell our dignity and inadvertently give that permission to the Don Imuses of the world to cash in on our soul.

We can do better. It is time, Black America, to reclaim our voice.

We have this window of opportunity--as if a cultural tsunami crashed ashore during a storm that may forever change America's conversation around race. Right now, today, we in the media have a historic chance to do better. We can help lead and transform the conversation about race, diversity, inclusion and tolerance. Just maybe, we can actually encourage real, honest debate and respectful discourse that can transform America. In this, the media have an obligation to lead, and not just follow.

So Ebony magazine and Johnson Publishing Co. will be at the front of that charge. In the coming months, we will be pulling together an honest conversation within the Black community and beyond, where we will deal head-on with our culture's issues of language, sexism, and civility.

We will talk with leaders from the media, but this is not just a media issue. We will reach out to artists from entertainment and hip-hop, but this is not just a hip-hop issue. We will engage academics, social, religious and cultural voices, business and civil rights leaders, but we know that our issues are not limited to the power elite. We will get real, and we will do it with love.

And most important, we will invite you, our readers.

We know that there is so much about Black America that is strong, positive and hopeful, so much we can be proud of. We must refuse to allow others to define our voice and define us.

Yes, as tragic as the Imus episode has been, we may be seeing a turning point in Black America--and in America. Let's all step up and own our issues. It is time that we take back our images, our voices and our future.

A Commentary By Bryan Monroe

Editorial Director, Ebony Magazine

COPYRIGHT 2007 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning