To: Covenant_in_Action@yahoogroups.com
From: sharon howard <sharonhoward05@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:09:11 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: [Covenant_in_Action] Re: The Imus remarkHi Danielle,
I just wanted to take a moment to respond to you specifically. You are right about some of our homes and all of that. However, we must be careful to not fall into the trap of blaming the victim (ourselves) or falling victim to a mentality that is inferior for us. We are the descendants of Warrior Women Candace, of ancient Africa, Sojourner Truth, and more recent Marian Wright Edelman.
Our victory is in the fact that we always find a way out of no way and as for Europeans like Imus.
I believe all of their remarks stem from their need to debase us to make themselves look better. The categorizing of us with racial designations began with Linnaeus in 1753. The German praised for the system of taxonomy (the scientific naming) process. His process also included naming Africans as less than humans and do not forget the Constitution.
Civilization writing, science, math began with us and since Euros have traditionally been the pillagers they must justify their madness.
We need to start thinking like the majority people of the world which we are
Sharon Howard
Danielle Blanks <dblanks@luc.edu> wrote:Okay, I just have a couple of comments and after this, I promise I will put this whole Imus thing to rest because I think he has gotten way too much publicity anyway. My thing is this:
The problem begins with us-
1.) In some of our homes that are broken by poverty a lack of values, kids grow up with an ethic that allows them to create derrogatory music in the first place. This culture then influences everybody- it's highly visible and powerful
2.) A lot of us young women use speech in which we refer to each other as b's and h's
3.) We tend to have an overall lack of respect for ourselves, which is evident in the way we treat each other
4.) People value money over everything else in our society. The ability to make lots of it- no matter the personal cost- is always the goal
Now, since we know the problem begins with us and begins at home, is it just me or does anybody else think that we ought to begin to tackle the problem with ourselves instead of boycotting all the white people in the world who attempt to disrespect us at the green light of our own artists. I mean, it's cool to talk about Imus and the rest of them. But, at the end of the day, what can we actually DO to initiate the change within our own behavior, language, and communities? Some women are walking around here scantily clad and the men are calling them bad names because of this in a verty public way. There is no respect, no regard for anybody but self. This is then reflected in the music.
Should we hold the radio stations accountable at a local level for playing this sort of music? Should we hold BET and MTV accountable for playing the videos? Moreover, how do we reach the actual artists who create such music? In a world where nobody respects anybody anymore, how do you get them to listen? Who could talk to them? I know they are all rich and famous and whatnot, but, this is just a thought. If we could somehow reach the artists who have the power of influence, we could begin to change the culture. I know that's almost impossible, but, just out of curiosity, does anybody have any suggestions as to how we could reach them if at all?
>>> <psojornr@aol.com > 04/11/07 2:14 PM >>>
FROM : PSOJORNR
ONE WAY TO ADD PRESSURE IS TO TARGET THE MONEY MAKERS,(BET) AND RECORD PRODUCERS. I BELIEVE WE HAVE THEIR ATTENTION ,LETS KEEP THE PRESSURE ON.
-----Original Message-----
From: bcorley15@hotmail.com
To: Covenant_in_Action@yahoogrou ps.com
Sent: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:19 AM
Subject: [Covenant_in_Action] Re: The Imus remark
In response to the issue at hand, I want to begin by putting race to
the side for a moment. It is disrepectful for a man to refer to a
woman as a ho, plain and simple. If your job is that of a radio
host, you should be aware that every comment you make must have some
thought behind it. You are a public figure and cannot say whatever
you want to say just because you felt like saying it. I heard
someone trying to defend Imus by saying he makes disrespectful
comments towards people of all ethnic backgrounds. Does this make it
right? Not at all. The sad part about this is that the majority of
people are focusing on the "nappy head" part and completely ignoring
the "ho". This has turned into a race issue. While it was a racist
statement, it was also a sexist statement. I have yet to see a major
women's group speak out about the sexism involved in the comment.
Its all about race. While we as people need to work on the racial
divide of this nation, we not forget about the sexist society we live
in. As long as women are treated as lesser people, all oppressed
will remain oppressed.
Now, lets talk about these rappers. Trust me, no one in the music
industry really cares. No rapper is sitting at home thinking "I need
to stop calling women hoese." You know why, because they are getting
paid millions of dollars to make it cool to call women hoes. Since
Kramer lost his mind and said nigger 100 times, no major rapper has
decided it was time to eliminate that word from their vocaulary, and
they won't stop saying ho because Don Imus used it. I wouldn't be
surprised if someone came out with a song called 'Nappy Headed Ho' in
the next few weeks. Music won't stop. Black people won't stop. Not
because of Don Imus. I think it is possible, but I would be
surprised if anyone is talking about this issue on May 1.
--- In Covenant_in_Action@yahoogrou , margo coulyrtps.com
<coulyrt@...> wrote:
>
> 04-10-07
> I emailed the SAME sentiments: While what happened IS
deplorabe;does
> it mean that if Blacks call each other bitches,hos,nigga',dog, etc
that THAT'S
> okay because we're NOT white????? I absolutely agree that enough
IS
> enough and I'm thoroughly disgusted that our perception is so
wacked out
> that we practice 'Situational Ethics' or morals ....YES we NEED
to clean our
> house. I cannot understand how these terms are okay depending on
who's
> using them. No wonder our children are behaving the way they are.
We have
> allowed the standards of self-respect, caring and not to mention
our faith go
> down the tubes. I am angry that black men do not respect us but
I'm also
> upset and angry at the sisters who think the only way to get a
man's attention
> is to show everything they have (regardless of your size) .
> This whole thing should make each of us take a look at ourselves
as well.
> What kind of music do we listen to , purchase, movies, how's our
speech
> when we are angry, how do WE dress, all of us have work to do. I
also agree
> that if we/girls/men/ etc, refer to us in that fashion what can
we expect others
> to do.Most people learn by example. What examples are We setting
for ourselves??????
>
> Margo Coulter
>
>
>
> psojornr@... wrote: This is just another example of
our inner demons coming to the surface to haunt us and embarrass us
again. If we call ourselves( and i mean those women who use these
terms), "hos" and "bitches", what do we expect white folk to do?
Respect begiNS at home African Americans. Black women struggle
enough with self image, why do we allow this image of us that is
displayed On BET to continue. In addition to chastising Imus, we
should do as the BIble says 1 Cor 11:28, But let a man examine
himself..... if we would do this, we would mount up with wings like
eagles instead of chickens, and speak to BET and any other people or
persons that promote the image that we are speaking about. Why must
the Black woman suffer humiliation any longer, we beatify ourselves
for nought, because we have no men that honOR us or cause others to
honor us. THE IMAGE ON BET MUST GO. I URGE EVERYONE TO WRITE A LETTER
TO BET PROTESTING THAT HORRIBLE IMAGE AND STOPPING
> THE PROMOTION OF MUSIC THAT DEPICTS US AS "BLANK BLANK BLANK"
>
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