I can finally rest easy knowing that a comedian was fired from his job for doing what he’s done for the past 30 years…comedy. Throughout his career he’s attacked jews, lesbians, blacks, Muslims, mexicans and whoever else that could be identified as a target for his oft offensive humor but it wasn’t until he went after a group of black women did his castle of cards come tumbling down.

He should have known better, never mess with a black woman’s hair!

I learned this at a young age when I accidentally (by accidentally I mean deliberately and mischievously) dunked my moms head into a pool and knocked of her waterproof swimming cap in the process. If it weren’t for her yanking me out of the pool by my neck I might have drowned, tangled in the mass of kink and knots that results when a black womans perm is exposed to water.

But even in that moment, after her hair had dried and inflated to twice it’s previous size, looking more like tangle weed roaming the wild west than human hair, I knew better than to ever refer to her hair as nappy. No sir. Don Imus had to learn the hard way. Meanwhile, Al Sharpton (ever the opportunist) leapt into the spotlight and nothing short railroaded the man off the air.

I’ll be clear about this. Sharpton had his point. Over federally regulated airwaves, there’s a certain precedent that needs to be followed if it’s going to exist. If it’s not going to exist, then everyone says what they want, a lot of people get their feelings hurt and the world still turns. Free speech for all! Either way, there are either rules or there aren’t. Imus’ argument that Jay-Z and 50 Cent are foul mouths, and that they too should be gone after, was a mistake. He played into Shaprton’s hands, who took the stance that Imus violated his role as an employee of a radio show which broadcasts over radio waves that are indeed federally regulated. There is no argument there. Don’t argue with the devil about whether or not you’re a sinner.

What I see happening here is a dangerous disrespect of other peoples rights and a complete disregard of accountability, all in the name of ‘anti-racism’. Imus said something stupid in jest. You can tell he wasn’t serious, and even if he was I don’t really get the ’shock’ of it all. If the advertisers pull their ads because of something Imus did, that’s one thing but I feel like they were bullied into a choice for fear of being associated with a so-called racist. I guarantee that the female members of that basketball team have been called much worse by their peers, at some point. Big deal.

So, yes, Imus deserves to punished for being stupid. I think that would have happened anyways, but Al Sharpton CRUSADED it. He marched in the room (as the champion of no one) and held his sword high to slay the mighty Imus dragon. He screamed racism louder than anyone else in the country, demanded the media attention and once again painted himself as the spokesman for black America.

Well news to Sharpton: My black America doesn’t like you. You’re old and out of touch with your own cause. Bill Cosby may take a very critical stance on black society, but in my eyes he hits the nail on the head much more often than you and deserves more than ridicule from his community. He ‘gets it’. We are becoming our own worst enemy. Sure racism still exists, but how many racists kill young black men and women every year through gang violence? How many racists (aside from Strom Thurmond) impregnate young black women then leave them? How many racists are stopping our kids from learning to use computers? How many racists are forcing our youth to live the hedonistic, sexist, violent lifestyle portrayed by hip-hop? None. It’s only the sense of dependency on the government (and dare I say white people) that is crippling our culture.

So what is the point of these hypocritical, unethical witch hunts he keeps going on? He’s exactly what’s wrong with black America as a whole today….taking advantage of systems put in place to try to reverse the problems in the country, a sense of blame that far outweighs our sense of responsibility, refusal to change and adapt with society. Sharpton isn’t a leader, he’s a dissident who takes all the wrong parts of the legacies of people like the Black Panther Party, Malcom X and Dr. King and uses them to incite riots. Unfortunately, the media is always far too willing to give this jackass a soapbox whenever he opens his mouth.

Where was Al Sharpton when Isaiah Washington called Patrick Dempsey a faggot on three seperate occasions? Where was he when Tim Hardaway boldly proclaimed ‘I hate gay people’ shortly after fellow NBA player John Amaechi came out as being gay? Where was he when several members of 50 Cent’s G-Unit posse allegedly beat down a 14 year-old boy? Stop abusing morality. Sympathy is not a well that can’t run dry, as the fable about the boy who cried wolf illustrates so well.

Imus said some regretful things that personally were not offensive to me. If Steve Harvey had said them this would not be an issue. Besides, Sometimes my hair is nappy, thanks for pointing that out, Imus! My elbows are ashy too! Got any lotion? This does not offend me and if it offended you should really rethink your priorities in life. To create as much of a stir, as Sharpton did, and to demand such attention to the issue, it only serves to undermine anything he may do in the future…which, god forbid, may be a legitimate cause.

Al Sharpton has a palely veiled agenda to promote himself, people like him and his polotics. He’s done some good, but these days he picks pointless fights that don’t always progressively serve the community. He presents himself as being a leader of people and an advocate of equality, yet his platform is obviously biased by the color of his skin. This is a problem when you present yourself to the world in a different light. It’s a bigger problem when the people you claim to represent don’t echo your views.

Visit StarkRavingBlack.com for more.