My plight, your headlines.

Columnists around the country are firing off scathing commentaries about the Don Imus debacle this week, many focusing on the now former radio host’s choice of phrasing. Imus sealed his fate in three words—“nappy-headed hos”—and critics are quick to point out how these terms are degrading and insulting to African Americans and women. Certainly, it is discomforting to encounter such outright ignorance coming from a man whose radio show reaches millions of people, and firing Imus was really MSNBC’s only option (I’m just amazed it hadn’t happened sooner, as this was not Imus’s first racist-sexist slur). What is more discomforting is how the mainstream media has missed the mark in reporting the events. They are quick to attack language, but doing so is about as effective as trying to uproot a tree by pulling at its leaves.

The fact is (listen up, mainstream media), the Rutgers women’s basketball team has never had so much coverage in any season as they’ve had in this one. Suddenly, you, yes, you CNN, adopt these women to glorify your own outlet’s good judgment, its political correctness, its lack of racism or sexism or some other -ism. How many stories have you run, New York Times, L.A. Times, Kansas City Star, on black female basketball teams in the past? How many stories have you run on white male basketball teams in the past? Now compare how big those stories are, where they’re placed on the page and how many photos they have. See what I’m getting at here?

The media can clean up its language, avoid stereotypes, generally make sure not to step on anyone’s toes, and they can slam racists and sexists for being so, but acting horrified by the words keeps the focus on the oppressor, not the oppressed. It pretends that the oppressed are liberated. The media’s reaction in this case has helped to get Imus fired, and for that we should be grateful, but the attacks on his statement have further exploited women and minorities to mask the iniquities of every other day’s news. Racists like Imus are low-hanging (rotten) fruit: For just a moment, they give the oppressed and the liberated a common enemy. The liberated defend the oppressed, like a big brother’s gang swarming around a playground bully. The bully is silenced, and big brother and co. return to their side to congratulate themselves on being so good-natured.
As a woman, I would like to say to the big brothers CNN, Fox, AP, et al, on behalf of all women: Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not your damsel. My plight is not yours to share in.