DIOCESAN NEWS
04/27/07
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God used Imus to send message, speaker says
      CANTON — The recent firing of radio personality Don Imus for using a sexist, racist term popularized by some rap musicians should be a “wake-up” call for everyone concerned with racism, said Rev. Regena Thomas.
      “But what we need to do is grab onto our burden for this,” said the Black Catholic Ministries Day of Reflection speaker on Saturday, April 14. The two-day event was held Friday night and Saturday on the Holy Child Jesus Church campus and drew over 130 people.
Rev. Thomas, a former Secretary of State for New Jersey, pastors an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church in the greater New York City area.
She told those gathered Imus should have been punished, but feared his firing might end further discussion around the issue, especially in African-American communities.
“Can we expose ourselves, wake up ourselves and say that this is our burden if the man can stand up and say, ‘They call themselves that.’ We have to look at the negativity we say about ourselves.
“We have to look at our roles in this issue, reflect on our inner selves, look at our part in it,” she said.
“There is no greater issue today than racism. We have become too complacent about it.”
God, she said, used Imus to send a message. “We must be willing to stop this travesty. We must go through tapes and CDs and wean our children off this music,” Rev. Thomas said.
“It is going to be hard, it is going to be lonely. Keep your money in your pockets,” she said.
Will Jemison, who was installed as the new director of the Black Ministries Office in a short ceremony Saturday afternoon, was pleased with Rev. Thomas’ keynote address.
“She made it clear that we must be engaged, must have new perspectives on everyday issues, and she gave us some things we could do,” he said.
“She didn’t want the issue around Imus to die with his firing, she didn’t want it to move away and be over with his firing.”
Jemison said 12 people from the Diocese of Jackson have registered for the 10th National Black Catholic Congress in Buffalo, N.Y., July 10 -15. The theme of the congress is “Christ Is With Us: Celebrating the Gifts of the Sacraments.”
“This is going to be a joint trip this time between the Diocese of Jackson and the Diocese of Biloxi,” he said. “We will be going in one group.”

 

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