Thanks Don

Thank you, Don Imus
For reminding the world of your
Particular style of
Tourette's Syndrome...

You had the nerve to call
Sistas getting' degrees some
H-O-E's as if they made
Pleasure and cheese
On their knees just to please
Their P-I-M-P's...

Thank you Don cuz you reminded
A blinded absent-minded world that
We shall overcome
Shall never be overdone...

You had the audacity to call
Athletic sistas nappy headed
As if that's to be dreaded
As if nappy headed was a Time Machine
Filled with Un-LED-ed
Takin' strong Black intelligent Black women Back
Into slavery and Aunt Jemima commercial breaks
While watchin' “Raisin in the Sun”
And “Good Times”


Thank you Don cuz you reminded
A blinded absent-minded world that
We shall overcome
Shall never be overdone...

It wasn't enough, Don,
That these were and are current success stories
Overcomin' the usual mandatory horror stories
Like baby mama drama they pour me on Maury's,
You had to attack their mentality
And sexuality in a sick slick attempt
To make them jiggaboos with stiletto shoes
Sippin' ten-dollar booze on urban avenues
Waitin' for crews to give her the blues
Twenty dollars at a time

It wasn't enough, Don,
You had to toss out a statement
Interpreted by those in the struggle
As a 2K version of
“Know yo' place, niggers!
Don't fly to close to the sun
Or your waxen wings will melt away
From the glare of haters
And the heat from honkeys hankerin' for yesteryear"--
How they used to call you mammy and sally
But never Ms. or Mrs. or Madam
And definitely never College Graduate...

But this note is to say thank you, Don,
For reawakening a segment of
The Community
Long sleeping on the abundance of
BET, MTV, PS3 and cell phones,
Of garish ghetto rims and over-sized fitted brims
Of pierced navels and virginities on pre-teens in tight jeans
hungry for Apple Bottoms but starved for Knowledge
Of bodies with tats but minds untapped,
Thank you for that, Don

Thank you Don cuz you reminded
A blinded absent-minded world that
We shall overcome
Shall never be overdone...

Thank you, Don—and good luck on finding a new job.
The sad part is
With or without
Public voice
You will always have an
Audience.