W.E.B. Du Bois wrote in The Souls of Black Folk, “... the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line."

I have many questions and fewer answers.

Who are the victims here? The Duke students wrongly indicted for rape? The Rutgers Women’s Basketball Team? Deidre Imus? Gwen Ifell?

Why is it left to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to help us find our moral compass? Sadly, they have become racial ambulance chasers. Each competes with the other for face time on cable news.

Can’t the various media sources find women to comment? This morning on Today we were offered only Tavis Smiley and Cornel West trying to provide some analysis. Imus’ comments were racist but they also were incredibly misogynistic. Although I respect both gentlemen, I want to hear a woman's perspective.

Young white males buy more rap music than any other demographic group. Imus clearly knew he was validating a stereotype about African American women reinforced by popular culture. Why are African American women portrayed in such degrading ways? By the dominate culture and by other African Americans in the music industry?

The outrage happened not in a great tidal wave but as a slow burn. Why did it take so long for the authorities to exonerate the Duke students? Why do the wheels of justice turn so slowly? It was obvious months ago that the Duke students should not have been indicted.

Imus made his comments on his morning show about the Rutgers b-ball team on Wednesday, April 3rd. He didn’t apologize for his remarks until Friday, April 5th. CBS fired him yesterday (April 12th). Apparently, Imus didn’t think he stepped over the line until someone told him that he did. NBC and CBS only decided they would fire Imus once they examined their ledger sheets.

What are the lasting lessons learned by the 3 Duke students? In a convoluted way, they too are victims of the color line.

The Rutgers women, in a powerful way, spoke truth to power. Their quiet dignity and courage should teach us all a lesson. They brought down the House of Imus without raising their voices. Are Sean Hannity, Snoop Dog, Fifty Cent or Rush Limbaugh paying attention?

What would W.E.B. Dubois say about the beginning of the 21st Century? As the Duke students look across the color line, what do they see in their future? As the Rutgers women stepped over the color line, how many of us are willing to go with them?

I have many questions and fewer answers. Our country’s tragic legacy of slavery and racism is still deeply embedded in our public discourse.