Republican political consultant Angela McGlowan, author of "Bamboozled," is profiled on today's Culture page. She says she was inspired by her father, James Thomas McGlowan, who died when she was 12:

Her father, a Methodist minister and educator born in 1915, worked to improve educational opportunities for blacks in segregation-era Mississippi, then worked during the civil rights movement to promote integration.

"He helped build a bridge between the black community and the white community. ... He brought hope to the hopeless and desperate," Ms. McGlowan says.

Along with the importance of hard work, Ms. McGlowan also learned from her father the importance of helping others.

"He brought pride and self-worth to people," she says, "and one thing that I do today is, no matter how successful I am -- especially as a woman and a person of color -- we have got to reach back and help others."

As might be imagined, Ms. McGlowan disapproves of the comments by Don Imus that earned the radio host a two-week suspension. However, in a press release today, Ms. McGlowan says the Rev. Al Sharpton -- whom she interviewed for the book, and who has publicly denounced Mr. Imus -- should be consistent in his criticism:

"There is no doubt that Don Imus was wrong and should be held accountable. But what of our own people? Gangster rappers and others use this language every day. To not hold those people accountable as well would be a double standard. So if Sharpton is going to ask Imus to step down and call for a boycott of Imus' show, then he should boycott all radio stations playing gangster rap."

-- Robert Stacy McCain, assistant national editor