Rachel Noerdlinger is the Executive Vice President of Communications for Reverend Al Sharpton and National Action Network and President of Noerdlinger Media.

People often ask me how we are able to launch public relations campaigns against major media franchises and machines. My phone lines, email inbox, Facebook and Twitter accounts are inundated lately with questions about how Reverend Al Sharpton and the publicity machine that I head up for him instantaneously stay on top of issues like Rush Limbaugh, like Don Imus and like countless others. The truth of the matter is, we aren't a massive conglomerate spinning the press, nor do we own portions of corporate media. Rather, the work we do is nothing more than grassroots activism that through the years has been able to establish a voice for African-Americans, for the downtrodden and for all progressive people.

In 2007, we immediately went to work when CBS/NBC on-air personality Don Imus uttered disparaging remarks regarding the Rutgers women's basketball team. As a Black female, I was beyond offended, shocked and frustrated with such openly degrading statements. And as a Black female, I was equally as troubled when right-wing talk show millionaire Rush Limbaugh most recently interjected himself into a bid to purchase the St. Louis Rams. This is the same man who made racially charged statements about Donovan McNabb and who equated the NFL to a game between the Bloods and the Crips. For a controversial, divisive figure like Limbaugh to juxtapose street gangs with a sport where the majority of players are Black is simply intolerable.

Quickly contacted by the NFL Players Association (who themselves rejected any notion of Limbaugh), Reverend Sharpton sent a public letter to the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell voicing our shared concern. Three days after Reverend Sharpton's letter to the Commissioner, the group vying to purchase the Rams sacked Limbaugh in what was truly a victory for all Americans. It was a triumph for everyone weary of his hate-spewing rhetoric and insensitivity that has oversaturated radio, media overall and public discourse.

I'm frequently asked how we spearhead such massive efforts on a shoestring budget and with minimal financial support. How we affect change, highlight marginalized issues and fight for justice. The truth is, we have worked tirelessly to leverage relationships in television, print, radio and new media that enable us to expediently get our concerns out in the forefront. Reverend Sharpton himself has three radio shows, and nearly 50 chapters across the country that allows us to counter some of the extremely vile right-wing propaganda. As a single, African American mother who, like many in my community and many like-minded individuals, is repulsed by the incendiary messages trafficked by folks like Limbaugh and Imus, I am committed to working tirelessly to push the message forward when they go too far.

Many people are unable to understand why the Reverend, the community (and I) fight these men for the offenses that result from their toxic form of entertainment. The answer simply is that it must be done. These men possess a massive following that blindly hangs on to their every word. If we do not serve as a reminder of how reprehensible we find their inflammatory dialogue, then their points of view will become validated by our silence.

Limbaugh and Imus profit from demonizing those that are not cut from the same cloth. And because of that, they fear the people in our nation who work tirelessly to unite and improve race relations. And when men of this caliber have no defense for their blatantly troubling actions, they resort to accusing Reverend Sharpton, the National Action Network and those who disagree with them of race baiting-when they in fact are the true culprits of prejudicial behavior.

The overwhelmingly positive response we received during our campaigns against Limbaugh and Imus indicates that the public agrees with us, and that the majority of people are ready to move beyond this type of archaic division. Reverend Sharpton, National Action Network and I may not have the power of a massive entity like the conservative movement backing us, but we have truth, conviction and the support of the people - and that in and of itself is all we truly need.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rachel Noerdlinger.