April 11th, 2007
Don Imus
I have read a lot of excellent blogs on this matter and have watched 2 leading black Reverends, Sharpton and Jackson will lead the way to ensure Imus feels pain for his sexist remarks. Wait was not it racist, perhaps, but we are nappy, so are some Jews, Greeks Italians and Imus. According to a south side of Chicago hair stylist and many of her customers, nappy means not looking your best. These children were playing basketball, looking your best is not required. Winning is the goal and these young ladies did win enough to play for the national tittle. They are students in a fine university. They are our best and I am proud of them and what they represent.
Let’s consider some black folk that white folk are fond of; Is Condalesa Rice, a nappy-headed ho? Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, how about Star Jones? Is Laura Bush a ho? Barbara Bush, The Bush twins? Offensive, you bet? Why are not more white people upset? Because they think of it as a black thing, If Imus had picked a curly haired Barbara Bush to call nappy headed ho, Imus would already be fired. Agree? so the term is offensive but the target was not offensive.
I saw the attractive Rutgers team captain and her attractive teamates face the press. What an ordeal to go through because of a hateful comment. I noticed the color thing again. I have offended some readers by talking about some light skinned blacks being confused. Imus reffered to it as jigaboos vs the wanna bees. As in wanna be white. Imus was more comfortable with the Tennessee team because of skin color. I did not watch the game but many people have told me the Tennesse team is made up of light skinned women.I wonder if light skinned blacks are offended? Many times the house nwords have the same attitudes about color and hair as the most racist and stupid white people
Here is the root of the problem. On July 23, God spoke, “I am ready to pass out good looks and brains.” God continued, ” Where is Don Imus?” The reply Imus is out of the room, God said ” well he should be back when we pass out ugly and stupid!” Imus born on July 23, 1940 has gone through life being ugly and stupid. White folks that have been told all their lives how ugly they are, try to look down on other races so they will feel better about themselves. Imus’s stupidity has surfaced this pass week.
Despite all that, I do not think he should be fired, A year long suspension would be deserved and a major fine to provide educational opportunties for poor black women to attend Rutgers would benefit some young black girls.
I have concern about, affordable housing, job discrimination, police profiling, poor inter city schools, fighting a war in Iraq, sending more young black boys to jail rather than college. Perhaps attitudes like Imus are the reason for the racism in our land. Let’s punish Imus but focus on bigger issues that can help the black and poor community more so. Keep Hope Alive.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Brilliant JD, I couldn’t agree with you more. Let’s not focus to much energy on a disc jockey and focus on the issues that matter, though I do think the punishment should be swift and severe.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
thanks Latimer, it is time to move on but I am surprised more white folks are not upset by the sexism
April 11th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
JD - Right on point. Personally I think that Imus should be fired, but, I can respect your thoughts on a 1-year suspension.
I think that the press conference by the Rutgers coach & team did serve to move the discussion more towards sexism. I sense that more white folks are beginning to understand the hateful nature of the comments on the Imus show.
I was glad to see that major corporation in my town (Procter & Gamble) pulled their funding from MSNBC today.
peace, Villager
April 11th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
As did Staples and that is where Operation Push can help, Hillary spoke out today and I may be wrong about firing him. I spoke to a leading black politician last night and he said Imus must go as well. Thanks for coming by
April 11th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
It’s not the first time he’s behaved in this manner and obviously was never taught a lesson. Fire him maybe he’ll learn…maybe not but why tolerate such disparaging talk!?
April 11th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Hello Jim,
I, too, have read many articles and listened to many diverse perspectives about all the controversy Imus has created with his sexist and racist rhetoric. Imus must go.
Imus has a documented, well-established pattern of making inflammatory remarks directed towards women. Hence, his tardy, disingenuous apology is not enough. He must be held accountable. With power comes much responsibility.
It’s unfortunate that such a divisive situation as the one Imus has created has revealed so much about how we as Americans still can’t agree on what to do to effectively protect our women from the arrogance and ignorance of men like Imus.
Alas, Imus is not the first, nor will he be the last, insensitive person to let the words from his mouth harm our women. So, what’s the next step? As Dr. King stated, “Where do we go from here.” Obviously, we can’t go back.
As I post this comment, Staples, Proctor & Gamble, and GM has withdrawn their financial support from the Imus In The Morning Show. It looks like Imus’ days are numbered.
April 11th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Tisha, I am beginning to feel Imus will be fired and it will be a good thing. As I mentioned, if he referred to the presidents’s curly haired mother as a nappy haired ho, he would be gone now
April 11th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Manchild, I feel you, your outlook is from a ministry stand point and few are more forgiving than men of God.
April 11th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Hello Everyone,
Hear this message, it’s very important…
Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer spoke Tuesday about radio
commentator Don Imus’ remarks about her team. CNN Source!
“Would you have wanted your daughter to have been called that?”
“It’s not about women’s basketball, it’s about women”
“It has never just been a basketball game here for us.”
Coach blasts defense Imus uses that his show is just comedy
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/10/coach.comments/index.html
April 11th, 2007 at 8:16 pm
I like term is offensive but not when placed on a particular target.
I want to see the women get paid.
I want to see Bernard go too.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
There are a few reasons why I believe Imus needs firing:
1. He’s paid to think and talk, and he failed on both.
2. He’s paid a lot of money to walk a thin line as a shock jock. With money comes risk.
3. He’s a majority and made an offensive remark about minorities. That’s unacceptable.
What disappoints me most about this situation is the usual screams of ‘double standards’ from those who wish to ignore that double standards are what put us in this position in the first place.
I decided to take a different approach and post a comic about Don Imus on my blog because words totally escaped me.
April 12th, 2007 at 4:33 am
Once again I agree with Doug, and Jim I also think you took an interesting angle- talking about the “ugly Imus” and they way he took his own insecurity and feelings about himself and lashed out on the often targeted black race. It was a very low and immature move and I’m glad Al Sharpton made him feel an inch tall when he went on his show.
April 12th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Rev Jim, The young women handled themselves with class and dignity. It has to be hard to be in the spot-light over such an ugly matter. Coach Stringer is indeed a leader and has a team of achievers on and off the court. That is an accomplishment even more so than winning a game or championship
April 12th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Credo, well put and I agree. I think we need to make sure these talented girls are given opportunity to reach their potential. If they are presented opportunity they will succeed and make money.
April 12th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Doug, thank you for commenting on this important issue. I will check out your site today. Nappy headed is not offensive, Doug you could be nappy headed, the word ho, which is the same as the word c-nt. It was sexism at it worst
April 12th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Kimberly, thank you for commenting, I think when the Rutgers women’s team meets with Imus they should bring their fathers.Let Imus explain to these fathers why he calls their little girls hos
April 12th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Thanks, JD. I agree that the literal meaning of the words are not racial; however, Imus admitted that he made the joke with racial overtones within the context of the joke.
He’s a jerk, always has been. His shock-jock antics have included jokes about several races and religions for a long time, this time someone finally challenged him, though.
I believe in Freedom of Speech, but I also believe in Freedom of Silence and Freedom to Fire.
Regards,
Doug
April 12th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Doug, I know his attempt was to put down the Black race. He used the Rutgers team as a conduit for expressing his hate. I think if he only spoke about nappy heads he may have kept his standing. The ho word, another word for c-nt, made white women additional victims of his hate. I am glad a strong stand was taken.
April 12th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Hey JD,
Yes, Absolutely these young women
handled themselves with class and dignity from Rutgers, Coach Stringer
and many more, really everyone can
only adorn life in these young women.
Watch how God will use His love in Coach Stringer, these young women and many more by His wisdom
and understaning to right wrongs done to women everywhere, using truth and kindness to overcome
Don Imus spuring of hatred comments and the likes of his attitude everywhere.
Yes a wonderful woman was my Mother,
then comes my own Wife now 33 years, and God has blessed us with Four wonderful Grand Daughters.
None of us would even have and opportunity to say Amen unless we
adorn woman in life. She is to be Respected is my view always and forever.
Wisdom says, don’t through the baby
out with the bath water. The Love of
God is the Most Powerful Force In Heaven and Earth. His Word IS Good!
Remember, God could even use Paul,
Once his heart was righteous in God
Almighty. Here is Example of how God
will even use this real ugly deed in
the midst of mankind one to be an overcomer.
http://bronzetrinity.efx2.com/
April 13th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Jim, A powerful voice offering hope and reason. This chapter of our current event life is coming to a close. Thanks for sharing
April 14th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Imus has been racist for a long time,
“While radio shock jock Don Imus was hanging up his cowboy hat and getting canned Wednesday from his MSNBC TV show and then Thursday from CBS for a racial slur made a week earlier, the Washington, D.C., organization Media Matters for America was scratching a notch on its belt.
In its third year, the non-profit with 50 employees and a budget of $3 million to $4 million was getting its biggest recognition so far for its efforts to “monitor, analyze and correct conservative misinformation.”
Over three years, and to the ire of the conservatives it targets, the group had reported some 15 other examples of racist speech by the popular in-the-Beltway host, as well as countless corrections to reports in major media outlets, from the New York Times to Fox News. But even it was surprised that the Imus incident was the spark that caught fire.
“We were the first to draw attention to the comments a week ago,” said Jamison Foser, the organization’s managing director. “We focused a great deal of effort to make sure that people understood this wasn’t an isolated incident, as he was claiming afterward.”
http://www.mercurynews.com/search/ci_5657612?nclick_check=1
April 14th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Jo, thank you for the comment and the link. I urge all the read the Mercury news.com piece. It is very eye opening. Racist are all around us and it is right to hold them accountable for their actions. Yet we have black people that want to use this Imus situation to put down hiphop stars. Let’s fight one battle at a time.