So, NBC suspends Imus for this, yet NBC-owned outlets play gangsta rap that has lyrics that are far worse? Hypocracy.
I think the problem is that he directed this comment at someone specific. While it's classless for a rapper/entertainer to call one of his song's characters a ho, it's downright unacceptable for anyone to call a real-life college basketball player a ho just because of her "rough" appearance. A rough appearance does not make someone a prostitute or a ruthless money-grubber, so to make that assumption is insulting. And to make matters worse, Imus had to use the word "nappy," which is typically used to denigrate the hair of African Americans. So I think people (especially the Rutgers players) are justified in being upset, but the news coverage is pretty excessive.
I think that was the most offensive thing said. I'm not into rap or conducted any scientific research but I don't think many rappers use the term "Jigaboos" in their music.
its selective hearing by some people...thats the point. regardless of the rap angle (which was simple pointing out this one ladies selective hearing), this is an overblown story with no real substance other than a insensitive comment which was intended to be somewhat humorous. THe guys been doing this for what 40 years? and 'naggy ho's' will be his downfall>?
At the end of the day you have to ask yourself, would you be embarrassed if everyone knew exactly what you were thinking? Imus got caught thinking aloud and is embarrassed by it. When he looked at the Rutgers WBB team he didn't see runners up to the national championship, he saw nappy headed hoes. If someone had heard him say that privately, he would have denied it and most would have believed him. That's why this is important. People routinely think black people should get over the effects of racism, but when we try, people that we tend to trust (Imus, Richards) unfortunately let us down. It is what it is. "Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." -JFK
Imus' comments were incredibly racist (and this is far from the first time) and I sincerely hope that the pressure is ratcheted up until he is fired. The difference between Imus, and rappers that use equally offensive language, is that Imus is considered a legitimate member of the mainstream media (mind boggling as that is). He regularly has high profile politicians and reporters on his show. This gives the racist bs he spews an air of legitimacy. I mean how bad can it be if Joe Lieberman, Maureen Dowd, and Tim Russert yukk it up with him?
Shocker. Donkey doesn't think he should be held accountable because someone else did something similar or he has done this a lot before or something.
OK, once again, the issue is not rap and what a rapper does is not the equivalent of what Imus did. As Subtomic said better than I... The issue is that Imus was referencing real people and not as a general group, but a very specific set of people... black women on the Rutgers basketball team. Now, I, like many others, find the intentional insertion of characters like Al Sharpton a little annoying. But let's not let the disgust with rap in general or the mistrust of people like Sharpton cloud the issue. Imus called a specific group of college kids "nappy-headed whores." He did it intentionally and from the dialogue, it's clear he had no problem with it at the time. Did he mean this woman, a high school Athlete-Scholar of the year, majoring in music and proficient on the piano, sax, and other instruments? Or this woman, who's on the Conference All-Academic Team? Or perhaps this woman, the sister of Boston Celic Alan Ray? Yes, he meant it to apply to these women. And the rest of the black women on the team. However, he didn't mean it to apply to this woman, who is not rough or nappy-headed... The combo of specificity and racism is what takes this beyond the usual outrage over rap lyrics. This is not a lib-con issue. I don't know what Imus is and I don't care. He said something that, as AB said, reveals his true thoughts. I don't have any thoughts on whether he's a good guy or a bad guy or should be suspended or should be fired. I am, however, gobsmacked that most of the folks in this thread seem to be dismissing it so cavalierly. You wouldn't if one of those women he was referencing were your daughter, girlfriend, sister, etc.
I think a lot of it is recycled verbiage that goes back to the media it spawned. However, the "j" thing is pretty darn prejudice in its connotation so I question the motive here. That’s really all I'm saying DM.
No it doesn't. That's a really stupid thing to say. One stupid joke reveals his true thoughts ? You should just stop at "I don't know what Imus is." I'm so tired of people trying to judge him, then read from their little list of quotes taken from the past 20+ years... Do you know how many hours of radio that is? Where is the outrage when people call in to his show, and he makes fun of them for being stupid trailer trash? He makes fun of everyone, and sometimes it does go too far, as he said. Go back to what he said during Katrina or after Harold Ford lost in Tennessee, or others times he was being serious, and tell me he's racist.
Excellent post, AB. Imus is getting slapped for what he did, and deservedly so. He should have stepped on the other people in the conversation (callers? staff?), especially the guy that said, "The Jigaboos vs. the Wannabes -- that movie that he had." Damn... I haven't heard one of those words since I was a kid in the 1950's. Should he lose his job? I don't know... he's apologized. That's up to NBC. I've never enjoyed his show on MSNBC, but that's neither here nor there. D&D. Foot in Mouth.
you have an amazing ability to not understand what i say and apply your own meaning towards it. No wonder we never get to an understanding when we talk.
Yea, he's a rascist prick, but I still don't like the strict censorship thats taking place just for expressing his rascist beliefs. Let the market decide, not his CBS owners (or whoever owns him). I happen to think the only reason they are making a bid deal out of this is to set a precedent so they can get pressure for other radio talk show hosts who say politicaly incorrect things to get fired as well.
It wasn't a joke, it was a dialogue. And yes, I stand by my post. I don't know one person who would make the same "joke." I don't know one person who would refer to college kids who just achieved something great on the national athletic stage, "whores." And, when you're "serious" is when you're paying attention to what you say and when you know people are thinking about what you're saying. When you're relaxed and "joking," that level of self control is gone. On top of that, I don't think it necessarily needs to be one or the other. People are complicated. People do good things, bad things, and stupid things. I have no doubt Imus has done some good things and said a bunch of good things. That doesn't excuse or mitigate what he did say regarding the Rutgers Bball team. And again, I don't care what the outcome regarding Imus is... I'm just a little shocked that people can't see his comments were unacceptable and I really can't undestand why people are defending those comments.
i agree. i didnt hear that part, just the nappy part. I just dont think its fair to call them racist, like some see fit. Was it rude? yes. Improper? sure. racist? i dont think we can say that. But i dont really think that they were trying to insult these girls on a personal level. Everyone says things at times that come out poorly but was not done to be hurtful. "joke' gone bad, if you will. that being said, imus is known to be a huge jerk, but im not ready to burn the guy at the stake b/c this.
