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On Imus, Race & Freedom Of Speech
Once again, the issue of race has been re-ignited.
And, once again, women, and certainly black women, are defending their right to "be".
When radio shock jock Don Imus referred to members of the Rutgers Women's Basketball team as "nappy-headed hos", I was disgusted but not surprised.
The first time I was ever called the N-word, it was by a guy in the gym that was angry because I was using a piece of equipment that he wanted to get on. The last time, was 4 years ago.
Both times, (and the 2-3 times in between) I wondered what point they were trying to get across.
The answer was, by virtue of being born with this color, they thought of me as inferior.
As an African-American woman, I have experienced the pains of racism and sexism. They are with me everyday as I make my way through a society that constantly tells women, they are not as worthy as a man, and as a black woman who has been told that her brown skin, her hair, her nose, are not as beautiful and definitely less desirable than her white counterparts.
Don Imus' comments remind me of the time when a news director told me that the audience would never connect with "a black" in a role of authority on a television show.
My girlfriend, a gorgeous ebony-skinned sister who models, expressed to me that Don Imus reminded her of the time when a modeling agency told her she would never grace the covers of mainstream magazines like Vogue or Bazaar and that she should just submit her portfolio to Essence magazine. One of my best friends, who is Jewish and has three beautiful children by an African-American man, said Don Imus' comments reminded her of the day her daughter came home and told her that a white teacher asked her why she came to school with her hair so nappy.
No matter if the comments come from a teacher, news director, or a shock jock, they reinforce the notion that certain groups of people are inferior and that those differences should be criticized and not celebrated.
Here in America, we have freedom of speech. But, we are also a country that people risk their lives to reach because we have told them - and proven - that we are the greatest country in the world.
And abusing that freedom of speech only diminishes our Greatness.
i DO NOT THINK iMUS SHOULD BE FIRED, EVERYONE KNOWS HE IS A SHOCK JOCK. AND ALL THE MEDIA NEWS ON THIS SHOULD STOP. I AM TIRED OF IT.
What he said was not right. Shock Jocks say stupid things everyday. HOWARD STERN uses the N word daily. He is never singled out because he had a black woman side kick...
As a new female member of corporate America, I know exactly what you are talking about Shaun. It seems that disrespecting women is the norm, not the exception. We have a long way to go.
I too were disgusted by Imus' remarks. I do not in any way shape or form condone his remarks. However, I find the media to be quite hypocritical. Hateful remarks towards women are often ignored. They are not given the same level of importance as racist remarks.
You know what the “funny” thing is about the entertainment and sports industry? This is how they deal with bigotry: "Let's see how bad it gets. If no one says anything, we’ll maintain the status quo. Let’s see how many sponsors leave, or how many viewers get angry, before we do anything. "
I am glad that people are speaking up. If we just ignore this type of behaviour, that behaviour becomes more acceptable. These people who say objectionable things need to feel the backlash of the public. Hopefully, this will result in a change of mentally.
There are double standards though: why is it that when someone (ie rappers) say derogatory things towards women (that do not belong to any racial or religious group in particular), it goes by without punishment. The public outcry and punishment should be the same.
Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson wrongly accused the whole Duke La Crosse team of rape last year. This was a college team, too. These were college kids and that defamation ruined young lives and financially ruined their parents! What is going on here in this country?
How come NBC calls on Sharpton and Jackson as "experts" in racial matters? Why are they still on NBC?
Put Imus back on!
This is a dark day for America. (no pun) Althought Imus's comments were insensitive, he has first amendment rights. Nobody is forced to listen to him. He is no more insulting than Malcolm X used to be or current rappers. I would like to know who made the decision to sensationalize Imus's comments? It didn't even involve the sacred N-word! For the Rutgers coach and players to say his comments "ruined their season" is ridiculous. Everytime there's an opportunity to play the race card Sharpton is in the forefront fueling the fire. It's no wonder that blacks have not earned equality when they continue to use racism as an excuse for their insecurity and lack of progress.
Imus doesn't represent mainstream whites anymore than skinheads do. I resent the blacks intolerance.
The black community should show this much passion about really important matters like black on black crime, drugs, fatherless children and education. So a shock jock was fired and the black community still has Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson as their "leaders". And pleeasee, those Rutgers girls couldn't care less about what he said until the media got hold of the story and TOLD them they should be outraged. Now they need therapy to get over it. What a circus and as usual Al Sharpton is leading the parade. You can put him in a suit, but he is still a race baiting moron who does not deserve the respect he gets from the black community. Or maybe he does.
Double standards? Yes.
Would the public outcry have been the same if he only called the players "hoes" and not "nappy-headed hoes"? Maybe.
Is it wrong to fire Imus? No.
Imus is obviously not the enemy - he's just a silly guy that said a stupid thing. He is the flavour du jour - nothing more.
However, the public outcry is a positive thing. I do not think that the world will suddenly be a better place, but hopefully, it is a sign that people are ready for a change and that people will no longer tolerate any form of bigotry. Is this just wishful thinking on my part?
NORTH KOREA HERE WE COOME!!! Since when has supressing the 1st amendment ever been acceptable in the US? I'm sorry but if you don't like what someone has to say, walk away or, in this case, TURN THE STATION. The Women of Rutgers University Basketball team didn't know who he was before they were told. And I'm sure they were coached into agreeing with this media censorship...this is just so stupid.. I agree with Bill
As a black canadian woman, (born in the west indies) I was offended by the comments of Mr. Imus but these words like the N word, B****, Hoes are being kept alive by the rap music that's being played on the radio stations and sold in stores. I'm greatful to Rev. Jackson and others who came forward and said on behalf of Black people every where this is intolerable but I find it hypocritical to say it's intolerable if Mr. Imus says these degrading words but it's Okay if we as black people make millions of dollars insulting women in music and movies. Maybe it's lack of coverge in the media but, I would like to see Rev. Jackson and others publicly denouncing black on black crimes as loudly as they protest when a black person is in anyway wronged by another race. We should concentrate on getting rid of all the racial, sexiest terms out there and stop trying to convince ourselves that it's only O.K if we say it. If myself as a mom walk around the house swearing, I cannot e surprised if my children did the same. And if I did to discipline them for it, I would also have to look at myself because they are getting it from me. If I was blind the words would still bother me without knowing the race of the person it came from. At the risk of enraging my fellow men, this question comes to mind, If it is only acceptable for blacks to insult and degrade each other does that mean it would be acceptable if blacks decided they wanted to keep slaves. To the team that was so rudely insuled: turn this negative into a positive. Make the best of your new found fame. Now you have every one's attention, show them what you've got. Mr. Imus, you should NOT have lost your job. To blacks every where maybe if a man is to loose his livelyhood for this, don't stop at him, say we won't accept it from our own. If we showed more respect for our own race other races will respect us more.
Now that Al Sharpton And Jessie JACKSON Has made a big show and nation wide tv about Don Amus.ARE They going to APLOZIE TO THE YOUNG MEN AT THE DUKE COLLEGE. FOR THERE RACISTS REMARK.
hi,,i am a white woman and have been made fun of too,,called pug nose,hillbilly,and have also worked when men had a better chance at oportunity than i did, i did not pick fights or go to the authorities and complain,,we have freedom of speech in america and i would rather deal with the insults, and work harder at making my life better without going to the extent that sharpten and jackson do,,they incite,, imus didnt do a nice thing, but he didnt desserve to lose his job,,, i think now someone should bring sharpten and jackson up front and demand an apology from them,, but then that would go on and on wouldnt it???taking offense sometimes makes ones life more miserable than necessary.... i am for equality,,blacks and whites, we have a great country here,,lets appreciate what we have and live up to a higher conscience. thank you
This whole thing is a big Farse . Chris Rock puts whites down in Nearly every show he puts on . And calls them the F word . But were all supposed to be ok with that . and granted Chris Rock is very funny . But Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are nothing more than Hipocrits . And if you notice Nearly all of the news coverage is one sided . Don Imus was just doing what he does . And absolutly I`m sure of it meant no Ill toward the girls at rutgers . Also when this happened with the Kramer Guy . No one reported that the Black Guys in the audience were calling him all kinds of racial slur`s . But it seems Blacks can go around just saying what ever .
Rosie needs to get fired for all her comments as well
if offending the President of the US is not an insult, what is?
also, i would Al Sharpton to comment on those 3 innocent white men that were accused by a black woman/ where is their justice... where is he setting up the rally with the reporters
freedom of speech is not so free... i am not sorry for Imus, he can now go work with satellite/ but from now on FIRE everyone that is controversial &/or offending
no more "I am sorry"
hear that Rosie?
Do I think that Don Imus should have gotten fired? To be honest, i am not sure; however, knowing that this is not the first time he has made derogatory remarks about blacks, and other people of color, I do not feel sorry for him for losing his job.
And reading the blog that Ms. Robinson wrote, I can fully understand what she is saying. No matter how intelligent, or educated, or how well spoken you are, there are some people in this world that will think that because you are black, you are inferior. However, I am determined not to let that stop me from acheiving my goals in life.
yeah Im sure you all lost sleep over his joke! Give me a break people I hear songs with lyrics worse then that and no one goes crying to the media... and my neighbor who is black rattles off the "N" word like its nobodies business... everyone wants get on Imus case then you also need to check out almost all song writers who refer to woman as whores, skanks and many racial and offensive words and anyone on the street who use those lovely names... see i dont like that talk either but i have enough common sense to not listen to that kind of music and change the radio station... lets act like grown ups here and stop acting like this was a big deal
Don Imus will be back, maybe not terrestial radio but satellite I'm sure of that.
Dear Ladies
Just remember we are all children of God and it makes no difference what color of skin we have because one thing i know for sure that God loves me no matter what people say about the color of my skin.I hold my head high and proud because i am American ms. Kitty