09
Apr
Imus: Some of His Best Friends Are Black
Please forgive me for weighing in late to the latest Don Imus hate speech controversy, but frankly, if I raced to my computer to post every time the self-styled “I-Man” said something stupidly offensive I’d never have time to breathe!
Incidents of Imus & Co. “crossing the line” with hateful comments meant to be “funny” are now so numerous that each new occasion is met with as little newsroom interest as the latest ‘dog bites man’ account – it just ain’t new, so it just ain’t news.
Last year at this same time, for example, I was forced to condemn what I termed “the mugging of Jill Carroll by the pathetic likes… of Don Imus,” and to “wonder if Imus’ racist, homophobic and idiotic producer Bernard McGuirk would like to repeat his disgusting suggestion that Carroll may ‘even be carrying Habib’s baby’ now?”
Nor is it news to any that Imus-enablers – all official, card-carrying members of America’s High and Mighty, drawn largely from the corrupt nexus of Big Politics and Big Media – regularly worship at the House of Imus, genuflecting before his ratings and kissing the bigot’s ring in exchange for airtime to promote their latest book or campaign for their latest office, while conveniently and hypocritically ignoring his repeated expressions of rampant racism and horrible homophobia.
Once again the I-Man is back in full public apology mode – and this time he’s resurrected one of the most laughable explanations of all – the old “I can’t be a racist, because some of my best friends are black” excuse. Or to quote Imus directly, “I’m not a white man who doesn’t know any African-Americans.”
And Imus not only knows blacks – he helps them too! He claims his involvement with the Imus Ranch, a working cattle ranch for children with cancer and blood disorders in New Mexico — where, he says, “ten percent of the children who come to the ranch are black”–- as a yet another excuse for his hate spewing.
Finally, in case that’s not enough, he quickly adds another old canard: “What’s the big deal? Lighten up, everyone, don’t be so politically correct — I was only joking!” Appearing on “The Al Sharpton Show” –- Sharpton, who has his own troubled racism-and-redemption history, has now become the go-to guy for celebrity racist expiation — Imus said, ”Our agenda is to be funny and sometimes we go too far. And this time we went way too far.” He also claims he’s “a good person” who made a bad mistake.
On his own radio show, Imus added that he’d finally learned his lesson. “Here’s what I’ve learned: that you can’t make fun of everybody, because some people don’t deserve it,” he told millions of listeners on the nationally syndicated program. “And because the climate on this program has been what it’s been for 30 years doesn’t mean that it has to be that way for the next five years or whatever because that has to change, and I understand that.”
I’d like to believe you understand, I-Man… I really would. But I can’t, because we both know you’re only saying these things because you have to, because your earlier mea culpas didn’t succeed in quieting the storm of protest and outrage. You are a serial racist and a homophobe and you won’t stop because you can’t stop, and because “going too far” is precisely what brought you a large audience and concomitant fame and riches in the first place.
No, expecting Imus to change his spots is a waste of time. So is calling for him to “resign or be terminated immediately,” as James E. Harris, president of the New Jersey chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, demanded on Sunday. Imus won’t quit and he’s bringing way too much money to corporate America – the show is broadcast on more than 70 stations and simulcast on MSNBC, the NBC cable unit owned by General Electric — for his overlords to fire him. Instead they have taken the timid way out by suspending his program for two weeks, effective April 16, in obvious hopes that the sordid affair will blow over.
Of course, his corporate handlers and their hired mouthpieces predictably backed away from Imus’ characterization of young black female athletes as “nappy-headed ho’s.” A spokeswoman for CBS Radio, Imus’ employer and the owner of his New York radio home WFAN-AM, said the company was “disappointed” in Imus’ actions and characterized his comments as “completely inappropriate.” And another, speaking on behalf of MSNBC, said the network considers Imus’ comments “deplorable.”
But the amount of money pouring into CBS Radio’s coffers, and the thirty percent ratings climb attributed at MSNBC to Imus, ensure that he won’t be permanently banned from the “public” airwaves any time soon.
So what should be done? For once the best approach to hate speech appears to be less speech – at least by the representatives of Big Politics and Big Media who regularly appear with Imus. Why not force them to shun him? Why not picket their offices every time they appear on Hate Radio Six Sixty? Why don’t we try shaming the likes of Tim Russert and Brian Williams of NBC, Frank Rich of the New York Times, et al for aiding and abetting hate speech? (Evan Thomas of Newsweek, who went right back on the Imus Show this week without even batting an eyelash, saying, “I have been going on the show for quite some time and he occasionally goes over the line,” is obviously beyond both shame and redemption!)
And while we’re at it, let’s do the same with the politicians, from John Kerry to McCain, who all-too frequently sit in on the joke with the I-man. Or do they all agree with his assessment of the jigaboos and faggots?
You said it youself: “it just ain’t news”
In fact, it’s bloody boring.
Sharpton, Jesse Hymietown Jackson et al.,
hypocrites, the lot of them.
YYYaaaaawwwwwwnnnnnnnnnn……
April 10th, 2007 at 12:18 pmSame as usual, the White man is horrible, however rappers and other thugs can be as racist as they want to, and you will stay silent. Kiss the boots of your masters.
April 10th, 2007 at 12:30 pmYou can say anything you want about your own mother, but god help anyone who calls her a ‘ho, even if she is one. That’s the difference between rappers calling themselves and their folks N’s and you all know it. Besides, these young ladies did nothing but succeed - so why the vitriol? Does he talk that way about John McCain or Andy Pettit?
April 10th, 2007 at 12:58 pmUh, thanks for a comment that so nakedly betrays your own racism, Bob McBob. In trying to parse out the logic your of statement, this is what I got:
1. This is no big deal, the “White man’s” racist remarks offend me not a bit.
2. Unnamed rappers and “other thugs” are free from criticism for their, again, unspecified acts of racism.
3. Other less courageous white people will “stay silent” and not protest the tragic dimensions of this purported double standard.
4. “Kiss the boots of your masters.” This one’s incredible. Is the “White man” the slave of rappers? Are all fine upstanding White men serfs to a Black aristocracy running the country? What the hell does that statement mean?
Last time I checked there wasn’t a single rapper with a nationally syndicated radio and television program whose fawning guests include Senators, Congressmen, and some of the most influential journalists in the world! I’ll grant you that this story isn’t that big of a deal, but only because it’s more of the same old crap Don Imus trots out day in day out.
To suggest that this is evidence of a white man being unfairly trampled by his black masters is the height of absurdity. Do you actually think black people run this country? Pardon me, but are you an idiot?
April 10th, 2007 at 12:58 pmThanks, your column is spot on. A consumer boycott of sponsors would be a clear message.
Hmm, yes, “bloody boring” and “same as usual” for anyone who’s not the object of hate speech, verbal and physical assault, and much more. Would these cynics be willing to exchange their gender, race, and immmigrant status for even a week? If men were raped as often as women, would it be a non-issue? And BobMcBob, sorry two wrongs don’t make a right. That’s the way — along with wannabe ‘hip’ apathy — to Rwanda and Nazi Germany.
April 10th, 2007 at 1:05 pmWhat does it take for Imus to get the message raging racist remarks are so 16th century? The Manichaean madness unleashed by the Bush mob has dulled the senses of many on-air personalities like him and Rush Limbaugh. It’s become a propagandists’ feeding frenzy based on ugly racist and sexist remarks. These vile talk show hosts go out of their way to outdo each other in the outrageous quotes contest. This “with-us-or-against-us” infantilism is embarrassing, if it weren’t so tragic. Grown-ups simply don’t behave like this. The American public is poorly served when the only thing coming over the airwaves is one grievous insult after another. This is why the rest of humanity truly believes we’ve lost our collective minds. Imus is an evil, nasty troglodyte. I don’t know why anyone of a civil nature would bother listening to his malignant brand of cruelty. Imus is a racist, sexist earsore — a serial abuser with a megaphone. It’s time for him to go. Black folks like me are fired up and can’t take any more of this double standard insanity. We’re just sick and tired of being sick and tired.
April 10th, 2007 at 1:09 pmLordy be,
This has got to be the pot calling the kettle black. I hadn’t heard about Imus until now, your latest email, and I have to say that we all could do with turning off the radio and TV etc.
I watched Imus once and turned him off. I listened to Bush, too. I turned him off too.
This is a side show taking the heat off what’s important.
It just goes to show that what is important even the brilliant amongst us is to stupid to see, and it ain’t radio Disc Jockeys like Imus.
April 10th, 2007 at 1:59 pmSo Imus says something stupid and his
April 10th, 2007 at 2:35 pmratings go…. up. Too bad the reverse
is not true, he’d be dropped like a hot
potato.
Does anyone else recall the saying “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words can never hurt me”???
April 10th, 2007 at 3:00 pmAh… the good old days are long gone. When do start making certain words illegal for certain people to use in refering to certain categories of people??? One of my favorite rap groups is Nappy Roots! Am I allowed to use that group’s name in public??? They seem to me proud of their “nappy” heritage. Anyway -there’s a huge double standard in our society when it comes to such language. Sharpton & Jackson do zero service to their community by pouring fuel on these little fires. I’d never defend what Imus & Bernie said, they offend me often, but words are only words & people need to lighten up :) Peace Out!
Oh yea… I wonder how many people would have even heard the remark on the show in the first place & how many MORE have been offended thanks to our lovely media.
April 10th, 2007 at 3:08 pmHmm…I wonder what important news in on the back burner while they spend all this time inflaming people & ensuring the MAXIMUM number will have a change to be offended by old Imus.
Do any of you who’ve posted here actually watch or listen to Imus’ show?? I rarely agree with the points of view on that show, but their interviews & most news coverage is more in depth than most of what’s out there. That may not be saying much given the quality of any TV news source, but the point is most of you obviously don’t watch the show b/c the content is NOT all hate speech…unless I’ve been watch a different show than others.
April 10th, 2007 at 3:18 pmWhat Imus said was deplorable and stupid…
There is simply no around that fact..
However, who’s the first guy to ask for Imus to be fired?
That’s right, the good reverend hypocrite, Jesse Jackson, who two decades ago called New York City,”Hymietown,”
Some might say Jackson has a lot of Chutzpah!
April 10th, 2007 at 3:19 pmI think there is certainly a double-standard for white people in comparison to black people. An older white man is an easier target for the black community than a black rapper flashing the “bling” and smacking “ho’s” on a video on MTV or BET. How can a rational person say it is ok for either one?
I am old enough to remember 2-Live-Crew and the older rappers but the art of rap has gone by the wayside like a washed-up comedian reduced to shock jokes because he has nothing funny left to say. They is why rap recordings from wanna-be gangsters no longer sell millions like they did a few years ago.
I am also old enough to remember Shawanna Brouley (however it was spelled) and how Sharpton claimed this girl was raped by white men and excremented on, a story that later turned out to be a hoax.
Why did nobody bring this up regarding this debate? I don’t remember Sharpton being held accountable for his part in fanning the racial flames. Why is an off-hand comment a bigger deal than this?
Sharpton and Jackson are publicity opportunists and it is past time that the black community find spokespersons that care more about people of color as opposed to caring about keeping their names in the news.
For what it is worth, I am white but have dated black women. I tend to think they liked me because I didn’t treat them like “Ho’s” like some of their former black boyfriends.
April 10th, 2007 at 8:36 pmRory suggests that politicians and media celebs should shun the Imus show.
Something easy to do at the grassroots is to complain to local radio sponsors of Imus in the Morning, e.g., in Syracuse NY, sponsors of Imus on Clear Channel’s WHEN AM 620 include the SUNY Onondaga Community College; the Native American-owned Oneida Turning Stone (gambling) Casina;
CPAs; Legacy Ford auto; several local Nationwide auto insurance agents; a chiropractor; Pat’s Limo; Oneida Savings Bank, et. al.
Clear Channel also owns Syracuse WSYR AM Radio, which airs Rush, Beck, Hannity, Levin and Noory, but no lefty pundits.
Again, it’s a wonder that the local Syracuse WSYR sponsors of the rightwing pundits (like Dunk and Bright furniture; the public Centro/CNYRTA bus authority;
April 10th, 2007 at 8:48 pmthe county OCRRA public trash incinerator; Fuccillo Autos; et. al.)can continue to ignore their consumers and taxpayers, who voted large for Sen. Hillary Clinton, Gov Spitzer, and ‘04 candidate Kerry.
Who are the largest consumers of rap/hip-hop music… including… Gangsta Rap?
And who owns the media corporations that produce RAP music?
Blacks are the entertainers but we are not the primary consumers nor are we the owners of our product. But yet we are everything that’s wrong with America!!!!
These same corporations own IMUS!!!!!
Who’s really selling and profiting from hate?
I think the Rutgers Team needs to bypass IMUS and meet with his show’s owners. Take it up the chain to the top.
Are they accountable to the public for what they doing to our public airwaves?
Rappers don’t get to talk to Tim Russet and John Kerry!!!!!!
They are shunned by public officials and always used as the example of everything thats wrong with America!!!!!!
We are the thugs, criminals and the worst that America has to offer….but IMUS is a good man who did a bad thing?
I have freedom of speech but I cannot go to my job and call anybody a “nappy headed hoe”. With my position comes responsibility. A shock-jock can say whatever his listeners want to hear on Sirius but not on live tv sitting next to someone who wants to be regarded as a public leader or serious journalist.
How different are we really?
IMUS thinks he his comparable to gangsta rapper and Tim Russet sits and laughs with him on the show— how are they so different from the people they condemn?
The only difference I see is the difference in power and PRIVILEDGE that they have INHERITED but not a difference in character or substance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 11th, 2007 at 11:53 am“You can say it but I cannot?”
I propose a national hate speech day because there seem to be a lot of people bothered by the fact that they cannot publicly say the N-word and other forms of hate speech.
We need to empathize with these people.
It must be so difficult to be forced to hold all of that hate inside..
We must be allowed to be free … to be free to hate.. who we wish when we wish because ultimately that is what being a free society is all about…
That’s the lesson that we need to pass on to our children for future generations and that is the lesson that we need to pass on to the world as we spread democracy.
If the Iraqis could learn this, they would certainly come closer to reaching our standards for civil society.
I could imagine this being McCain’s campaign speech.
April 11th, 2007 at 12:16 pmGreggie,
I agree.
There is a double standard, we need to give a gangsta rapper a nationally syndicated show and Tim Russet and other media big-wigs shouldn’t shun him. They should come on the show and laugh at his potty mouth as they talk in-depth about important issues of the day.
Certainly, if they can be cohorts with a former coke head, drunk — they could find something in common with a former drug dealing, pot smoking rapper who makes millions of dollars shocking audiences (just like IMUS) and who also does charity work as well (Snoop Dog comes to mind).
Sit back and take some more time to reflect on the double standard idea if you truly have an open mind.
April 11th, 2007 at 12:32 pmWhat a farce! Imus is an old jackass, so what? He said something stupid and insensitive, he apologized a hundred times, he got fired. Congratulations, Angry Black People! Your Don Imus Prize should arrive in your mailboxes in a few weeks. You can put it on your mantle next to your O.J. Prize. Meanwhile, all of you fools haven’t done anything to improve the state of race relations in this country except participate in a media circus that, in the end, will accomplish nothing. It won’t change your lives when Imus is off the air. You never even knew who he was before this mess. It’s time for the people in this country to stop behaving like angry mobs and THINK about what is going on! Stand up for common sense and denounce hypocrisy, you sheep! Protect first amendment rights, no matter how much you disagree with a comment or stupid phrase. If he slandered the women of Rutgers, then that’s their fight, not all you bandwagoneers, and DEFINITELY NOT AL SHARPTON’S! Don’t get me started on that idiot. Should Jesse Jackson be forced to step down from his post for saying “hymietown”? Why don’t all of you haters clean up your own houses first before you try to clean up everyone else’s? Thanks for turning a cruel, insensitive attempt at a joke into a really big one, P.C. America.
April 12th, 2007 at 1:30 pmHi all!
May 6th, 2007 at 10:54 pmYou are The Best!!!
G’night