In case you haven't heard the story, read Don Imus' comments here.
Women of African descent have it hard enough in this country without having to fight the continual perpetuation of -isms spouted by someone as ignorant and MAINSTREAM as Imus. "Rappers call women hos all the time, so what's the big deal?" whines Imus on Al Sharpton's show on Monday. Rappers put out an image where they're hoodish, uneducated, and ghetto. Nothing is expected of them. Are Imus' role models rappers, now? When Imus, so casually in conversation, refers to those young ladies as hos, that's on a whole 'nother level. I appreciate the points a call-in congresswoman made on Al Sharpton's show: "Those young women have fought hard to get where they are and maintain at majority-white Rutgers. They made the team, made it to the playoffs, excelled academically, etc. only to have it torn down by this ignoramus (not her word) with a microphone over the airwaves with millions of listeners." Imagine their life on campus now? They're a huge spectacle. EVERYBODY'S talking about what that man said about them. On the show, Imus gets flustered. "I can't get anywhere with you people." YOU PEOPLE?! There, he said it folks. The old 'you people', which separates us from his people. Many a listener was waiting to hear him slip and use the n-word.
It's wrong for black folks to say ni66er, but it's d@mn sho' wrong for a white person to say it. It's wrong for a rapper to call a black woman a ho, but it's d@mn sho' wrong for a white person to say it. And heck YES we can hold them to a double standard. We bend over backwards to meet multiple standards on a daily basis with regard to ourselves and in comparison to them. Remember the old, "We have to be twice as good?" That still holds today, so double standards abound.
Michael Richards' apology meant nothing to me and neither does Imus'. It's appalling that he even wants to go talk to those young ladies, too. And say what?! What Richards and Imus did are not equal to me. In my blog about Richards, my premise was who cares about Kramer? He doesn't have a national audience. He's in no position to hurt us. He isn't spreading his excrement across the airwaves. Not so with Imus.
Just like allowing white people and others to use the "n-word" is making it more innocuous, allowing the mainstream use of the word "ho" in reference to us is on its way of becoming the same. Soon television will be full of SNL skits & sitcoms referring to us as hos. They're alluding to rappers' use of the words as the excuse, too. If they've taken to emulating rappers, why not imitate the positive ones? Are we truly becoming a Ghettonation and as someone lamented, the degeneration of society begins when the upper classes begin to imitate the lower classes? (Imitate the educated vs the uneducated.)
After Al and 'dem take care of Imus, let's move on to rappers and stop the madness. That way, no one will have an excuse for racism or misogynism.
»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»
Read about his initial comments here:
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=3016648 Read highlights from his appearance on Al Sharpton's show here: http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/scandals/imus_on_sharpton_show_i_cant_get_anywhere_with_you_people_56617.asp
Read about his suspension here: http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/scandals/nbc_cbs_radio_suspend_imus_for_two_weeks_56650.asp
Rutgers players agree to meet with Imus: http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/ny-etimus0411,0,2365073.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines (Best story I've read surrounding the incident.)
 | Currently listening:
Strange Fruit
By Billie Holiday
Release date: 30 September, 1999 |
|