As a black man (or any man for that matter) you should not tolerate disrepect against women (any woman) such as that. Now there are people that say because SOME rappers disrepect women with their misogynistic lyrics, that we shouldn't be focusing on Imus but dealing with the rappers. Now I agree we do need to address that. But for the record people are addressing that. The media chooses not to publicize it as much (do you remember when they had a protest in front of the record companies and rolled over the CD's with a bulldozer). I'm not here to address whether firing Imus was appropriate. I just want to address people saying that we shouldn't address what he said because there are people in our community doing similar things (i.e some rappers). That's almost like saying, let me cut off your left hand ,since someone in your community already cut off the right one. Ridiculous!
To say that we shouldn't be making a big deal about Imus because we have "bigger" problems and the rappers talk about women is ridiculous. That's like saying because you have problems in your community, and if someone slaps you in your face or disrespects you in anyway you shouldn't worry about it. Why? Because you have problems in your community?!... and because you have problems in your community you have to let people disrespect you?!... because you should be focusing on the problems in your community and not worry about the people that are slapping you or disrepecting you, because they are not apart of your community. Doesn't make sense does it?
The truth is, what Imus said is just as important (if not more so) than the things that goes on in the Black community. It helps to perpetuate stereotypes and adversely affecting self esteem (not to mention how you are viewed by others). Self esteem plays a big part as to why SOME rappers and others disrespect themselves and their women in the first place. If you look at history it is clear that self esteem is a big part as to why we are in the position we are in. Minstrel shows would not be tolerated in todays time. And neither should a talk show host be tolerated calling Black women "Nappy Headed Hoes". This man interviews dignitaries, heads of states on his show and he's calling women Nappy Headed Hoes! Not only should WE be saying something about that, everyone should.
As a man, if your wife were called a nappy headed Hoe. Would your response would be, I'm not going to be offended because I have to worry about the rappers!... Because the rappers are the whole worlds problem! Well if you did that you're probably not married (and if you are God help your wife, you spineless ....). Or better yet, how about if Imus said I want to ejaculate on your nappy headed daughter's face? Would that be enough to make you focus on him?... Because what he said, gave me the same visceral reaction as if he said something that disgusting about a family member. It's pathetic.
A big part of history and a big part of the problem is the public humiliation/self esteem, that went on with the minstrel shows and the like (black face, watermelon, etc). These sorts of things have hurt our country and Black people in particular. Knowing anything about Black history is knowing that this was a big part of what has affect the self esteem of many African Americans in this country. More importantly their self worth, which allows them to talk about themselves in that manner (i.e rappers misogynistic lyrics). Allowing these sorts of behaviors to go unchecked (i.e Imus calling Black women, Nappy Headed Hoes) perpetuates the self hate, if you will. THEY ARE ALL CONNECTED. And thus BOTH need to be addressed. One is not more important than the other. You can't say... ONLY address rappers and not someone saying disrepectful things such as Imus said. That's not a distasteful joke... last I checked Imus is not a comedian. And even if he was... This is absolutley important and don't let anyone tell you any different. I do hope that this event helps us focus more on how we are portrayed in general, not just with rappers, but in Hip Hop, movies, news... in the media in general.
Dr. Hunt