By Jeff - April 11, 2007
Part of the problem in writing content for a web site before the site is “live” is that you sometimes miss the boat on current issues. As in, the event comes and goes before your content sees the light of “cyber-day”. That being said, I really feel the need to comment on the following topic. Rest assured that as I type this on April 11, 2007, the issue of Don Imus (yes, I’ll recap in a minute) is far from settled.
The issue – WFAN morning “shock-jock” Don Imus made the comment “nappy headed ho’s” on his radio show, while referring to the Rutgers’ Women’s basketball team. And now the whole world is calling for his firing for this “inappropriate” comment. One of the Rutgers ladies claims to be scarred for life from this insensitive slur.
Before jumping in – let me make the following “disclaimers” or “claimers” regarding this issue.
1 – When I worked at the local radio station (years ago), one of the treats of working midnight to 6a.m. was getting to listen to “Imus in the Morning” from 5:00 – 6:00 a.m. when the ABC-News feed came from New York. While listening one morning, Imus said the funniest thing I have ever heard on radio (which I will not repeat here). I was laughing so hard, that I could barely talk when my song was done.
2 – The previous note should give you insight to Don Imus. That fact that he said something that I cannot repeat (and this would’ve been about 15 years ago), should tell you that Don is a shock jock. He is paid a lot of money to create that uneasy laughter from people who are so shocked they can’t believe what they just heard.
3 – If you have ever heard him, like him or not, you must admit that Don is a very intelligent person. He banters (and clashes) with the Washington power brokers and newsmakers, and can hold his own during the course of discussion on any topic.
4 – That being said, from a social, gender and racial standpoint, Don Imus is a bonehead, always has been a bonehead, and will always be a bonehead.
There – now, let’s hop in:
I have heard Don Imus’ “nappy headed ho’s” comment in its original context (which is more than most people calling for his head can say) – and the comment was inexcusable. There is no way that it can be justified, other than complete stupidity.
Should Imus be fired for it? I don’t believe so, and here is why.
While his comments were damaging, I submit that far more damage against the “black community” and women is being done by the black community itself.
If you look at statistics, you will find that Imus is broadcast on 90 stations nationwide. According to recent information from Arbitron (the radio industry’s ratings bible), Imus has a weekly listenership of 3.25 million + about 335,000 on MSNBC. By and large, anything Imus says, with the exception of items that end up in the news like this one, is heard only once. It isn’t run again the next day, or in syndicated reruns like “Friends”.
In contrast, looking at the record sales of Fifty Cent (or Fiddy Cent, as he is know by the “in” crowd) and Snoop Dogg, you will find that these two have combined for sales of more than 30,000,000 discs (yes, that’s THIRTY MILLION). I single them out because they are notorious for repeatedly using the words “Ho”, “Bit*#es” and “Nigga”. Unfortunately, they are not alone. They are among of cast of thousands in the rap world that are using this language, and have been doing so, unchecked, for years. (Don’t get me started on the topic of double standards – that is a topic for another time)
Keep in mind, the songs on these discs aren’t heard just one time (how many times do your kids listen to the new, cool, disc?). These songs are heard hundreds of times by kids ranging 10 – 15 years of age (and older too). These children, boys and girls alike, are being inundated – or perhaps indoctrinated – that “ho” and “bi*#h” are acceptable terms for women. Little boys learn that this is how you treat women if you are “cool”, and girls learn that they are nothing more that this.
When you compare the two, Imus’ comments pale in terms of lasting damage done to the black community. And set aside the black community for a moment, because kids of EVERY color are listening to Snoop Dogg and “Cent”. This is not just a black issue. This should be an outrage to women of all races and status, yet, there seems to be very little.
Reverend Al Sharpton, a leader in the crusade to can Imus, indicated that this is only the tip of the iceberg. He has said, on record, that he will be going after rappers and the companies that promote them next. I hope he does. And rest assured, I will hold him to it (like I have any real power) and if he doesn’t you will hear about it on the soapbox.
That’s the Soapbox for today. Thanks for reading and have a great day.
Jeff
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