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Topic: Should Imus Be Fired For 'Nappy 'Hos' Comment?
| Author | Message |
| nekalit | Posted – 4/9/2007 5:54:29 PM | show profile I disagree with the poster above. I don't know if he should be fired for his statements, but I do know that he's pretty irrelevant to politics. I'm not saying his "life" is irrelevant, but just his onscreen presence. Like, seriously, how many people tune in to his show and, excluding this past week, when was the last time he was even worth mentioning? |
| okai3000 | Posted – 4/9/2007 6:02:40 PM | show profile Somebody please explain.. If you can explain the difference between calling someone a nappyheaded 'ho' and a 'n-', then I'll buy you lunch. |
| schibry | Posted – 4/9/2007 7:12:22 PM | show profile Should Imus be Fired? This is still America and freedom of speech is still in the constitution, at least for now. Al Sharpton seems to want that freedom for everyone but whites. I heard the comment and the interpretation or context I understood the comment to be was one that Imus seemed to be expressing in jest how "tough" the Rutgers' team appeared on the court. If this comment was on SNL noone would have blinked. The comment was not slanderous nor said in malice. We have freedoms in this country, and we may not always like or agree with what others say or do, but that's what makes our country so different and great. |
| Kitt | Posted – 4/9/2007 7:34:07 PM | show profile Welll, he got a two-week suspension. That's fine with me. His comments were inexusable. This wasn't about free speech. You want to talk like this, do it in the 'safety' of your home, but not on the airwaves. I don't talk like this in the first place, and sure as h*ll wouldn't refer to a women's basketball team that had worked their butts off to get where they are as 'nappy-headed ho'es'. And - in that context, it is racist and crosses the line. Comeuppance will be humbling......jerk. Now! Let's move on to Bernie! |
| rimeiceland | Posted – 4/9/2007 9:22:40 PM | show profile way out of proportion and.... why is this all about race?? So he says the Rutgers team were "nappy headed hoes"? Hmm. Rather childish and disrespectful but not really racist. After all the Tennessee girls were "cute" ...and they have black players, dont they? Can only black people be nappy heaed? Im white and my hair is "nappy" most of the time! And doesnt anyone think the Rutgers girls can speak for themselves without being prodded by race baiting lawyers and politicians. Why all the racial outrage.. and feminist outrage for that matter? Does everyone need to feel "appalled and outraged" to feel important? It sure seems there is a constantly loaded spring of anger ready to go at the next opportunity. And the orchestrated zero-tollerance self righteousness is as transparent as thin ice that everyone seems to like waiting for the other guy to fall through. Besides the obsessive identifivcation with collective ego anger is really not healthty folks ; ) The most patronizing and condescending thing towards black people I've seen is the way Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton get on television so sanctimoniously and as if they had been hoping for another white shock-jock to say something shocking and remotely racial. Guess they had waited so long they had to take this instead, lolo. So they and a few other self-appointed spokespeople get on air and do what insecure and self important people love the chance to do ..... they demand apologies. IMUS! DONT APOLOGIZE!!! It wasnt a raicial slur or tirade anyway. If anything, Imus insulted big tough looking women with tatoos and wild hair...which is not the safest thing to do but why let it become a racial thing? Well, guess its too late. The desire on the part of lowest common denominator exploiting mouthpieces, who maquerade as black leaders but seem only to want to re-enforce racial identity through a focus on pain and outrage, as if that is how you know you are black, outweighted the reality that a shock-jock is supposed to ride a razor between unacceptable and irreverant and as with most razor rides, falls on the wrong side. Get over it. There have been very distasteful comments by dj's in the past. This was not the worst Ive heard and we dont ll need to be on friggin eggshells when talking about someone from another ethnicity. Heaven knows black comedians dont walk on eggshells! And before someone tells me "how dare you as a white man tell black people how to feel" , im going to say Im not. I just dont see this as the perfect trigger for the already laoded racial springcoil. Personally I think it was as inaccurate a remark as it was childish, but then most of what radio shock jocks say is. And im not intersted in censoring any hypothetical black radio shock jock who would call the SMU field hockey team 'burly brunhildas' either! If this is really that big a deal to anyone but the Rutgers team themselves, i feel sorry for your lack of resilliance. Furthermore, the social sanction of segmentary opposition is an interesting tactic but the one's who seem to exploit it the most tend to have their own personal image much higher on the list of priorities than the betterment of the segment they claim to represent. |
| Osaki581 | Posted – 4/9/2007 9:52:06 PM | show profile Sharpton in the House (a slight change in subject) Here's something to consider, for all of us, myself included who have no say in the matter, and who are not part of the black community, a serious question for African Americans, to which I'd really like to know the answer: does Al Sharpton have a Star Trek teleporter that zaps him to every podium within spitting distance of a racial faux pas, intended, unintended or imagined? Actually though, my real question for any black frequenters of the MB BBS, is this -- is Rev. Al really the guy that everyone looks up to and has anointed as their voice --> is he really the guy who speaks on behalf of you all? --> Or, did he just elbow his way to the front of the line, and say that he was? -->Now this is a question for all races who congregate here, does anyone remember a woman named Tawana Brawley? I'm only 28, and even I know who she was. The Rev. had this woman fabricate a story about being raped by a white cop because he thought it would make money and press. It did, except that the courts saw that the money should go to the victim of Al's slander, not to Al or the victim. Why have a carnival barker medicine man be the supreme representative of your community? There are plenty of educated, hardworking, intelligent African-Americans out there. All the Rev. Al's got going for him is cunning. Consider this analogy: Imagine if every time a Jewish person was discriminated against, the wider Jewish community allowed Jerry Springer to rush to a press conference and argue on their behalf. Imagine if every time a Hispanic was discriminated against, an indignant Pablo Escobar (I know, RIP) was up there making a speech. Or if the victim was Greek-American, someone like (the late) Anthony Quinn. Italian-American? Andrew Dice Clay. The point is, you allow self-promoting idiots like the Rev. Al and Charles Barron to represent you, guess who's not going to take you seriously? Your adversaries, and more importantly, the people in the middle you're trying to inform and recruit. |
| pkinuk | Posted – 4/9/2007 10:09:46 PM | show profile | email poster Should Don Imus be fired...No Way...Sharpton has got to go Don Imus Has anyone who wants Don Imus fired, purchased a hip hop record that contains similar lyrics to what Imus stated on his show? Well, why does the African American community still support and contribute to the financial windfalls of these so called "talented artists" with African American backgrounds. When in fact they have done an even greater misdeed?mindful and planned misdeeds using those same exact words. Compared to a person commenting in real time on a comedy show that lets him or herself follow the rolling dialogue in an ad hoc manner. Why is Al Sharpton "only" appearing to make such a strong case on behalf of African Americans...what about finally taking a strong stand for diversity with "true" equality? Or will he only stand for the rights of a few ?privileged? NACCP candidate cases. Al Sharpton has done more to create havoc than bring people to together. After all, USA stands for ?united? states, not the ?privileged? few African Americans. I believe greater good for the whole can be done by empowering Imus to stay. If you remove someone, we are not always better with the replacements. |
| Osaki581 | Posted – 4/9/2007 10:21:12 PM | show profile "..that the money should go to the victim of Al's slander, not to Al or the victim." That should have read "that the money should go to the victim of Al's slander, not to Al or the bogus victim." |
| sumwhiteboy | Posted – 4/9/2007 10:44:56 PM | show profile Clueless White Guy(s) So add Don Imus to the parade of clueless white guys who pass through his guest chair (from John McCain to John Kerry from Howard Fineman to Tim Russert). If patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels, then Al Sharpton is the last refuge of clueless white guys (let me see, since Jesse no longer has street cred, I'll go and take forty lashes from Al "Done Sold Out" Sharpton and everything will be alright with the world). Didn't Mel Gibson try something similar? If Imus were truly thoughtful about this, he'd recognize that we need a national dialog on race; his flippant attitude is a by product of six years of making everyone but those who are truly responsible take responsibility. Imus should own this, in the same way that he owns his other diseases, drug addiction and alcoholism. The real shame here is that Imus and his group o' white boys didn't care to consider that it's one thing to bash public figures who kind of expect that "ball breaking" comes with the territory. These were not million-dollar athletes, but kids who don't deserve it. Incidentally, no one seemed to care when the i-team was disparaging the female ball players as lesbians. So is this Gibsongate or RichardsScam? |
| Osaki581 | Posted – 4/9/2007 10:51:12 PM | show profile I didn't bring up Sharpton because I think Imus is not wrong for picking on a group of people he had no business picking on, or because I see his appeal (if you go to a wake you can see a corpse up close, why watch one on TV?) I brought them up because not enough people the question the credibility of the people who are assumed to have it -- white or black. |
| hty4some | Posted – 4/9/2007 11:09:14 PM | show profile Imus Is Stupid!! See people like Imus is why their is so much racial tension in the America! He is so stupid. As a radio host you know that whatever you say out of your mouth is your responsibility. He called those girls Nappy headed ho's and hardcore ho's. He is disgusting!!! Your words can bring life or death I dont care if you are on national radio, tv, or out in public. When you unleash venomous words out of your mouth be prepared to pay the price for what you say. I dont care if you say that this is his normal way of talking or thats just the way he is, people who makes remarks like Imus on a platform such as the one he is on must be very careful cause evrybody are not going to respond with words. Words have started all kinds of wars, look at history and see!!!! |
| taps05 | Posted – 4/9/2007 11:54:58 PM | show profile | email poster Can anyone say Black entertainment awards or BET t.v.? give me a break here. Imus's comments were not intended to be racial. However, I, 100% believe if we had white entertainment awards or WET there would be lawsuits everywhere. Imus would have just as wack comments no matter the race of the team. Quit backing him into the "I need rehab"corner for his comments! |
| domlot | Posted – 4/10/2007 12:01:30 AM | show profile Racism? NO WAY! This is in no way racism. A racist would not copy the comedic style of a race he hated. I've heard many black comedians use the same words and found it very funny. White Americans are emulating black Americans more and more bluring any lines of division. In that process the repeating of slang has been unchallenged with exception of the "N" word. Now nappy headed ho is being added to the tabu list? What's next? Using the word "Black" instead of "African Americans"? This is harassment by people who just want to be heard and attack Imus for his arrogance. If we are to be held by this standard let Black Americans set the standard. If not then let's tend to things that otherwise matter like Africa itself. DomL |
| DDAT133 | Posted – 4/10/2007 12:12:12 AM | show profile | email poster IMAS WHY SHOULD HE BE FIRED? THESE SAME THINGS ARE SAID ON A DAILY BASIS IN ALL THIS RAP MUSIC AND BY BLACK ARTISTS NO LESS.IT'S ONLY BECAUSE HE'S MORE VISIBLE THAT PEOPLE MAKE SUCH A BIG THING ABOUT IT. I'VE OWNED A LARGE SATELLITE DISH FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS AND HAVE RECIEVED NUMEROUS SIGNALS - WHAT THEY CALL LIVE FEEDS (UNEDITED FOOTAGE) AND I HAVE MUCH OF IT ON TAPE. WHAT I SAW AND HEARD BY BLACKS AFTER THE OJ SIMPSON VERDICT WAS READ WAS UNREAL BUT NOBODY SAW IT BECAUSE THE NEWS STATIONS WOULD NEVER AIR IT. I HAVE IT THOUGH- AND THIS IS JUST A SMALL EXAMPLE OF THE HUGE DIFFERENCES THAT EXIST BETWEEN RACES.THE GAP WILL NEVER ,EVER BE CLOSED.FACT IS, THE MEDIA DECIDES WHICH ONES THEY CHOOSE TO THROW GAS ON AND WHICH ONES THEY DON'T.IF YOU KNOW WHAT IMUS IS ABOUT AND DON'T LIKE HIM......DON'T LISTEN. |
| cabesa | Posted – 4/10/2007 4:53:31 AM | show profile | email poster From a person of African descent While I think what he said was racist, I don't think he should be fired. I don't think he should resign. And I don't think his show should be suspended. I think he should be forgiven, and Al Sharpton with his Reverend/Christian self should be taking a more forgiving approach towards you. #1 The comment he made (A Bunch of Nappy Headed Hoes), and the other comment in reference (The Spike Lee Movie Quotes), people of African descent have and continue to use such comments/slurs, to refer to others of the same, as insults. However you don't see any Afro-descendant/Black people having to loose their careers because they called someone else "A Nappy Headed Hoe". Even used towards someone within the same social race, it's still a racist comment. If a Black female was being verbally attached by a group of Blacks with that statement, no one's going to launch a crusade to see that the aggressors be humiliated or punished. Aren't we all human? Why aren't those comments taken as racial slurs when appliedtowards Blacks by Blacks? It's offending, nonetheless. Why is Al Sharpton trying so hard to see you go down? Is it because he's running for President? He needs publicity. It is well know that Sharpton has revealed his own racist sentiment towards whites with slurs himself. He has a track record and is well known for it. If If Imus steps down, Sharpton should denounce his candidacy for president because it would make no sense for him to represent a population where a feels animosity towards a larger portion of it. Sharpton is always presenting himself to be THE spokes person for all people of African descent in America, and he's not. His gesture implies as much generalism and stereotype as the racist comments Imus has been cited for. He's a hypocrite. #2 If it is expected that whites stop using or referencing these types of slurs/phrases then everyone else should, too. Including Blacks, specifically those who create Black/minority art forms that use these comment/slurs in their work (and the terms/slurs aren't always used in endearing contexts). This way, there will be no confusion as to what is politically/socially correct. Because the way Blacks use the same types of terms/comments among themselves, and the way today's youth, of all races, within certain urban sub-cultures use them amongst themselves, it's become very unclear and hypocritical to even expect that someone should feel bad for applying such comments, be it intimate or not. If Imus gets fired, or resigns, then every "Nigger/Nigga" spewing artist in the world should loose, or resign from, their recording/performing contracts. If no one is protesting the mainstream Caucasian rapper that applies the term Nigga/Nigger in his art (Paul Wall, Bubba Sparx), then people should get off his back. #3 And Jessie Jackson...speaking of racial slurs what about that song he did back in the 80's "Hymie Town". Is it ok for Blacks to make racial slurs towards whites in comedic gesture and not vice versa? Granted, a nice example has been made of Imus. Perhaps, this will deter other's from making the same type of mistake, or make them think twice before they speak. However two wrongs don't make a right and people should be cited on their hypocrisy as well. The same standard should be expected of Blacks that degrade other Blacks using those same type slurs. An offense is just that; we're all human. |
| cabesa | Posted – 4/10/2007 5:23:08 AM | show profile "Have (has) Imus Raise $20 million for African-American Scholarship and then send him & McGuirk to broadcast shows from Tuskegee, NC Central & Grambling. Cmon people this is a guy who insults anyone & everyone including himself. He calls his wife the Green Ho but he also can generate cash for veterans hospitals, autistic children & runs a ranch for young cancer patients. Dont fire him--put him to work for a new cause." Where has Sharpton's support been in cases of Black people being enslaved. There are Black slaves in American, as well as those still being transported across Africa into Europe...What has his stance been on those issues? What about the young sex slave girls in Atlanta? Since he holds so much animosity towards those who enslaved his ancestors, why can't that energy be applied towards those enslaving people RIGHT NOW. Little - to - nothing can be done about slave masters who died decades and centuries ago. Sure, many of us have direct lineages to that legacy; however, the days of that specific institution are gone. Let's focus on other issues, like modern slavery, like the genocide going on in Africa that started almost 50 years ago at the hands of other Africans...Where has Sharpton's stance been on that issue? Sharpton has just as much animosity towards whites than he's accusing Imus as having towards blacks. Trust. But in his mind it's excusable because of what our ancestors went through. What happended to: "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Should whites make the excuse that it's ok for Blacks to apply racial slurs towards other Blacks and towards whites, based on what their ancestors went through. To insinuate that this practice is acceptable, is wrong. That mindset hinders social relations. |
| chassy60 | Posted – 4/10/2007 7:31:14 AM | show profile Let's all get a grip YES he made an inappropriate comment. Absolutely. He apologized for it. As opposed to those who live their lives thinking these things daily and who separate themselves from all things "minority" either through lifestyle or actions, Imus is at the end of the day a good man who through his actions helps all people regardless, and that is a fact. He show is structured to make us all laugh at things we won't say the but most likely think from time to time and while we do so in the comfort of our complacency IMUS the "shock jock" entertains. No one is usually spared. Let he without sin cast the first stone!!!! Does the media care to list those acts of charity for all people along side the list of insults they've so competently come up with that this man has done? I met this man years ago, and was so impressed by his lack of pretense and simplicity and the fact that he does not take himself seriously. AND again let's not forget that we all make mistakes and should atone for them. Admitedly this was a BIG one. But because of this the man should lose everything? If so there are a lot of other folks that should go as well. |
| Bleak Spouse | Posted – 4/10/2007 7:47:10 AM | show profile I think Imus should apologize for appearing on Sharpton's show. He should say something like: "Here's what I've learned: that you can't make fun of everybody, because some people don't deserve it. But you can make fun of Al Sharpton, because he's a creepy, hypocrite snake-oil salesman." |
| hank | Posted – 4/10/2007 7:49:40 AM | show profile """Somebody please explain.. If you can explain the difference between calling someone a nappyheaded 'ho' and a 'n-', then I'll buy you lunch.""" I'd say about two additional weeks of airtime before getting canned. Imus act is to be a jerk. Calling a basketball team "nappy headed hos" is being a jerk more than anything. He was a jerk to John Kerry, getting his kicks in when he was down, and now he's acting like a sorry schoolboy. He deserves to be Al Sharpton's doormat and, I can't believe I'm saying this, I'd love to have Kerry's (real) take on this. Aside from that, this is much ado about nothing. 99% of the stinkmakers probably never listen to Imus and didn't hear the comment to begin with. |
| MDSAL | Posted – 4/10/2007 8:21:13 AM | show profile God, what a bunch of ignorant, narrow-minded, pampered no-nothings. Despite your degrees and cushy jobs, you appear to have zero knowledge of American history, zero compassion for your fellow man (or woman), and an incredible sense of entitlement. Talk about yellow journalism. No wonder the profession is going down the tubes. You all know Don Imus will be given a slap on the wrist and will resume telling nigger jokes in a year. It's sad that this is the level of American media. But not at all surprising, given who is in charge (enlightened public servants such as yourselves). |
| jaylbird55 | Posted – 4/10/2007 9:23:18 AM | show profile Major Double Standard Anytime a "white" performer says "anything" about black people, there is a major inquisition led by Jackson and Sharpton. How is it that I never see them or anyone else protesting the Black Comedy channels and clubs. All you hear there is "Kill the white pigs" and "Kill the white mother-f@#$%$#@'s" ! Is that not to be taken as racism?? NOOOOOO, that is art and part of a performance. This latest remark by Imus is no different to me. Dooes it make it right? Probably not. But if there is to be a playing field, make it even. Is that not what we hear drummed into us by the Jackson's of the world?? It is called EQUALITY , Stupees. |
| Printingman | Posted – 4/10/2007 10:14:28 AM | show profile | email poster Dumbuss should be hung up by his balls and flogged as well as fired. These were sorry hateful comments from some dumb old fuckacker (Yiddish term from my grandmother). Black women from Rutgers or any other place do not deserve this. |
| jaylbird55 | Posted – 4/10/2007 10:29:10 AM | show profile Sharton, What a joke! Al must also quit and get the hell out of town. When he was running for President, I had his bumper sticker " Run Al Run" on my car. However, I had it on my FRONT BUMPER!!!!!!!!! Beat it Al!!!!!! |
| jaylbird55 | Posted – 4/10/2007 10:35:28 AM | show profile Jesse, Who is you new Ho? Jesse, the king of double standard. Who you screwin on the side this year?? Any new bastard children to declare that you will have the NAACP pay for now? Ya, preacher man with a dark past, you should not be judging anyone except your own hell-bent soul. Sorry, we were supposed to forget and forgive. Bullshit!. |
| jaylbird55 | Posted – 4/10/2007 10:41:03 AM | show profile Me Before you judge me and my comments, I belong to the NAACP and have been black for 43 years. LOL |
