Imus and Andy
Posted: June 19th, 2007, 8:24 am
Imus and Andy
By B. Isbell
Not unexpectedly, legendary Radio talk-show host Don Imus was fired a few months back for making racist and sexist remarks concerning the University of Rhode Island women’s basketball team. As has been widely reported, Mr. Imus, commenting on their appearance in the finals of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, called the team a bunch of “nappy headed hos,” sparking outrage in the black community and ultimately resulting in his termination by both MS-NBC and CBS Radio. Here are my thoughts.
First, while calling a woman a ho is a sexist comment, it is a fairly common remark among the younger generation, and particularly in rap music culture. Perhaps it shouldn't be. In some cases, however, women have even been known to refer to themselves this way in order to be hip. One notable case is Whoopi Goldberg naming her entertainment company One Ho Productions. Obviously referring to a woman as a whore or prostitute in the classic sense is reprehensible; however, among the “hip” crowd, the term “ho” has a broader context and it’s meaning can vary from derogatory to affectionate or even a badge of honor.
Second, the term “nappy-headed” is being called racist remark. I have white friends who I would consider nappy headed. One noteworthy example is a white reggae/jazz guitarist in Dallas with dreadlocks that he may not have washed in the past five years. I assume that more black folks may fall in this category than white, asian, or native Americans, but I can’t be sure, and that’s the thing about stereotypes isn’t it … not making assumptions. Unkempt hair, unwashed, in poor condition, dirty. Had Imus only chosen these non-racist words would we or those female basketball players still feel any better?
Third, I watched a talk show hosted by a black male who was discussing this matter with a panel of three black university professors. I found it far more interesting and intellectual than most of the white talk shows and news programs that I’ve seen lately. Perhaps surprisingly to some, they were harsher critics of what’s going on in their own community than most of the white commentators that have added their two-cents in this discussion. They openly criticized the rap and hip culture for creating an atmosphere among the general public were derogatory comments and portrayals of black women, and women in general, was openly celebrated. As they suggested, it is hard to justify the double-standard openly allowing and profiting from such imagery in the entertainment industry and then fire others in the same media business like Imus for trying to fit in.
Fourth, it was Imus’ job to be controversial. That is what he was expected to do. His audience expected it. Those he worked for and who profited greatly from his work wanted and encouraged him to be controversial, to be hip, to be cutting-edge, to be outrageous. And it is those people, his bosses at CBS Radio and MS-NBC, whose behavior is the most reprehensible and evil.
Fifth, it’s not like Imus has not made controversial statements before. On 60 minutes this past weekend, they replayed portions of an interview with Imus from a few years ago where he admitted to telling the show’s producers to encouraging his radio show sidekick to make N-word jokes, … except that he actually used the word in his comment, and admitted to doing so in the 60 minutes interview with Mike Wallace. He also made anti-jewish comments about his bosses at CBS’ money grubbing decisions.
It’s not like those same bosses didn’t know or turned their heads. They liked the controversy. The same controversy that yielded larger ratings and more ad revenue. They liked it so much that they not only continued to employ Imus after comments for which almost all the rest of us would surely be fired, but gave him big salary increases.
So it’s a bit ironic that when push comes to shove, or Sharpton comes to media, that all of the sudden they’re money-making controversy machine becomes their sacrificial lamb. After all, they can find another lamb. They create rams from lambs. Firing Imus takes the heat off of them … the bosses at CBS. Les Moonves & the crew.
So, several months later, has anything changed? Not particularly. Racial tensions are still high. Both sides still don’t trust each other. No real education programs have been implemented. CBS, the corporation, certainly has not stepped up to the plate to fund any such education programs. Nor has MS-NBC. No community outreach programs. No on-going radio or TV programs dedicated to building a bridge to end the vicious racial divide. So much for the obligation of media networks to serve the public interest. No gold in that.
So my suggestion: let’s campaign to get Les Moonves fired. After all, Imus’ bosses are just as, if not more, responsible for creating this situation than Imus himself. And they’re “money-grubbing” conduct, to use Imus’ words, is even more reprehensible, despicable, and just plain cowardly. Maybe we could send the CBS and MS-NBC boss cowards to Iraq so they could at least witness some bravery and perhaps learn from it. After all, it all starts with education, right?
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By B. Isbell
Not unexpectedly, legendary Radio talk-show host Don Imus was fired a few months back for making racist and sexist remarks concerning the University of Rhode Island women’s basketball team. As has been widely reported, Mr. Imus, commenting on their appearance in the finals of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, called the team a bunch of “nappy headed hos,” sparking outrage in the black community and ultimately resulting in his termination by both MS-NBC and CBS Radio. Here are my thoughts.
First, while calling a woman a ho is a sexist comment, it is a fairly common remark among the younger generation, and particularly in rap music culture. Perhaps it shouldn't be. In some cases, however, women have even been known to refer to themselves this way in order to be hip. One notable case is Whoopi Goldberg naming her entertainment company One Ho Productions. Obviously referring to a woman as a whore or prostitute in the classic sense is reprehensible; however, among the “hip” crowd, the term “ho” has a broader context and it’s meaning can vary from derogatory to affectionate or even a badge of honor.
Second, the term “nappy-headed” is being called racist remark. I have white friends who I would consider nappy headed. One noteworthy example is a white reggae/jazz guitarist in Dallas with dreadlocks that he may not have washed in the past five years. I assume that more black folks may fall in this category than white, asian, or native Americans, but I can’t be sure, and that’s the thing about stereotypes isn’t it … not making assumptions. Unkempt hair, unwashed, in poor condition, dirty. Had Imus only chosen these non-racist words would we or those female basketball players still feel any better?
Third, I watched a talk show hosted by a black male who was discussing this matter with a panel of three black university professors. I found it far more interesting and intellectual than most of the white talk shows and news programs that I’ve seen lately. Perhaps surprisingly to some, they were harsher critics of what’s going on in their own community than most of the white commentators that have added their two-cents in this discussion. They openly criticized the rap and hip culture for creating an atmosphere among the general public were derogatory comments and portrayals of black women, and women in general, was openly celebrated. As they suggested, it is hard to justify the double-standard openly allowing and profiting from such imagery in the entertainment industry and then fire others in the same media business like Imus for trying to fit in.
Fourth, it was Imus’ job to be controversial. That is what he was expected to do. His audience expected it. Those he worked for and who profited greatly from his work wanted and encouraged him to be controversial, to be hip, to be cutting-edge, to be outrageous. And it is those people, his bosses at CBS Radio and MS-NBC, whose behavior is the most reprehensible and evil.
Fifth, it’s not like Imus has not made controversial statements before. On 60 minutes this past weekend, they replayed portions of an interview with Imus from a few years ago where he admitted to telling the show’s producers to encouraging his radio show sidekick to make N-word jokes, … except that he actually used the word in his comment, and admitted to doing so in the 60 minutes interview with Mike Wallace. He also made anti-jewish comments about his bosses at CBS’ money grubbing decisions.
It’s not like those same bosses didn’t know or turned their heads. They liked the controversy. The same controversy that yielded larger ratings and more ad revenue. They liked it so much that they not only continued to employ Imus after comments for which almost all the rest of us would surely be fired, but gave him big salary increases.
So it’s a bit ironic that when push comes to shove, or Sharpton comes to media, that all of the sudden they’re money-making controversy machine becomes their sacrificial lamb. After all, they can find another lamb. They create rams from lambs. Firing Imus takes the heat off of them … the bosses at CBS. Les Moonves & the crew.
So, several months later, has anything changed? Not particularly. Racial tensions are still high. Both sides still don’t trust each other. No real education programs have been implemented. CBS, the corporation, certainly has not stepped up to the plate to fund any such education programs. Nor has MS-NBC. No community outreach programs. No on-going radio or TV programs dedicated to building a bridge to end the vicious racial divide. So much for the obligation of media networks to serve the public interest. No gold in that.
So my suggestion: let’s campaign to get Les Moonves fired. After all, Imus’ bosses are just as, if not more, responsible for creating this situation than Imus himself. And they’re “money-grubbing” conduct, to use Imus’ words, is even more reprehensible, despicable, and just plain cowardly. Maybe we could send the CBS and MS-NBC boss cowards to Iraq so they could at least witness some bravery and perhaps learn from it. After all, it all starts with education, right?
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