Can we talk about Imus like adults?

I don't mean to slam you, but Ms. Hill and many others have already pointed out that people like Sharpton and Jackson and just about every other prominent black clergyman, columnist and community leader have been fighting this battle against rap/hip-hop artists for years.

Apparently there is this idea that has taken hold in our culture that black leaders aren't doing this (Lupica made the same mistake in his column today), but as Hill pointed out, Sharpton held a protest against Tony Yayo and 50 Cent less than two weeks ago. Jesse Jackson has criticized many rap artists before, including condemning OutKast for their treatment of Native Americans.

I saw Sharpton on MSNBC yesterday and he purposely linked rappers and Don Imus, saying "If you support us in our fight against rap music, join us against Don Imus."

It appears to me what is going on is that A. "white" media doesn't pay attention to what black leaders do about issues that don't involve white people and B. the white media would prefer to make an issue of black leaders fixing problems in the black community to distract everyone from the issue of how the white media treats black people.

 

Before this one gets locked, I'm going to offer a couple of quick counterarguments to Mr. Whitlock's column. And Mr. Whitlock knows that I offer them sincerely, with every good intention and not as personal criticism of any kind. And that when I refer to 'Imus', I'm referring to the cast of the entire show, including McGuirk and Rosenburg.

1) Sharpton and Jackson aren’t the only folks up in arms about this. I believe the NABJ was the first group to call for Imus’s firing. They did so late last week (Apr. 6). That every social and cultural movement in this country’s history has had its share of charlatans and con men and snake oil salesmen, including Dr. King’s, is well known. Is Mr. Whitlock saying now that the entire movement toward civility in language and behavior, both black and white, can only be defined by the least trustworthy participants in the discussion? Is the discussion pre-empted because Sharpton and Jackson have made themselves a part of it?


2) The sports media establishment in this country spends two months a year and hundreds of millions of dollars reminding America what a defining moment March Madness is to “student-athletes”. What Mr. Whitlock is saying now, by denying Stringer and her players the right to be upset and to express themselves in any way they see fit, is that it’s not really very important at all. Which is it? And why does it matter that Mr. Imus is not himself a member of that sports media establishment? His comments were directly addressed to the women of the Rutgers team.

3) This piece is more about who’s qualified to moderate our national discussion on race than it is about the discussion itself. That Ms. Stringer isn’t Dr. King, and that her press conference doesn’t rise to the level of his oratory, is beside the point.

4) Just because prejudice exists in one place doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist in other places, too. If the Imus story provides the occasion for a further, deeper discussion about the self-loathing nature of gangsta rap lyrics, why should Mr. Whitlock care how that discussion began? And why argue over who gets to chair the discussion?

5) That history grinds forward only slowly, and imprecisely, should be of no more concern to Mr. Whitlock than who gets caught up in the gears in the process. History presents its opportunities at random. Imus’s careerlong devotion to half-assed wisecracks finally caught up with him. Imus isn’t Lenny Bruce, nor is he Chris Rock or Dave Chapelle. There is no consciousness-raising intention in his choice of material, and he should receive no special exemption for perpetuating the kind of casual cruelty that Mr. Whitlock decries.

 

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i don't think imus has been influenced by rap/prison culture.

there's a science to fighting for social equality. you have to maintain the moral high ground. we surrendered it by embracing the negative aspects of hip hop. you can't demand respect when you don't respect yourself. period. martin's non-violent approach worked because he always maintained the moral high ground.

 

But that was my point, NOW is the time when it can actually get some attention. It has given them the platform to fight it even harder. I got the point that Hill said they are already come out against it. What I am saying is that the "white" media is now paying attention so they have the opportunity to shift attention beyond one stupid, old white guy and onto the greater problems of gangsta hip hop culture and the people - especially white people - who support it.

 

* Whoopi Goldberg believes Imus should be fired.....same Whoopi that told everyone to take it easy on Ted Danson (when the two were dating) after Danson's "blackface" episode.
* Jesse Jackson is calling for Imus' head.....same Jesse Jackson that called New York City "Hymietown."
* Al Sharpton....is just a fucking idiot.
* Al Roker.....again, why should anyone -- black or white -- give a fuck what Al Roker thinks?

This whole thing is shameful. While I agree that Imus should have been suspended -- for longer than two weeks -- his initial apology on his show should have been enough. It's not worth it anymore to apologize further because the shit-storm simply gets worse.

I'll give Imus credit for trying to make amends, but it only made things worse. Very sad.

 

Imus and his stooge McGuirk is a minstrel show. Minstrel shows played out in the last century.

 

Why are you so against Al Roker? Is he not allowed to formulate an opinion?

 

don't give me this b.s. about what they're doing to fight the negative aspects of hip hop. it's like saying, "well, jason, is fighting his weight problem. he worked out last week for 10 minutes."

when sharpton brings his daughter in studio to confront one of these rappers about their lyrics then i'll believe he's doing something.

the level of outrage directed at imus is inappropriate for the crime..... when compared to the damage these idiot rappers and their videos have done, they're trying to give imus the death penalty for jaywalking.

 

Somebody please tell me exactly how JW "nailed it?"

He was ashamed to watch Vivian Stringer and her players stand up for themselves and intelligently address an issue that they did not create but that has been thrust upon them?
He was ashamed to see young black women like Essence Carson and Kia Vaughn give intelligent answers to questions about the misogynistic content of rap lyrics?
He was ashamed to hear Vivian Stringer say: "These aren't political figures. These aren't professionals. These are 18-, 19-, 20-year-old young women."?

Maybe JW thinks black women are just a bunch of nappy-headed hos.

 

Totally inappropriate - I know. I know.

Sorry in advance.

 

al sharpton tawna brawley...

jesse jackson hymietown remark and baby-daddy drama.

jesse and al didn't deserve the death penalty and neither does imus. this is a sick i-gotcha game.

 

Somebody slap me but Whitlock is right. More kids watch tthe videos and are more influenced by them than anything Imus and his stooges have or will do.