Letters to the Editor
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The answer is to protest and boycott his sponsors and employers
As a parent, I am utterly beside myself with anger; not that he said it, but that he will get away unscathed. I am terrified that the media will just excuse it with their usual casual cynicism. Jeff Greenfield is appearing on Imus tomorrow as if nothing is wrong.
I am reminded of MLK's Letter From a Birmingham Jail, in which he said "when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six-year-old daughter why she can't go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five-year-old son who is asking: "Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?"
Honestly, I am not normally a "what about the children!?" person, but what am I to tell my daughter? That no matter what she does, no matter how much she achieves, not only will racists reduce her to a stereotype of an over-sexualized whore, but that the country won't care? That she can work hard and win a national stage only to be referred to as "jigaboo" and no one well do anything more than tsk-tsk?
That when people do respond with anger, racist letter writters (I am talking to you, Gordon Wagner) will tell them to calm down, take a joke, and phrase it in Amos & Andy dialect?
I am a historian. I study imperialism and slavery and racism. I know this is a racist country. I am not naive, but this felt like a slap in the face.
He has a right to say whatever he wants and not go to jail. But media is a business and we the customers have the right (and in this case, the obligation) to write to his bosses and let them know that we disapprove, that we will not support their stations at all while he is still employed there, that we will not support the products of companies that advertise with his show.
He has the right to free speech and we have the same right. We also have the power to withhold our dollars from people who support racists.
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Where's Debra Dickerson When We Need Her?
I've been off on a one-week, computer-free vacation, but I fully expected to come back to a classic Debra Dickerson psychobabble rant from Salon's favorite self-hating "I'm black" and I'm a real African-American (as opposed to those unreal African-African-Americans) expounding on the whole Imus affair.
But alas, Dickerson must be on spring break with her "white, biracial, half-black but they don't know it yet" children.
Otherwise, why would she fail to write the expected convoluted diatribe blasting Imus, which would also somehow manage to drag Barack Obama through the mud AND embarass her children, all in one fell swoop?
Hey, get cracking, Deb!
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tawana anyone?
i never listen to Imus. Hs remarks were of a self indulgent blowhard. I could care less if he loses his job. My objection is Sharpton running with this for pres purposes. Did everyone forget the Tawana Brawley incendet where he accused flasely that two cops wrote rascist remarks in excrement on a young girl. The money the city spent, the families hurt, the anger and racial disharmony it caused all based on a lie pushed by sharpton. He never paid for that and seems to be doing real well. How soon we forget. Sharpton should get off his high horse because hes done worse than Imus.
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Come on
To Anonymous:
You sound moronic. You've been thinking about race for what . . . 10 minutes?
Isn't there a big difference between the humorous use of the "n-word" by a black comedian or actor? Do the situations seem comparable if the joker is of the same race?? Must I really break it down so simply for you? We know that the black community has a pretty dynamic sense of humor, as well as a great sense of culture, in general. (Or why is it always being copied?) You might need to be more adept to understand the difference. But this is so basic . . I am worried about you. I'm not sure your ideas are complex enough for this topic. It would be different if a black comedian/actor or whatever made disparaging remarks about white men or women, latinos, gays, etc. A group she or he is not a member of!!!
Don't even let me start on the differenc in mode of communication i.e. a comedian or musician vs. a syndicated talkshow host that politicians frequent. The radio is regulated by the FCC. Al Sharpton isn't always right, but Imus is clearly an idiot who won't shut up. His comments are so egregious, he has got to go. . .
What kind of social double standard? You're just pissed off the world is no longer so racist (and sexist) that YOU can say whatever you want.
Please stop "thinking" so much . . .
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To Gordon
Gordon:
You and I know that you would never say "ax" around any Black person because someone would kick your ass. I think a wimpy white guy is acting bad on a BLOG! In public, I think we know you duck your head and scamper by . . .
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kansasgirl
You go, kansasgirl. You have written my letter for me, word for word, only better.
The airwaves are full of crap. If people want to listen to or watch garbage, they will. If they don't, they won't. People like Imus, Stern, Limbaugh, Robertson, Falwell are popular precisely because they are ignorant and stupid, or good at acting that way.
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Clueless old fart
Can Don Imus really be that clueless? It's one thing to pick on political figures, media big shots and millionaire athletes. Disparaging teenage girls, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, who overcame much to reach the (near) pinnacle of their sport is another. No money, no voice, no power, easy pickings for a bully.
As for the apology, nice use of the imperial "we" asshole.