Imus isn’t the real bad guy

[Chiefster]

I gotta admit, I had to agree with Whittey on this one.

By Jason Whitlock


Instead of wasting time on irrelevant shock jock, black leaders need to be fighting a growing gangster culture.
Thank you, Don Imus. You’ve given us (black people) an excuse to avoid our real problem.

You’ve given Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson another opportunity to pretend that the old fight, which is now the safe and lucrative fight, is still the most important fight in our push for true economic and social equality.

You’ve given Vivian Stringer and Rutgers the chance to hold a nationally televised recruiting celebration expertly disguised as a news conference to respond to your poor attempt at humor.

Thank you, Don Imus. You extended Black History Month to April, and we can once again wallow in victimhood, protest like it’s 1965 and delude ourselves into believing that fixing your hatred is more necessary than eradicating our self-hatred.

The bigots win again.

While we’re fixated on a bad joke cracked by an irrelevant, bad shock jock, I’m sure at least one of the marvelous young women on the Rutgers basketball team is somewhere snapping her fingers to the beat of 50 Cent’s or Snoop Dogg’s or Young Jeezy’s latest ode glorifying nappy-headed pimps and hos.

I ain’t saying Jesse, Al and Vivian are gold-diggas, but they don’t have the heart to mount a legitimate campaign against the real black-folk killas.

It is us. At this time, we are our own worst enemies. We have allowed our youths to buy into a culture (hip hop) that has been perverted, corrupted and overtaken by prison culture. The music, attitude and behavior expressed in this culture is anti-black, anti-education, demeaning, self-destructive, pro-drug dealing and violent.

Rather than confront this heinous enemy from within, we sit back and wait for someone like Imus to have a slip of the tongue and make the mistake of repeating the things we say about ourselves.

It’s embarrassing. Dave Chappelle was offered $50 million to make racially insensitive jokes about black and white people on TV. He was hailed as a genius. Black comedians routinely crack jokes about white and black people, and we all laugh out loud.

I’m no Don Imus apologist. He and his tiny companion Mike Lupica blasted me after I fell out with ESPN. Imus is a hack.

But, in my view, he didn’t do anything outside the norm for shock jocks and comedians. He also offered an apology. That should’ve been the end of this whole affair. Instead, it’s only the beginning. It’s an opportunity for Stringer, Jackson and Sharpton to step on victim platforms and elevate themselves and their agenda$.

I watched the Rutgers news conference and was ashamed.

Martin Luther King Jr. spoke for eight minutes in 1963 at the March on Washington. At the time, black people could be lynched and denied fundamental rights with little thought. With the comments of a talk-show host most of her players had never heard of before last week serving as her excuse, Vivian Stringer rambled on for 30 minutes about the amazing season her team had.

Somehow, we’re supposed to believe that the comments of a man with virtually no connection to the sports world ruined Rutgers’ wonderful season. Had a broadcaster with credibility and a platform in the sports world uttered the words Imus did, I could understand a level of outrage.

But an hourlong press conference over a man who has already apologized, already been suspended and is already insignificant is just plain intellectually dishonest. This is opportunism. This is a distraction.

In the grand scheme, Don Imus is no threat to us in general and no threat to black women in particular. If his words are so powerful and so destructive and must be rebuked so forcefully, then what should we do about the idiot rappers on BET, MTV and every black-owned radio station in the country who use words much more powerful and much more destructive?

I don’t listen or watch Imus’ show regularly. Has he at any point glorified selling crack cocaine to black women? Has he celebrated black men shooting each other randomly? Has he suggested in any way that it’s cool to be a baby-daddy rather than a husband and a parent? Does he tell his listeners that they’re suckers for pursuing education and that they’re selling out their race if they do?

When Imus does any of that, call me and I’ll get upset. Until then, he is what he is — a washed-up shock jock who is very easy to ignore when you’re not looking to be made a victim.

No. We all know where the real battleground is. We know that the gangsta rappers and their followers in the athletic world have far bigger platforms to negatively define us than some old white man with a bad radio show. There’s no money and lots of danger in that battle, so Jesse and Al are going to sit it out.

To reach Jason Whitlock, call (816) 234-4869 or send e-mail to jwhitlock@kcstar.com (jwhitlock@kcstar.com). For previous columns, go to KansasCity.com

[timbok]

if Imus was blACK..HE HAVE HIS JOB..ADVERTISERS...AND LIFE BACK.

[Chiefster]

if Imus was blACK..HE HAVE HIS JOB..ADVERTISERS...AND LIFE BACK.


It would probably be a non issue.

[TheLateGreat#58Fan]

I can honestlysay as cliche as it sounds I couldnt agree with him more, I dont understand why they feel the neccesity to be the victimin every situation they can they only hurt themselvesover and over again

[Chiefster]

I can honestlysay as cliche as it sounds I couldnt agree with him more, I dont understand why they feel the neccesity to be the victimin every situation they can they only hurt themselvesover and over again



Yup; it makes no sense.

[kenny1937]

I couldn't agree with Jason more, he called the situations exactly right, I wonder if the Rutgers Coach didn't pay Imus to do what he did, (grin).


:anim-magicman:

[Chiefster]

I couldn't agree with Jason more, he called the situations exactly right, I wonder if the Rutgers Coach didn't pay Imus to do what he did, (grin).


:anim-magicman:


This I highly doubt. :inwc:

[chief31]

I understand how he could get in trouble with his employers, for this. I just can't believe what a big story this is. Why am I seeing the players on T.V.? Did they do something beyond womens basketball? Every time someone makes a racist remark, we have to hear about it for months. I don't care. Yes.... Racism exists. It always will. Asian people are racist, Mexican people are racist, Jewish people are racist, Arab people are racist, black people are racist, and, yes, white people are racist too. I don't see this over-exposure of verbal mistakes as constructive to cooling a very heated topic.

[Chiefster]

I understand how he could get in trouble with his employers, for this. I just can't believe what a big story this is. Why am I seeing the players on T.V.? Did they do something beyond womens basketball? Every time someone makes a racist remark, we have to hear about it for months. I don't care. Yes.... Racism exists. It always will. Asian people are racist, Mexican people are racist, Jewish people are racist, Arab people are racist, black people are racist, and, yes, white people are racist too. I don't see this over-exposure of verbal mistakes as constructive to cooling a very heated topic.


It's merely an opportunity for certain civil rights leaders to cash in on some perceived victimization that they themselves serve to perpetuate.

Don't get me wrong, I don't even like Imus and personally think he's an idiot. He said something very stupid for which he should have been punished for; I just don't think he should have been fired. The problem here is that those civil right leaders made such a stink that the network had to fire him or face losing further sponsorship.

[Canada]

How comne Rosie O;Donnell isnt taking any heat for saying "ching chang chong chong ching" on TV. Is that not racist or do we just pick on certain people?

[chief31]

It is O.K. to be racist, as long as you aren't a white man, making a racist remark, regarding blacks, or are anyone percieved as being anti-semetic.

[Canada]

seems that way

[stlchief]

I guess I go to the minority on this one. I think the uproar is warranted. I find it hard to believe that all who said we should crack down on the NFL players for not being role-models are saying we over-react for racist slang on the public air-ways. Seems like a disconnect...

I say let him say what he wants. I say fire him for offensive statements (or fire him to save revenue) that is up to CBS & MSNBC. His career over? I doubt it. He'll be on satellite within weeks.

Personally - I don't want him on the air-waves. It was a cheap-shot for shock value. Guess what, you can say what you want, and people have a right to react how they want. Is anyone going over-board? I don't think so. As long as we have racists out there who do not want to keep it to themselves, I think it's our duty to call them out and make them pay.

I am prepared for the replys.

(btw - Admins - Thanks! It's nice to have a place to have these virtual discussions on things other than football, but still know you are discussing with people you would happily spend 3 hrs with some beer watching football.)

[Chiefster]

I guess I go to the minority on this one. I think the uproar is warranted. I find it hard to believe that all who said we should crack down on the NFL players for not being role-models are saying we over-react for racist slang on the public air-ways. Seems like a disconnect...

I say let him say what he wants. I say fire him for offensive statements (or fire him to save revenue) that is up to CBS & MSNBC. His career over? I doubt it. He'll be on satellite within weeks.

Personally - I don't want him on the air-waves. It was a cheap-shot for shock value. Guess what, you can say what you want, and people have a right to react how they want. Is anyone going over-board? I don't think so. As long as we have racists out there who do not want to keep it to themselves, I think it's our duty to call them out and make them pay.

I am prepared for the replys.

(btw - Admins - Thanks! It's nice to have a place to have these virtual discussions on things other than football, but still know you are discussing with people you would happily spend 3 hrs with some beer watching football.)

Point well taken; however it's a little bit apples and oranges in the Imus case; we are not talking about someone who has broken the law like Pacman Jones and Chris Henry, and I'm not saying: "Don't punish him".

...And not to mention, what is I'm sure to be, a book deal. Good post.

[Coach]

(btw - Admins - Thanks! It's nice to have a place to have these virtual discussions on things other than football, but still know you are discussing with people you would happily spend 3 hrs with some beer watching football.)

I couldn't agree more. I've purposely left this thread alone because it is so easy to offend someone unwillingly, but I will make one comment.

There seems to be a double standard when it comes to racists slurs against black people. When white people make slurs such as Imus did, they should be held accountable. But why should black people not be held accountable for making the same slurs aginst their own race? These words and racist remarks are perpetuated by many members of the black community without consequence. Some of these people are known as rappers, but certainly not all of them. Once the double standard disappears, so will racism and the line against racism in the country will be clear. IMO

I guess my post begs the questions, Is is possible to make racist slurs against your own race? Should it be acceptable? I'll let you guys hash that out.

Thanks for the great posts and remember that the people in these forums have a right to their own opinions. Everyone has done a good job of being respectful of this so far in this thread.
:golden:

[Canada]

I am not saying that we should deny the accountability, but to focus on white males (not necessarily Imus) but when a black man calls me a "cracker" everyone laughs, myself included. Is that not a racial slur? I do not take offence to much of anything. I am an easy going guy, but just because white men were racist 100 years ago does not mean that treating me differently isn't just as racist. I agreee that Imus was out of line and should suffer the consequences but racism extends far beyond white males in the world.

[Chiefster]

I couldn't agree more. I've purposely left this thread alone because it is so easy to offend someone unwillingly, but I will make one comment.

There seems to be a double standard when it comes to racists slurs against black people. When white people make slurs such as Imus did, they should be held accountable. But why should black people not be held accountable for making the same slurs aginst their own race? These words and racist remarks are perpetuated by many members of the black community without consequence. Some of these people are known as rappers, but certainly not all of them. Once the double standard disappears, so will racism and the line against racism in the country will be clear. IMO

I guess my post begs the questions, Is is possible to make racist slurs against your own race? Should it be acceptable? I'll let you guys hash that out.

Thanks for the great posts and remember that the people in these forums have a right to their own opinions. Everyone has done a good job of being respectful of this so far in this thread.
:golden:

Agreed on all accounts; that's what makes this a superior BB. IMO :)

[Chiefster]

I am not saying that we should deny the accountability, but to focus on white males (not necessarily Imus) but when a black man calls me a "cracker" everyone laughs, myself included. Is that not a racial slur? I do not take offence to much of anything. I am an easy going guy, but just because white men were racist 100 years ago does not mean that treating me differently isn't just as racist. I agreee that Imus was out of line and should suffer the consequences but racism extends far beyond white males in the world.


I'm the same way; racial slurs spoken against me never really affected me one way or the other. However, should someone use that same slur while talking in reference to my wife or two sons then I'm liable to feel differently; just a self observation.

[chief31]

I guess I go to the minority on this one. I think the uproar is warranted. I find it hard to believe that all who said we should crack down on the NFL players for not being role-models are saying we over-react for racist slang on the public air-ways. Seems like a disconnect...

I say let him say what he wants. I say fire him for offensive statements (or fire him to save revenue) that is up to CBS & MSNBC. His career over? I doubt it. He'll be on satellite within weeks.

Personally - I don't want him on the air-waves. It was a cheap-shot for shock value. Guess what, you can say what you want, and people have a right to react how they want. Is anyone going over-board? I don't think so. As long as we have racists out there who do not want to keep it to themselves, I think it's our duty to call them out and make them pay.

I am prepared for the replys.

(btw - Admins - Thanks! It's nice to have a place to have these virtual discussions on things other than football, but still know you are discussing with people you would happily spend 3 hrs with some beer watching football.)

I don't believe that it was a cheap-shot. It sounded, to me, like an attempt to make a "hip" sounding statement. Clearly, it was a miserable attempt.

As far as the reaction goes.....
These kind of statements happen, every day, within the world media. But, as long as it is a woman, or some minority, it's no big deal. ( please see Carlos Mecia and Lisa Lampanelli, amongst others.) So, that makes the reaction racist.IMO.

[chief31]

I couldn't agree more. I've purposely left this thread alone because it is so easy to offend someone unwillingly, but I will make one comment.

There seems to be a double standard when it comes to racists slurs against black people. When white people make slurs such as Imus did, they should be held accountable. But why should black people not be held accountable for making the same slurs aginst their own race? These words and racist remarks are perpetuated by many members of the black community without consequence. Some of these people are known as rappers, but certainly not all of them. Once the double standard disappears, so will racism and the line against racism in the country will be clear. IMO

I guess my post begs the questions, Is is possible to make racist slurs against your own race? Should it be acceptable? I'll let you guys hash that out.

Thanks for the great posts and remember that the people in these forums have a right to their own opinions. Everyone has done a good job of being respectful of this so far in this thread.
:golden:


I'll take the first post, in response to this one.

Yes, it is.

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

Have fun with this.

[Coach]

I'll take the first post, in response to this one.

Yes, it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q8LxO4wnCQ

Have fun with this.

Chris Rock is hilarious!
:character00254:

[stlchief]

Point well taken; however it's a little bit apples and oranges in the Imus case; we are not talking about someone who has broken the law like Pacman Jones and Chris Henry, and I'm not saying: "Don't punish him".

...And not to mention, what is I'm sure to be, a book deal. Good post.

Well, it would be hard to argue this point that - it is apples and oranges, you are correct. However, the issue was not about fines / firing. The point I was trying to make was about role models. In this light, there is no difference. Legality does not equal morality. You can live a very immoral life without breaking the law. I would have expected that everyone who said get packman and henry out would be saying Imus must be off the air -- not saying "well, other people do it, why single him out because he is white and blacks say this all the time". I would have expected more absolutes like "Imus is totally wrong and so are all the others who say it.".

You throw in black & white, and it gets messy and blurred.

Leave the black / white out and look at it from the standpoint of whose transactions were done while getting paid to perform and I think I still come back to Imus was being paid to pass along information on a public airwave. Pacman and Henry were off duty. From a role model perspective, it is hard to say Imus should get a pass.

[Chiefster]

Well, it would be hard to argue this point that - it is apples and oranges, you are correct. However, the issue was not about fines / firing. The point I was trying to make was about role models. In this light, there is no difference. Legality does not equal morality. You can live a very immoral life without breaking the law. I would have expected that everyone who said get packman and henry out would be saying Imus must be off the air -- not saying "well, other people do it, why single him out because he is white and blacks say this all the time". I would have expected more absolutes like "Imus is totally wrong and so are all the others who say it.".

You throw in black & white, and it gets messy and blurred.

Leave the black / white out and look at it from the standpoint of whose transactions were done while getting paid to perform and I think I still come back to Imus was being paid to pass along information on a public airwave. Pacman and Henry were off duty. From a role model perspective, it is hard to say Imus should get a pass.


Good point, and a lot for my tiny little finite mind to ingest. Next time just say that you think that if Packman Jones and Chris Henry should be denied a paycheck for being immoral then Imus should be no different. LOL! :D
j/k

Except that the point I was making is that Jones and Henry are off duty because of a direct result of their illegal activities. Imus never did anything illegal; not that what he said is in any way shape or fromexcusable and should not go unpunished.

Good post! :)