Posted on 04/14/2007 7:04:31 PM PDT by neverdem
A racial storm in America
Don Imus, the line-crossing talk-radio host who broadcast daily across America from his New York studio, has been fired for referring to a team of black women basketball players as “nappy-headed ho’s”. Imus, a former Marine with a gruff demeanour, had an unsentimental show or, as they might say in America, it featured “guy talk” (any Briton, by the way, who uses “guy” or “guys” deserves a glossectomy).
There was some banter and unsubtle opinions were aired. It was not out of control but it also wasn’t a sanitised PC affair. He’s quite amusing and articulate in a resolutely uncomplicated way and had a huge listenership generating vast advertising revenue. Consequently, he attracted significant political figures as guests, pretty much anyone bar the President, who, of course, is rarely free to speak in public unscripted lest he describe Condi Rice as “that Secretary of State ho” in a momentary lapse.
Nappy-head, it turns out (excuse my whiteyness), means a black person who has allowed their hair to grow naturally into a tightly curled afro. It’s a term that can be used self-referentially with pride or disparagingly about others. Being a racial thing, its power is in the mouth of the speaker. Or is it in the ear of the listener? It’s complicated, so, in the interests of a quiet life, don’t use it unless you are very confident or, in fact, a nappy-head.
Imus apologised, offered no excuses, was roundly vilified and endured the measured, disproportionate wrath of Al Sharpton when guesting on the black activist/pentecostal minister’s radio show to defend himself. What they said, Imus and his sports reporter buddy, about the basketball game, was quite funny. The two teams were physically different. It was college basketball and Rutgers were playing Tennessee. The Rutgers girls looked more intimidating, they were inked up (tattoos . . .) and were altogether more menacing-looking even in defeat. These white radio boys were sniggering about that.
Basically, had it been a football match and it had all kicked off in the tunnel after the game, you’d have backed the Rutgers girls. The banter in the studio started trying to incorporate some black street language to describe the game to comic effect. It wasn’t very clever but then it’s morning talk radio.
To get to the top in college basketball you have to be good, in a general sense, not just at basketball, and you have to make sacrifices. At least that’s what college basketball folk and their families say. The girls were upset and in their robust defence they have been referred to as fine “representatives of God”. What fun you could have with that on the air if you were allowed to. God has sent down a team of 6ft tall Amazonian tattooed basketball players to represent Him. No doubt the devil sent Don Imus.
This happens when things get Blown Up Out Of All Proportion. There are enough people with a keen ear for a lapse that anyone broadcasting anywhere ought to speak thoughtfully. If only because you may not know how much offence you’ve caused until the outcry afterwards. Imus didn’t say: “If I’ve offended anyone I apologise.” He knew he’d caused offence.
He also did not say that the language and lyrics of black American rap artists leave his kind of remark not just in the shade but on the dark side of the moon.
A few years ago, on C4’s Big Breakfast, Johnny Vaughan asked me which was my worst ever stand-up gig. In 1989, at a private party in a Basildon disco, I performed to unanimous indifference. After me was an older comic. He ventured “Are there any Pakis in?” then went down a storm with racist material. Johnny intervened: “You can’t say that.” I said: it’s a true story — he said Pakis, not me. He stepped in with the forceful jocularity of the practised live TV presenter: “You can’t say that word.”
Some time later, a group of young British Asians were sitting in front of me at a football match. Bizarrely, one of them wanted a picture of me as his mum was a Jonathan Creek fan. His mate sneered: “I ain’t taking a picture of him, he used the P-word on TV.” He had me down as a racist, which was unpleasant. I’d gone over some invisible line. Johnny Vaughan knew where the line was; I didn’t. I thought context was relevant. I was as naive as a newborn calf. I was a C-word.
Among friends, thankfully, you can draw your own line. Wesley and Donald, two friends of mine from Edmonton, were discussing Donald’s attempts to sell his house after the break-up of his marriage. Donald was talking about some people who’d said they’d buy and then went back on the deal they’d shaken on.
“White folks?” said Wesley. “Yeh, they was white,” replied Donald. “Can’t trust Whitey,” said Wesley. “Nope,” said Donald, “you sure can’t trust Whitey.”
This observation had a poignancy and surprising air of veracity about it as well as being amusing, given that Wesley and Donald are both white.
Generally speaking Whitey’s too dumb to know where the line is. He must tread carefully since it’s the only line on the whole map of the world that he didn’t draw.
Come to think of it—I’ve never watched or listened to Don Imus. I don’t know whether he was on radio or TV. No, I saw him on TV a time or two, but never watched more than a few minutes. I found him very uninteresting.
I am led to believe that 'Nap' refers to the roughened surface of certain kinds of fabrics or carpet.
It seems to work as an adjective or noun, but ethnic????????I didn't know it was a word set-aside for black folk.
I don't get it. What's so racist about calling a person one of these things? It must have been the "nappy headed" remark that set folks off. /sarc
that scenario was already familiar
her husband, the first “black president” and Juanita?
Guy is a very common word. You must be one of those illegals everyone is talking about.
It was Nancy Pelosi
http://mediamatters.org/items/200611020014
(sorry, that was the only link I could find quickly, and I believe the date is incorrect, I have HEARD an audio clip of it a few years ago, think it was on an AM radio talk show sound byte)
Imus wasn't all that good. Tying his life to the entertainment and self hating metrosexual honkies of Liberalism was a mistake for Imus. I wonder which group or what person is next on the Brown-shirts list.
The “timesonline” omits the understory.
Senator Robert Byrd, former Grand Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan, is a respected member of the Dimocratz. He used the word ‘N***er’ in an address to the Senate three or so times a few years ago. No fuss was raised.
Senator Trent Lott praised an elderly Republican Senator who had a rascist past (while he was a Democrat). Lott was vilified and lost stature in the Senate.
Representative Alcee Hastings is a former District Court Judge who was impeached for inducing and accepting bribes. He is now in office, representing Florida. Tom DeLay was the Speaker of the House until a hack DA from Austin, TX (Ronnie Earle) put together a set of charges and went thru something like 6 grand juries before he got a grand jury to indict DeLay.
There is a Nevada Senator (let’s just call him Harry) who has 3 - 4 children, all lawyers and lobbyists. They all lobby Indian tribes. The Senator passes legislation benefitting Indian tribes.
There is a California Representative (let’s just call her Nancy) who supports union activity and legislation heavily. She and her husband own a hoity toity hotel in Marin County. They refuse to hire anyone who insists on being part of a union, they keep wages low so as to rake in max bucks.
More examples? There are a lot more.
The “timesonline” leaves out the understory that there are two political parties in the U.S. One is mostly honest, the other is typically dishonest. I’ll leave it to the reader to guess which is which.
His biggest mistake was going on Sharpton’s show. He might as well have asked David Duke for forgiveness.
I’m a Pentecostal and I resent the idea that this fountain of hate claims to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Don’t waste a moment of time resenting it,because Al Sharpton is decidedly NOT a Pentecostal
That said, the level of hypocrisy exhibited by almost everyone calling for his head is beyond measure. I heard Robert Johnson from BET talking about how damaging Imus' words were, and I thought to myself, "Are you telling me BET doesn't run any movies or rap videos that refer to women as 'hos", Robert?"
Yeah, sure Snoop. Go back to your blunts.
Thanks so much. That was the incident I was referring to even though it was Pelosi and not Hillary as I had thought. I believe I had heard the audio of it as well but nothing comes up online. If it did, I was going to post it on YouTube.
Thanks again
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