Now that Imus is gone - 4.12.2007.1

Don Imus has been fired. A simple statement of fact that carries a huge amount of power. It’s a statement that is important, and it deserves to be understood completely. There is more to this than just his removal for his racist and derogatory statements.


The commentary has been fast and furious since Monday when I think the nation at large became aware of the incident from the previous Wednesday. I have been part of the media that has spoken on this subject, and its ramifications, since Monday having written about 10 posts so far. To say I was outraged is an understatement of massive proportions. But I have also discussed this with many people of all colors and ages and sex. I have read the comments on the blog posts, and I have read other blogs, and watched the many experts and figureheads debate the matter.

I said, “While I am in favor of severe actions against Mr. Imus, I feel Mr. McGuirk cannot be left out either.” I stand by that commentary. I asume he will be losing his position along with Mr. Imus, and that is a good thing. Comments about jigaboos and wannabes are hardly funny, especially in the context that both men presented them. [For those unfamiliar, while the news media has not presented this, later in the same discussion of the Rutger’s womens basketball team these terms were bandied about in addition to the other vile comments.]

I had asked in that same post, “What I would like to hear Mr. Imus, and Mr. McGuirk, explain is what makes the Black women of the Rutgers basketball team hos. Then I want to hear what makes their hair nappy. And then perhaps I can hear how either of these comments have anything to do with basketball or the abilities of these women. I would listen to Mr. Imus explain that, and I’d like him to do this in front of the women that he has nationally demeaned. And then he should still be fired. Not resign, fired. He has given up his right to save face in this matter.” It has now come to pass that all the things I had hoped for have come to pass in one manner or another. I am greatful for that. But this is not the end of this matter.

Ms. C. Dolores Tucker started a movement that rings as true today as when she started it in the 1990’s. Gansta rap “is a crime that we are promoting these kind of messages. The whole gangster rap industry is drug-driven, race-driven, and greed-driven.” The comments by rappers like Mr. Calvin Broadus (Snoop Dogg) in trying to justify and re-define terms like ‘ho’ exemplify that Ms. Dolores was correct in her comments. As I translated the comment of Mr. Broadus into an intelligible wording the potential for damage becomes clear I think, “…he states that any Black woman that is not in or graduated from college, that is living in a predominantly African American neighborhood, that is not earning a middle class income is a ho. If these same African American (actually he does not limit this to only African Americans) women seek a successful Black man [though he does indicate their search is based solely on the economic status of the Black man] and have not achieved equal status on their own, then these women are ho’s….”

Continued in Part 2...