Is Don Imus more racist than Rap music?

Question

Here's the thing: I don't like Don Imus. But is his comment toward the ladies on the basketball team any worse than the derogatory things we hear in Rap music? I haven't heard an outrage about THAT, yet Rap music is played across the country, and it says all sorts of sexist things about women. Why aren't there people picketing recording studios, or radio stations who play rap? Because, dispite the fact the spin on this has been that the comment is "racist" AND "sexist", the true uprising about Imas pertains to the "racist" comment. Do you agree?

Answer 1

The big difference between Rap musicians and Don Imus is that one is an entertainer producing and performing ariginal works and Dom Imus is a man in front of a microphone hurling insults at people he does not know as a means to degrade and demean people not like him. I do not like Rap music, the lyrics or the symbolism, but before a radio station plays a record, an artist had to write, compose, record, and have a record company produce his work. Imus just shows up and rants.

While I disagree with Mr Imus and find his statement offensive, he is within the limits of the Constitution and limits of the law to make such statements. I choose to show my disagreement with his statement by not listening to his show or buying products from his advertisers, and supporting legislation proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Representatives Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) to re-instate the Fairness Doctrine.

As long as there is an audience of listeners that allow broadcasters and sponsors to make money, people like Don Imus or Rap musicians will have a job. If they were not profitable, they would not be on radio or newspaper columnists, etc.

What started the proliferation of these types of radio shows and attack editorials was when the FCC repealed regulation that was known as the Fairness Doctrine. It used to govern broadcasters on the public airwaves from 1949 until it was repealed in 1987. Congress has twice tried to re-instate it but it was vetoed by Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush in 1991.

Regulation was further weakened in 2000 when two corallary rules were also rescinded by the FCC. these rules were the "personal attack" and "political editorial" rules.

Another cause of this phenomenom is the willingness and acceptance of the American public to tolerate rude, nasty behavior. It started simply enough in sports with show boating and taunting and has elevated to trash talking and humilation of the opponent. There is also the claim of rap or hip-hop muscians that became a recurring refrain that they were no being respected. That phrase has so permeated the American culture that people today demand "respect" just for existing instead of earning respect for accomplishments and leadership.

In America today, people are also willing to show support for someone like Rush, Imus, Al Franken, or any other public figure who uses insults and attacks the more powerful. It is a form of joining the bully to pick on someone but saying they aren't really a bully because they aren't the one hurling the insults. Whether it is open support by repeating their statements and listening to their shows, or support by omission and not saying statements such as "Nappy headed Hos" are not acceptable in our society.

It is time that Americans returned to having manners, decency, respect for other people and other people's opinions, instead of cramming their beliefs, values, and opinions down others throats because they are having a turn at the microphone, or running Congress, or any other position of power. The pendulum will swing back given enough time.

Answer 2

Don Imus said a racist thing. Most people don't know what is racist, because they lack sensitivity to other groups, but he still uttered racist verbage. Second of all, rap music is a voice within a SUBCULTURE of the African American community. It isn't racist music toward their own group, but sexist and mysogonistic. Don't forget that rap music is bought by 80% white teens, and not blacks . This is also dance music all around the world. Hip hop is global it's not just in america. I don't buy the "blame it on hip hop/rap" I blame Imus. Horrible things have been said about black women via white men for centuries. The Rolling Stones sing about "brown sugar." This is a load of bull the media wants america to buy. Racism is real and they don't want you to know they don't want to give anything up to anyone other than their white male friends. White women are not allowed to play at the top of companies either. Read behind the lines.

Answer 3

Isn't amazing how people like sharpton immediately wants his air time to play SOME MORE poor as me, I isa people that was stolen from our home land........... yes I know, he has not said it as yet but it is an understood thesis of his. One author here mentioned about the differences in appearance and demeanor the players where after the Imus's statement. Playing it up for the media. Here is a thought, what would happen if Caucasians would finally verbally get it out there --------- we just don't give a hoot about the poor this or that, we have heard enough. The most racist people in this country are the American *****. Like I said, I have heard enough. Wonder what an application would look like if every specific race was given special consideration as one in particular. hum.....something like Irish American, Irish English Scottish American, Irish English American, Irish English Latin Scottish American ................... get it. NO MORE SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. If any race should be voicing racism, it is the Caucasian race. Look at all of the actor on your local TV. Please remember the ***** American is slightly over 11% of the population. hum. good ol affirmative action. And about comments, we all are covered under the first amendment

Answer 4

No, neither is he more sexist. Both shock jocks and rap music appeal basically to haters. And there appears to be an endless supply of haters in our world today.

What makes Imus' comments different from a random rap song is that he is speaking of a small group of specific women. A group of specific young women whose crime is to have made the life choice to pursue a college education and play sports at an advanced level.

Answer 5

I totally agree, I miss old school rap that had a purpose. But now a'days even with a small selection of positive hip-hop, the majority of rap and hip-hop songs are all about, sex drugs, thugs and bling. I think that what Don Imus said was wrong and I don't feel sorry that he got fired, because he knew better than to say what he said but he did it anyway. But, no one should get a free pass on racist and misogynistic slurs, black white or otherwise.

Answer 6

Don made a stupid mistake, and now he is paying for it. The question is: Will we hold everyone in the media, black and white, to the same standard that caused Imus' dismissal, or is this a one-time thing. I don't get the sense that Imus is evil, but he said a terrible and hurtful thing. Let's hope that he stays true to his promise and works from this day forward to try to repair the damage that he has done.

Answer 7

Exactlly. I mean if ho's is even a mainstream bad word it is because RAP artist's and do not give me the sterotype crap of do not lump all RAP artist's together bull. RAP artist's maybe not all of them have popularized the word HO. I think this kind of crap is a joke and I refuse to take it seriously until everyone complaining about Imus's comment go after the other's using this language. Yes he was wrong and yes everyone else who uses it wrong so if equality is so damn important everyone needs to be held equally responsible for thier language. Bye the way what happened to the 1st amendment for everyone?

Answer 8

i like your analogy, white people get mad that we use it, is it because they wann use it?, anyway im hispanic but i grew up in new york and in hip hop as i rap, adn say th N word without realizing it but when i look at it soome time i find it crazy and feel like maybe sometimes my boys get it offended but they dont show, but im just being paranoid because of all this hype over it lately, cuz i diont say it unnaturaly it comes out like any other word i say, on another note though i dont like how people generalize rap and say it is promoting violence because it is not, song, other than dirty south which are all about rims and girls, im talking about real rap like east coast new york and tupac are stories from what is going on in the hood , that were going on even before rap was created, there are so many types of music each tha speak on certain thing in life like rock which is about our inner feelings and rap is the same a look at a life that those in the hood know, of course those that are not in the hood, and the ones that glorify that life are those kids in rich families that listen to the music and want to be cool and try to emulate. Its like the chicken and the egg, who came first, the rap came out describing life in the hood, and then it became what caused it because now it was cool because people thought they were glorifying it, but if the kids in the ghetto realize that once these rappers get money they dont these things no more,Tupac put it the best " he never did a crime he didnt have to do" " instead of a war on poverty they got a war on drugs so the police could bother me" if they fought poverty there would be less crime because i know when i was brok only for a few weeks i felt like doing something illeagl to get some money in my pockets but i have a strong will, wow i went totally off topic, but yeh what im saying its a ctahc 22 because the hood that the rap is about takes the rap thats talking about it and emulates it so its a circle.

Answer 9

I totally get you!
I think it's ridiculous that I now feel sorry for Don Imus who I've never been able to stand.
The basketball coach was the worse though, pleeeaaassee
going on and on about how classy she was like that's classy!
And how "hurt" and "wronged" she felt and how all through her life she was oppressed blah blah blah. Imus shut up so we don't have to hear anymore from that b---- again!

Answer 10

DING !!! DING !!! DING !!!
CONGRATULATIONS . You have won the Best Question of the day Award.
I obviously agree with you. Rap lyrics and rap videos do more damage to the image and prestige of black women than Don Imus's remarks ever will .Where is the hue and cry in the black community to stop THIS outrageous assault on black women ?
Where is Sharpton ? Where's Jesse ?
Sadly they are nowhere to be found on this issue