I know I'm naive, but what does the remark that Imus made mean?

Question

When Imus called the Rutgers female basketball players "nappy-headed hos" what exactly does that mean?

Answer 1

The term = nappy headed - refers to the tightly curled and coarse hair that is prevelant in the ***** population. "Ho" referes to a whore. Do you now see, why this was such a blow and a slap in the face for the Women's Basketball team at Rutgers???

Answer 2

Now that you know what "ho" is, the "nappy" part doesn't just merely describe black hair, because black hair can look very neat and tidy regardless of the texture. Yes, it is harder (much harder) to take care of than say, my stick straight blond hair, and cannot be washed as often or it breaks. Anyway, "nappy" means totally unkempt and messy, maybe with a "dirty" or "greasy" connotation. Very rude.

Do I think Imus should have been fired... yes. But because of the type of personality he portrayed in general, not because of any particular comment. Black people do have a tendency to blow things up out of proportion and drag things out, and go waaaay back in time, blah blah. If I were a black woman on the team, I would be very offended. However, I would write Imus off for the nut he is and get on with my life. I've had worse things said about me, not true of course, and I'm like, "You're rude." Never shed a tear (doing that would humiliate me more than the comment itself). My advice to those women: forget about him and quit bawling. You aren't the only people ever to be insulted on this earth.

Answer 3

Ho refers to whore and seems to have originated in the national language when Eddy Murphy used it with such great comedic effect way back when he was on Saturday Night Live. I was often referred to as nappy-headed when I was young by my parents and siblings because I like to sleep so much. I'm not sure if that's what this Ismus guy meant or what others have said or if he even knew what it meant. I suppose that what it meant differs with different groups of people. Even at its worst, the comments seemed mild to me. My response would be (if someone called me a stick-headed gigolo) something like, "whatever". I guess some people are just easily offended.

Answer 4

I'm sure you know wht a "ho" is...sleeping around, etc. but nappy headed is what people tend to say about black women's hair. the typical black female hair is very course and wavy. if someone calls their hair "nappy" it means that its difficult to be combed through and thats its too course, tight, and curly. its like saying they do not comb their hair and it is unkempt. basically its an insult and any black female would be highly offended.

Answer 5

its means a 10000 different things to 100000 different people
each looking to further their agenda

but it mostly means i am 66 years old i live in a hip hop society i was trying to imitate what the younger jocks do
i am slightly senile and have been on radio for 30 yrs
sorry folks i.m no Snoop Dawg

Answer 6

I listened to the program, and I think he meant it to mean that they were really tough girls- they had just lost the NCAA tournament, and he was commenting that it was a tough game.

Answer 7

that he thinks all women are hos regardless of their education or their accomplishments.