1st ever question - and I want genuine answers, please.?

Question

Much as the USA likes to think the whole world revolves around it, it doesn't, so the fuss over a guy called Imus bewilders me.
Not that he should be 'pardoned' for ethnic slurs, or anything, I just don't understand WHAT he actually said.
Some questions re what he said and what was objectionable:
1) Was it the 'nappy-headed' bit that was most offensive?
2) Does 'nappy-headed' refer to babies or to Afro-American/Black (whatever the present acceptable term is) head coverings?
3) What's a 'ho'/what are 'hos' in the sense he used the word? I've always seen and heard it used as a pejorative for ho/mo/sexual(s), nothing else.

Genuinely want to know - not stir up more hassles, so reasoned answers, pleae.

Answer 1

"Nappy-headed" refers to the tight curly hair common among those of African heritage. The term has unfortunate resonances from slavery and early 20th-Century racist use.

"Ho" (plural "hos", I suppose) is a kind of ghetto pronunciation of "whore" and in hip-hop and street slang used to refer to all women; can be substituted for "b***h" (or "beeach"). Also not complimentary. The combination of the two is highly insulting, particularly coming from a white man renowned for saying offensive things. This one might just be over the line, even for a racist thug like Imus.

Answer 2

The term nappy-headed ho: although it has probably been used in the past, Imus was quoting a line or phrase from a Spike Lee movie. Even though I did know they were playing, what % of the rest of the world knew that Rutgers was even a good team or that the NCAA womens basketball championship had even been played. I am guessing that, of course with no credit being given to Imus, Rutgers womens basketball will benefit from this publicity, because a lot of the (inre to this topic >>>) N.H.H.s will now take a look at Rutgers.

Answer 3

1. I believe "nappy-headed" refers to their hair but not sure how. It sounds like it is a common term in rap music but I never listen to that so I am not sure.
2. See above
3. ho is a slang term for whores. I know that from back when my 20 something sons were teenagers and listened to that trash music. Thank God they grew out of that.

I find Imus offensive and have seen or listened very little of his shows for that reason.

In my opinion, the comments were uncalled for when referring to a girls college basketball team. That said, who the hell does Al Sharpton think he is going out and demanding anything. What a racist hypocrite that man is.

Imus should have been able to apologize for his fauxpas and been able to go back to his equal opportunity offensiveness.
Sharpton and what-ever-his -name-is should just crawl back in their holes.

And to answer your original question, the world does not revolve around the USA. And the USA should not revolve around this kind of media madness.

Good question.

:o) Pixil

Answer 4

Actually the world does revolve around the US. Financially, big businesses conduct international transactions in US Dollars.

As to your questions,
Nappy-headed is insulting to African-Americans.
It refers to their hair being dirty, uncombed, scraggly with little hairballs.

Ho's is short for Whore.

The whole situation is insulting since a lot of Americans want to believe (or ignore) the fact that racism is still prevalent in the US. Many whites argue that what Imus said was just a joke, but they don't realize that people say that type of stuff and even worse here in the US daily and they're not joking.

Answer 5

The USA doesn't "think" anything, because the USA is a concept, not a sentient being.

That being said:
1. nappy headed can be used as a derogatory term, much like redneck can be.
2. nappy headed refers to unkempt uncombed hair.
3. Ho is short for whore. I have never heard it used to refer to homosexuals.

Answer 6

nappy headed means dirty unkept hair almost like a brillo pad. Africans are offended because there hair is curly like that. ho is a girl that has sex with everyone or in modern language ho could be referred to as a girl in general. That depends on who says it. If a rapper says it it probably means a girl. If anyone else says it they are probably referring to a prostitute. Welcome to american idiocracy. Blacks can say white racial slurs with out being racist but as soon as a white person says anything about a black it is racist. You are better off just not understanding and try to remain being a good person. You probably offended someone with your question

Answer 7

Hoe is derived from whore which came from the slave masters, and owners. For those of color it goes to the ebonics floor-flo, door-do, more-mo, whore-hoe that's the first issue. A whore is a slu t flat out nappy head had nothing to do with it thats adding insult to injury. Furthermore to say the word jig a boo is just as bad as hoe which both come from the same origin the slave master/owner so for folks of color to hear someone use both these words in the same sentence takes most back to the plantation days.