Why are rap lyrics perfectly acceptable, yet people are so worked up about Don Imus?

Question

He said "nappy-headed". That's it. And apologized. And yet people have been complaining since, and now he's fired. (On a side note, I don't know who he is apart from he donates to a lot of charities, and don't care.)

So why do people care about something like that, but completely ignore the far, far, FAR worse things you'd find in rap lyrics, that aren't apologized for, and are just as offensive(if not more)? Is not the constant use of the "n-word" or constant objectification of women far, far worse than one man saying something slightly offensive and apologizing?

Also, just in case people are confused(which it seems like it...) I'm not saying "Well if rappers say it why can't he?" NOR am I saying "Rappers speak for the black community!"

I said NOTHING about the black community, and obviously I'm speaking AGAINST the things said. I'm questioning rather if HE gets laid off for it, why do OTHERS get PAID to do it for a career?

Answer 1

What has Imus done
for the Community ?

Definitely he said things he should not have said and deserves some form of punishment. The comments that were made by Don Imus were stupid and unfunny.

But do you know about the good things?

He has raised tons of money for:

The Imus Ranch for children with Cancer

The Wounded Warrior Project

The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
(state of the art rehab center)

HYPERLINK "http://www.fallenheroesfund.org/" http://www.fallenheroesfund.org/

He also raises money for:

Autism Awareness and research
(His son is not autistic unlike others who step up to the plate only after it affects them)

The Hackensack Pediatric Cancer Facility

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

He brought to the attention of his Guest Politicians that the families of the armed forces who lost their lives only got $12,000. (That was a disgrace!) I believe it has been raised to 100,000. (But money still won’t bring back loved ones)

He harshly questioned Generals and Politicians regarding what was happening at Walter Reed Hospital.

He has insulted Jews, Catholics, Gays, Blacks, and EVERYONE else. (He is an equal opportunity insulter)

He has apologized!






What has Al Sharpton Done
for the Community ?

He advocates for some who need advocating. However, we listen to clearly to him…because he has a BIG mouth.
Has Al Sharpton ever apologized for his role in the Tawana Brawley episode? (Read below)
What work has Al Sharpton done to stop rappers from calling black women names?
Sharpton is perhaps contributing to the continued cycle of racism in America. Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated peaceful protests, while Al Sharpton calls for destruction of individuals’ lives to promote equality.
Has Sharpton spoken out about “Hip Hop” radio personalities referring to whites as “Crackers”?

Has he tried to educate the young black community against using ethnic slurs toward one another? (That’s not right either)


In November of 1987, a 15-year-old girl named Tawana Brawley was found in upstate New York, covered with feces and racial slurs written in charcoal. Brawley, who is black, claimed to have been abducted and raped by six white law enforcement officers.

Sharpton raised hell and sought the “Heads” of the officers and “painted”
Steven Pagones, then a local prosecutor, who was one of those six men.

Pagones’ wife left him and he was disgraced. (He has since recovered). In a trial that began December 3, 1997 in a Duchess County, New York courtroom, Pagones sought damages for defamation that escalated during the course of the trial from $150 million to $395 million, but returned to $150 million during the eventual damages phase. Just over two weeks later, on July 29, the jury awarded Pagones $345,000 in damages, about two percent of the amount he originally sought. Sharpton was found liable for $65,000 of the total damages.

Tawana Brawley eventually moved to Virginia and admitted to making up the story. Sharpton has been given credibility by a white population who is afraid to say anything against him lest they be branded as Racist.

Answer 2

Rap lyrics are NOT perfectly acceptable nor are most of the music videos today but for some reason, people both white and black buy the cds and watch BET, MTV AND VH1 so they continue to grab the advertising dollars and acceptance. I as a black woman never listened to nor watched Imus' show and I don't watch BET, MTV or VH1 because of the content and language used. If we as a nation spent as much time picketing and boycotting these rappers, comedians and such perhaps this matter would be brought to the forefront as well. It's not enough to complain on this forum but to take it further! We each must exercise our right to free speech and now demand that those advertisers that pulled their ads from Imus' show do the same at BET, MTV and VH1 as well as the record labels that sell and distribute the music.

Answer 3

IF there was ANY interest in improving the status of women and STOPPING the nastiness and violence ... THEN ... Rap 'music' (and it definitely is NOT Music in any sense of the word) ... is the FAR WORSE example of Mistreatment of Women and Violence towards women for SURE! It does NOT excuse what Imus said .. but Al Sharpton and the others ... they are NOT even concerned or taking as much action (or as much of their time) to put up a FIGHT against the HORROR of 'Rap'! (By the way -- I want to point out here that I am INVOLUNTARILY BIlled for the trash that is "RAP" through those 'music channels' that are part and parcel of the Standard Cable/Satellite Billing. So pointing out that Imus is on the Public Airways is one thing -- so is the HORROR of those "Rap" things. IT IS ONE AND THE SAME -- FIGHT against ALL of the Abuse to Women. This is MY POINT in the whole situation -- Al Sharpton is being a hypocrite when he does NOT Fight against ALL abusive remarks to women in the Public Airways!)

Answer 4

UGH! I am soooo sick of white AND black people whining about these issues!

There are actually other races in this country BTW! The fact of the matter is we live in a totally racist and bigoted society. Everybody hates in this country. White vs. Black. Gay vs. Straight etc.

First of all, you are making a couple of assumptions that may be getting you stuck. Not all black people listen to RAP and Rappers do not speak for the black community as a whole, anymore than Al Sharpton does OR anymore than country singers represent the white community as a whole.

I am a black man and I don't really too much care for rap. It just doesn't speak to me. But it speaks to somebody. The world that some rappers portray, with their hookers and the covert gun or drug deals as they drive by each other's Mercedes is not one that I am a part of but somebody is and they choose to put that out there.

That is their perogative, just as it is your perogative to look at that and judge it. In the case of the N word, I don't care if it's a black person or a white person-- no one is allowed to call me that unless they are looking for my foot up their @!!

Do I think it is it hypocritical that some blacks will say it to each other and not allow someone on the outside to do the same? Absolutely. Do I think that makes it right for you a person of non-color to go ahead and do it? Of course not. You don't need to disrespect someone just because they are disrespecting themselves.

I'm sure at some point in your life you may have referred to your mother, sister or friend as a ***** to someone else because you got pissed off or whatever. But I doubt you would allow someone else to do the same. It's kind of a "do as I say not as I do" mentally which is just plain bull, but we are all sometimes guilty of it.

And in the end, I think you really need to ask yourself why it is so important that you be allowed to say that word to someone. You seem to think it's not a big deal to say it, but in the same vein---it shouldn't be a big deal not to.

There will always be hypocrites telling you not to do something while they sit there doing it (Read Animal Farm!). I think you should just ignore them and define for yourself what's right.

Later skata......

Answer 5

Its because he's an old white guy saying it and (I dont care if people get POed at me for saying this, freedom of speach is a beautiful thing) many blacks are still playing the race card after segergation. I was listening to the news recently and one person said that he is getting so much crap about it when rappers dont is because the rappers are black and its "Artistic expression". I'm sorry but if you call THAT artistic expression i feel that you are in need of some serious culture. He apoligized again and again..He is truely sorry for what he said, Sometimes people dont think before they say things. I feel that the whole thing is totaly wrong. What he said was wrong but his apoligie should make up for it. And at that, the way that some people of color present themselfs is that of what he said. Some of the African-Americans at my school are so...just....i cant even explain the stupidity. For example (I know i'm going off topic but so what...it proves my point) One day we had a sub in english, very nice old lady that always subs at my school. In a JUNIOR english class, the kids in the back (mostly black) would not shut up and let her call roll. I got pissed because i wanted to get marked present, if i didnt the school would call home and i would be in trouble for "skipping" the class. so i turned around and told them to be quiet so she could call roll....I got told to "shut my fat *** up". Is that anyway to talk to someone who is trying to help? I'm going to stop ranting but things like this really make me mad because if it had been a black man that said it, it would go unnoitced. If it had been a black man and white girls, and they and made such a stink about it, the white people would be called racist....Its not fair.

Answer 6

Al Sharpton jumped in against three Duke LaCrosse players who were accused (and not even brought to trial because they did not) rape a young black woman. He saw his chance to make even more of a name for himself and jumped on in. Isn't his exploitation of this young black girl for his own television face time WORSE than the comments made by Imus. Furthermore, he ruined these young mens lives. At least Imus apologized. Sharpton never apologizes for anything. I guess because he is a Reverend he thinks he doesn't have to. If Imus has to go away, then so should Sharpton - and you can add Jesse Jackson to that list also.

P.S. - we shouldn't have sympathy for Imus, but what is fair for one is fair for all, get rid of Al and Jesse to if you are going to go on a witchhunt for people causing "racial injustice". They are only creating more of a rift.

Answer 7

people the lyrics in a song and what Imus said is not the same, there is no song out called ho rugger's girls...there music has no name behind it, Imus had a face and and name behind his words...I don't think rappers are talking about me but I do know who Imus was talking about.. rapper don't call out a woman's name , so as far as we know there talking about there own family..you see what I'm trying to say, don't get me wrong I hate rap music and wish it would go away..

Answer 8

After watching this Imus thing play out I am convinced that
99.9% of America has a giant stick up its A** The guy said he was sorry and took his suspension. Now that he's fired I'm sure a lot of innocent people that worked on his show are going to lose there jobs too

Answer 9

Here is the thing, rap lyrics that you are talking about are only acceptable by those who don't know any better. Not only do I not listen to rap but I don't listen to any type of music where the basis of the song is to degrade another person, race or religion. The same goes for TV, books and movies.

Answer 10

No he said nappy headed hoes, and jig a boos. Im so sick and tired of people saying the rappers say those words, in no way are they a reflection of me, I say send Imus and all those idiot rappers on a bus ride to Mars. what Imus said was wrong flat out, Tim Hardaway made some remarks that got him fired so why should we have sympathy on Imus?

Answer 11

Because Imus is an easy target. These rappers can be dangerous since many of them have guns and rabid fans who can cause major trouble for those who protest their misogynistic, hateful and violent lyrics! There is an unfair double standard! The same standard should apply to everyone regardless of race, age, sex! Shame!