I Am By No Means Defending the Guy, But Why Would Imus's Comments be Considered Racist?

Question

A "ho" is typically slang for a prostitute, making his statement obviously sexist in nature.

Maybe the point I'm missing is in the term "nappy headed." Haven't quite figured out what that means. Think anyone could help me out there?

That being said, Imus is still a sorry exuse for a human being that should never have had his own radio show in the first place.

White guy calling black AND white girls nasty names actually.

There are white girls on the Rutgers team

Thank you Cinna, that pretty much clears it up for me.

Answer 1

*nappy headed* is a slang reference to the kinky curly hair that is genereally associated to african americans...that is why it became a racist remark. Also, he is a white man who said it. Many african americans can say that about other african americans and it is blown off. It comes off as the majority picking on the minority when said in that particular context.

Answer 2

Since he called everyone on the team which consisted of both black and white girls I can't see how that was racist, sexist yes, but racist, no.
Nappy haired means their hair is kinky snf tightly curled in nature and hard to comb`
He has had the same show for over 28 years and he was an equal opportunity insulter because that was the job as the "shock jock". Now the corporations want to act surprised, the same ones that help to produce and market songs by "black folk" who use the same decsriptors in their language. I am sorry but guess what, most of those people who jumped on the "fire Imus"band wagon are a bunch of hypocrites. Yes what he said was hurtful to the girls but you know what the black community needs to clean up its own back yard before it can dictate to someone else about speech. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have heard black people call each other the same thing he was fired for. I want to know when they are going to do something about the black comedians who use that language in their shows and use word such as "cracker" etc. Are they going to lose their TV shows like Chris Rock's " Everybody hates Chris" or their TV comedy specials? Double stinking standard.

Answer 3

I don't know that "Ho" stands for prostitute I guess that I always considered it to stand for whore. I also believe that "nappy headed" refers to the close curly hair of the black race. Whether Imus deserved a radio show is subject to each persons ideas. There are black DJ's on the radio that insult the white race and nothing is mentioned but they're not insulting a college athletic team. Why is that you might think, is it because a majority of athletes are black ?? The majority of rappers are black and nothing is said about them and they are so popular in the black communities that they have become millionaires. I believe that the insults to women and the insults to race have no place in America and every step should be taken to eliminate them from society.

Answer 4

anybody knows that Imus' "schtick" is to be a cranky previous curmudgeon. he's extremely equivalent threat in his insults, by fact he is going after human beings of ALL races, colorings and creeds. So, no i did no longer evaluate it racist. i did no longer evaluate it humorous the two...i do unlike that form of "humor." And, sure, I comprehend the place you're coming from approximately Jackson and Sharpton. mutually as there may well be some racial overtones, specifically, i do no longer think of they are lots racists as they are race-baiters. They USE race to threaten and earnings means. that's nonetheless disgusting...yet for a distinctive reason.

Answer 5

They are all women. They are predomintely black. He was referring to how strong and rough they were in the previous
sentence. So you have a statment about string and rough women then comes........nappy headed ho's. Had he just called them ho's at that point then he still would faced an outrage from women's groups. But he said nappy headed ho's which is what slave owners used to call black women and black youths when insulted someone may call them that name. So he was trying to be funny.....but you can't call women nappy headed ho's and then start talking about the science and politics of the day and what presidential candidate your going to interview. It just doesn't mix well as he found out.

Answer 6

Well you are correct. Nappy headed would be considered racist seeing that the Rutgers Basketball team respectively was primarily African American. By Don Imus calling them "A bunch of nappy headed hoes", he was referring to an African Americans' hair texture but was saying it was dirty. I think that's what "nappy" means...and yes...he was way out of line for saying that.

Answer 7

Imus was using 'ho' as a term for tough girl, like street tough. Not meaning whore. He's called his wife, 'my green ho', because she's a vegetarian.

He's a clueless white guy trying to sound cool, and doesn't deserve to get fired just for making an honest mistake.

Well, is he racist when he immediate follows by saying the Tennessee girls are cute? They are also african-american.

Answer 8

I expect Imus was using the term Nappy headed in a negative context as it related to these African Americans. since it is unusual to associate the color or texture of someones hair to the attributes of basketball.
A Webster definition says.
one of African descent who has tightly coiled unkept hair; one with locks of hair that is tightly curled that is unwashed and uncombed.

Answer 9

the comments were not racist but sexist...i dont agree with him being fired, but the suspension was too short, like a month or so but not fired cause like it or not he did a lot for the communities....as you said there were black, white and hispanics in the team so i dont get why jessie jackson and al sharpton are in this issue.

Answer 10

In case you didn't know, "nappy headed." is a major anti-Black racist term.

Akin to calling black people filthy.

Kinda like if I referred to a white team as trailer-trash or rednecks.