I honestly did not know that "nappy headed" was a racial term. I am white, and I have Nappy hair when I don't comb it.
WHen I heard that Don Imus was fired for his alledgedly racist coments, I was shocked. He runs a comedy show, and he picks on every ethnic group...not just African Americans. Has America gotten so RIDICULOUS that we feel we have to protect the feelings of the black community by making a big deal out of insignificant jokes? I think that Al Sharpton was treating Don Imus with disrespect...
What do you all think about the situation?
2007-04-16 03:03:18 · 13 answers · asked by country_girl 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
First of all, dear, your hair is not "nappy" if you don't comb it. Tangled, maybe. Nappy, no way. Now, honestly I'm tired of hearing about it. I think people need to move on with their lives and get over it and the comment. The guy was making ten million a year so he's not running to the unemployment office, so try not to feel so sorry for him. I personally didn't think he deserved to be fired but he had it coming. This wasn't the first time he's said something out of line. He's referred to Arabs and Palestinians as rag heads, dirty animals, etc. and regularly takes shots at Jews. He even called then President Clinton a "pot-smoking weasel." The difference is these other affected groups don't have the Al Sharptons or Jesse Jacksons to raise bloody hell.
I personally think it was blown out of proportion but by you being white, I guess it seems even more ridiculous. Maybe if you were Jewish or Arab or black, you might at least understand the reason by his firing. What if a black syndicated host like Michael Baisden referred to a predominantly white women's baseball team as "stringy haired hos." Hmmm...seems out of line to me. He stuck his foot in his mouth one too many times and now he paid for it.
In the end, I hope whites can separate the doings of Sharpton from the general populous of blacks. Not all of us wanted Imus to be fired and not all whites wanted him to keep his job. If we can refrain from letting this situation affect us in our everyday dealings with people, I think we'll prove ourselves to be more enlightened.
2007-04-16 03:13:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well,...even though Imus ran a comedy show there are certain things he still can't say. The term nappy headed is a negative term. If you notice black womens hair really does not come out straight but in order to maintain in professional settings they have to straighten it. This is only done to make them seem more pleasing to the "white" eye anyway. Only a few years have went by where you can see "locks" in some work places and it be acceptable. It's not easy being black in America.
The term "nappy headed" came around at a time where black people were seen even more less than.
I think Imus is too intelligent to use those kind of words on a show like that.
The platform was wrong for him to use that.
2007-04-16 10:32:31 · answer #2 · answered by Leon J 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the answers to your questions can be found under these! They were posted last week!
Next question? Please!
Is there a double-standard for what whites can say and what blacks can say? Why
Al Sharpton?
Now that blacks have had their viewpoint expressed regarding Don Imus will someone express my viewpoints to?
Name one good thing that Al or Jesse did for the black community EVER.?
Why a comment automatically means racism?
When will the media in America become truly “news media” and not propaganda organs?
Should jesse jackson be protested by the jewish community for referring to new york as heimy towm?
Do you think the current black leaders for the black community helping them?
Are blacks happy that Imus is fired
Do blacks like getting their way playing the race cards?
How do you end the double standard between blacks and whites?
Imus is fired now, isn't that too bad?
Who has it worst black people being associated with Al Sharpton or?
What Would Have Happen If The Duke Lacrosse Team Was Black and The Woman Raped Was White?
Am I the only black person that thinks people are blowing this Lumus thing out of proportion?
Why can black people make fun of white people, but when white people make fun of black people it is racist?
How can black us black people get ahead in the world?
In Other - Society & Culture
Why punish imus when rappers say the same thing and mtv and bet?
Why haven't Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton apologized?
What do you think about don imus?
Are Reverands Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson preaching Peace
Black preachers and ministers?
Why are so many whining about the "nappy headed hos" comment
Why do African Americans get offended by language they use themselves just because it is said by another race?
Don Imus: Is anyone else tired of rants from "victims"?
Don't believe the Hype!
2007-04-16 10:26:51 · answer #3 · answered by Meshel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When growing up there were some terms that i did not know were offensive myself. Mainly because i never heard them in an offensive way. Same thing with some stereotypes. Nonetheless, after growing up and traveling the country, I've learned that somethings can be offensive and its easy to see the true meaning of a comment by the context and tone.
Anyways, the issue with Imus is that he was on regulated FCC public airwaves and I don't wanna hear that. Just like i don't want to watch porn or hear the F word on ABC, CBS, & NBC.
Second. Yes Don makes comments about all groups. But there is a giant difference between making a "funny" remark about a group. vs a remark about specific individuals "Rutgers bball team" How would you feel if you were on that team, or your daughter?
2007-04-16 10:24:34 · answer #4 · answered by Gyasi M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of blacks don't know that there white people who have nappy hair or kinky hair. And we do! It was the "Hoe" that really got him in trouble.Calling a woman that no matter what race the woman is is very bad! Yep! He can get away with poking fun at white people and get away with it. He can poke fun at amputees and get away with it unless that amputee were black.Most of my friends are black! I an not in any way prejudice.I also am no fan of Don Imus, I just don't like his kind of so called humor.It reminds me of the Jr. High School Bully!
2007-04-16 10:34:59 · answer #5 · answered by Pamela V 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm from Britain so had never heard of Don Imus until I read about this on yahoo. I'd also never heard the term 'nappy head' but was wondering where the allegation of racism came from?
2007-04-16 10:08:09 · answer #6 · answered by usethiscommonsensewisely 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never like his show anyway and I just don't think he is stupid enough to say what he did. I do think that Al Sharpton and Jessy Jackson over react.
2007-04-16 22:23:19 · answer #7 · answered by sheila g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It might be different if his comedy was actually funny, or if he wasn't actually a racist in real life.
He's also terrible to be around, and people who work with him despise him.
2007-04-16 10:09:41 · answer #8 · answered by Dom C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Out of touch. He shouldve retired with his forty year old bombshell 'gold-digger' wife years ago.
2007-04-16 10:08:34 · answer #9 · answered by Thomas Paine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it was a slow news day or two....
This video on youtube gives a great theory on the situation...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTe2yceZ_YY
2007-04-17 00:48:34 · answer #10 · answered by Jess 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋