Rick Badie / My Opinion

By mm

April 12, 2007 6:39 AM | Link to this

You know I usually enjoy reading Mr. Badie’s column. Generally, he stays away from the ridiculous rantings of blacks about how they are put upon or discriminated against for everything from voting to major league sports. So, now to have this news break….blacks also have cornered the market on having a bad hair day. Seems their hair is different, and therefore more prone to this phenomenom. Seems only their esteem is broken when they get up and their hair looks like crap! You’ve got to be kidding me. Do you not think that hair is a defining issue in other races? There are also entire books and articles related to the care of white people’s hair. Please, steeped in history??? We all have hair, we all have history, therefore there is a history behind everyone’s hair. Give me a break.

By Katie

April 12, 2007 6:45 AM | Link to this

I think what Imus said is wrong. I don’t think he should be fired though. I also think that rappers should stop using the same terminoloy (or worse) in their music. I don’t think it’s okay for blacks to use that terminology any more than whites should. Young people who hear words in music will often use them without completely understanding there meaning and it is with them that we should start teaching them that using hateful words isn’t right. I also think people in the media, Paris Hilton for example, shouldn’t be calling everyone b***, now all these little girls are calling everyone beeaaach—like it’s funny. These young girls hear her say it and think it’s okay for them to say it too.
I find it disgusting when I hear black people calling their friends the N word, it shouldn’t be used at all. You can’t have double standards. I don’t think black people should use words amongst themselves and then say that whites can’t say the same thing. Using words of hate is wrong no matter what color you are. As a society, we really need to grow up.

By Jan

April 12, 2007 7:21 AM | Link to this

Katie, YOU hit the nail on the head!!!! I could not have said it better!!!!
Imus screwed up, for for heaven sake, he is an old man and i Never watch him anyway, the ONLY reason everyone knows, is because the media spread it like a big glob of warm peanut butter and the frenzy began, give me a break, No, give Imus one, it was wrong and not very smart, but it is not worth ALL the hoopla!!! It really is not.

By Whateva

April 12, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this

I see we have nothing but prejudice idiots posting here……moving on!!

By deegee

April 12, 2007 8:13 AM | Link to this

I can only hope that if any good comes out of the Imus experience it will be that white guys will come to the understanding that it’s not funny when you make stupid black-guy jokes in a mixed race group. It’s stupid, the jokes are stupid, they’re not funny. The white guy looks stupid as he laughs like a hyena at his own stupid joke. Maybe in the future white guys will resist the temptation to single out the only person of color in a room and make that person an object of a stupid, corny joke. It’s not funny.

By Katie

April 12, 2007 8:13 AM | Link to this

Whateva, what prejudice thing has been said? what do you have to contribute? maybe you should “move on.” do you have nothing intelligent to say?

By Pale One

April 12, 2007 8:26 AM | Link to this

I agree with deegee. European-American people need to learn that only African-American people can talk trash about other African-American people. They are also allowed to ridicule European-American people, Asian-American people, South American-American people, and North American-American people (that would be people of Mexican decent, by the way).

By Pam

April 12, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this

I grew up with a father that unfortunately made comments about hair texture being good or nappy. He also grew up in a family that distinguished between light skin and dark skin just like the confrontation in Spike Lee’s School Daze. I also thought it was senseless…even as a child because I had dark skin friends, light skin friends and even white friends growing up. I also saw people within all of those circles to be strikingly beautiful to me, so I never understood why he felt that way.

Fortunately, I didn’t pick up that type of judgement and I actually enjoy the many styles that only kinky hair can achieve. I plan to keep my daughters hair natural as long as possible. The cornrows and twists are absolutely beautiful.

By chris

April 12, 2007 8:57 AM | Link to this

You say the only reason that everyone is talking about racism, yet no-one mentions the three white players from duke. You know the players that Al Sharpton threw under the bus long before any actual proof was found. You want Imus to apoplogize, how about an apology from Mr. Sharpton to the players. You think that will ever happen, Your crazy. There lives have actually been ruined because of this. Racism in this country only works one way. Popular beleif is that only white people are racist. Try looking in the mirror before you throw stones.

By deegee

April 12, 2007 9:03 AM | Link to this

I think that Nifong threw the Duke lacrosse players under the bus. He was running for office. My observation is that everyone involved in that case eventually got what they deserved.

By Bruce Wilcox

April 12, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this

Imagine a Black broadcaster describing UGA’s Womens Gymnastics Team like so, “Here come the Lady Dawgs, boy does that fit the white trash tramps”. I am sure there would be a reaction from the crowd demanding the broadcaster be fired.

I wish all could have seen the team news conference other day and not just the quick blips on the network news. Instead of celebrating they were explaining how it hurt them and their families. Their moment of glory taken away and can never be replaced, sad for a team who against all odds reached the championship game.

Worse part is Imus telling us he is not a racist, he is really a wonderful guy, he just said something stupid. It is almost as bad as those who defend him.

By Ed

April 12, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this

It’s not rocket science folks, you stop using the words and the slang talk yourselves before you can expect others to. Did your mama teach you you can always have your cake and eat it too. Sometimes mama is wrong. I can’t sit around with a pipe all day hitting dope in front of my kids and then tell them not to do the same. You lead by doing and showing, thats how it is done. If Ludicris, whatever his name is, can make millions saying the same thing, why can’t Imus? Also, if blacks want a cause of theirs to taken half way serious, take the two pipms Al and Jesse out of the mix. Don’t your people feel like Al and Jesse have pimped you out enough, made enough money off your ignorance? Highly educated blacks shun these two pimps like the plague, but they are stars in the ghetto.

By edge770

April 12, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this

Trash is trash and Imus made an observation that many of us would probably say if we saw the same thing. Bill Cosby has it right when stating that African Americans are to blame for the cultural collapse permeating the country. Imus said something in poor taste, but this whole mess has only shown how the political correctness has run amok. I hope Imus files a lawsuit against Sharpton and Jackson for forcing his livelihood. Rutgers women b’ball team sets a poor example of grooming and represents negatively Rutgers, NCAA and college athletics.

By des

April 12, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this

What Imus said is wrong. He apologized. If Al Sharpton is a Christian Minister, then he should heed God’s word and forgive seventy times seven. You cannot be forgiven if you do not forgive. Back to you.

By Sarah

April 12, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this

Black hair is very different than white hair, and perhaps we will never understand all the intricacies of hair care for hair different than our own. But I think there is a bigger issue here. Isn’t being called “Ho” more offensive than being called “Nappy Headed”???

By Jack

April 12, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this

Rick,

Articles on racism really touch my heart down to the spirit. I am a christian white male that believes racism is wrong and is a tragedy in which its exsistance as been around since the beginning of time.

The question is how do we as a society/nation stop the ignorance, stupidity and hate. How do we stop racism? It is a individual responsibility to put a end to racism and differences. It needs to be a domino effect, once everyone makes a decision to stop judging one anouther, stop being racist, love thy neighbor then maybe it will trickle down and end in a positive outcome.

I read the other day in the Atlanta Journal that this school in Georgia was for the first time ever, intergrating the school prom for blacks and whites. What? it was astonishing that it took that long to do that. Oh my God this is 2007 not 1950. It really blew my mind.

Here is the deal, their is differences in every race and nationality. Their is different cultural heritages that exsist in every race and nationality. Is their things every race and nationality could change to help break the stronghold and bondage of racism? You bet.. White people could quit using black references such as the N word or Nappy headed or big lipped ect.. They could stop the redneck/white trash mentality. The black people could stop idiolizing rap stars that display a negative way of life such as being in the media with drug charges, displaying clothes that are not appropriate, using the N word, and using leyrics to keep racism alive.

We as a society need God and Jesus as our mentors. We need to start using the Bible as mental food so we can start loving and treating each other with respect. We need to end the all black churches and all white churches. We need to become a true melting pot and learn to successfully deal with each others differences and race. We need to end and abolish racism one at a time individually.

As far as the shock jock, media, news personalities go, we need rules and laws for them. If they say or do anything inappropriatly then they need to be held accountable. For the politicians the same goes. Also politicians that use their power and position to get ahead and to keep drama and racism alive, fire them, get rid of them.

Ignore and stop the bad apples of all races and colors, such as the al sharptons and jesse jacksons.

By AJ

April 12, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this

Um chris when we start apologizing to all of the people that have gone to jail unlawfully for many years for crimes they did not commit. When we start apologizing for racism against allg roups of people that have been treated unfairly since the dawn of time all races. When we start apologizing for all of the women discriminated against in corporate Amercia, when we apologize for every wrong committed and its made right thats when this will be a perfect world.

All this to sayt hat when we have dialog about these issues and others that begins the process. This blog is a place to express your views not to knock anyone elses views o posts, commenting yes thats fine, but all the other verbiage that is negative you are perpetuating the problem. Small but true.

You all want to say Imus should not have been fired, this is big business when his sponsers and investors started pulling out it was inevitable. so deal with it..right or wrong….

By EW

April 12, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this

Now that it has been offically stated by the Attorney General, does anyone know when Al Sharpton will go on national televison and apologize about his tragic rush top judgement to accuse the white male Lacrosse player at Duke University? I won’t even mention Tawana Brawley. Oh, he doesn’t have to you say because he can say anything he wants but Imus can’t. Gosh, isn’t it nice to have a handy little double standard in your pocket to carry around all the time? Where do you buy these double standards and how much are they?

By Bruce Wilcox

April 12, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this

Duke vs. Rutgers, since some want to compare the two, let us compare. Rutgers a girls basketball team that overcame a bad start of the season to go to the championship. Duke, a group of preppie lacross players having a drunken party and hiring strippers. I guess to some it would be the same?

By Jesse's Girl

April 12, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this

The reason Imus’ sponsors pulled away is the same one that makes 7th graders smoke…peer pressure. It has nothing to do with a visceral reaction to what he said or didn’t say. I think Mr. Imus is a stodgy ole coot and has flourished in his career as such. Just as Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Spike Lee, Ludacris, Snoop, and Richard Pryor have. They get the biggest laughs and cheers when they write/speak/act/sing in the same regard as Mr. Imus. There is a fundamental gap here. Black people in the entertainment industry are praised for delivering a tell-it-like-it-is performance when they blast white people. Sure most of them do it to a good beat or to a comic audience. Either way…if a white person did a 10th of that, they’d be flogged. The divide is ridiculous. Its political correctness on steroids. Frankly…its bull-shi!

By Jim Crow

April 12, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this

EW and other white folks always want to talk about double standards when it comes to what sorts of words people can and cannot say. This is interesting considering that for centuries, white folks have benefitted from institutionalized double standards in the form of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and de jure segregation. The race of people that coined the term “Separate but equal” have the nerve to come out now and complain about a double standard?

By Bryant

April 12, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this

When will the nation give the boot to Al sharpton and Jesse Jackson? They are two of the most self serving idiots whom has never furthered any cause but their own. They have never made any major contribution to any situation other than to show exactly how useless they both are. They jump on any bandwagon that will get their face and name in the news.

By Eleanor

April 12, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this

I think what many people don’t understand is that nappy hair is viewed negatively by both black society and especially society at large. While that is slowly changing, nappy has been a euphemism for ugly. Imagine being a little girl growing up in society that can’t see your hair as something beautiful. Nappy is ugly, worthless, unlovable, the ultimate insult. It is something that has to be chemically treated to even be acceptable. Imagine years of your hair falling out, breaking off, the bald spots resulting from chemical treatments. It’s not fun. And no other race has to deal with the hidden distaste society has for nappy hair.

By AJ

April 12, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this

I am black and I would agree that it is a disgrace for anyone to call a woman out of her name or perpetuate stereotypical racism. It is a double standard for blacks to do it then degrade another race for doing the same exact thing. I agree with that. Either way I still don’t like what Imus said and can appreciate the fact that he is off the air. I don’t buy the garbage music that I don’t like its my choice.

The fact remains that there are white children who are listening to the same music from my community and singing the very same words..is it right??no…will it change no…can I fix it no..can I do my part yes and educate my own children and others that I com in contact with. Will this fix the problem no. Will I sleep great at night yeah do I have a clear conscience? You bet!

By Texmex

April 12, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this

Imus was right. They are nappy headed hos. Get over it.

By AJ

April 12, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

See what I mean…prime example TexMex…Hilarious…ignorant amongst us but their opinion yep…will I sleep great at night yep?…as long as they can write those words they are safe but try it to a person of color and lets see it. Gee wiz..how about you get over it.

By Jim Crow Jr.

April 12, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this

Yeah, it’s real sickening and pathetic. They do tend to not acknowledge those things. Hey “they” weren’t the ones that enslaved us and oppressed, their grandparents, great and great-great grandparents did. So what they have benefitted from the privilege and thus have coined themselves the MORAL AUTHORITY for this country (though when in fact they are the most hyprocital and immoral of all).

And their obsession with Jesse and Al totally baffles me. Strange how they will take the position of “stop using the language yourselves and we will”. I guess it’s too far of a stretch to take it upon themselves to do something simply because it is the RIGHT THING TO DO. That is, seeing as how they are the moral authority and all. How about setting a better example for Blacks White people, huh?

After all.. the violence and ignorance Blacks have so often turned inward was in fact imposed upon and taught to them by YOU.

By Tender Hearts

April 12, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this

Imus was wrong and I would be p** as well if it was my daughter, but not to this extent, this is extreme. I go to comedy clubs all the time and I always hear jokes about white people, and they are funny becuase I know they are jokes. This continual attack against white americans saying things that are petty is enough. The racist pig Sharpton can say what ever he wants and no one cares if it deals with whites, Sharpton has still not responded to his racial slurs about whites or Spanish people, he is a hypocrite going for every ride he can find. And the Girls at Rutgers need to get over it, are they going to let a redneck stupid white man really bother them that much. There are pigs and racists in every color, and we can educate our family and friends about it but seriously, attack the real racists not s stupid shock jock.

By Jesse's Girl

April 12, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this

That is the most ridiculous comment yet Jim Crow Jr…..bravo! Your insinuation that black people can’t make a solid decision for themselves because they have been taught by white people to do wrong is twisted. Using that remarkable logic one could surmise that the Jewish community should own slaves simply because they “learned” it when they were enslaved for thousands of years. Try again.

By Rick

April 12, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

I have heard people use as a standard of behavior “what would Jesus do?” I guess the new standard of behavior is “Snoop Dog.” It is like trying to justify your most vile behavior by saying “I heard it in the men’s room at the truck stop.”

Imus’s consistent pattern of behavior and words, like his statements that the Williams sisters belonged on the cover of National Geographic or calling a black newswoman a “cleaning lady,” were not borrowed from a low element of black culture, but from a disregard for innocent people’s humanity in a crass programming style that sells the gutter to an audience that enjoys wallowing in trash.

By Bruce Wilcox

April 12, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

I think you missed Jim Crow’s point Jesse’s Girl, I believe he wanted to showcase the Southern Menality. And speaking of Jews did you know Southerns blew up the Temple in downtown Atlanta in the late 50’s? I believe because the Jews were enslaved they would not put anyone else to the torture.

By Blog Police

April 12, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

Hey Tender, how about not referring to people as “redneck stupid white men”? Lemme guess, you’re white??

If so, does that make it okay? Because if it does, so goes the argument about rappers..

Also, Imus uses public airwaves regulated by the FCC, which is paid for by MY tax dollars. And I don’t want that crap spewed across my airwaves when it reaches so many of the “select audience” (that Perry on 680 the Fan so slyly tried to reference this morning).

By AJ

April 12, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

^5 Blog Police!

By Jesse's Girl

April 12, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this

Bruce…yes I am aware of that bit of history. Being a Jewish woman in the south is never boring. But, no…I don’t believe I missed his point. He hints that black people have been taught by example. That is simply ridiculous. If I were a black person, I would be drastically more offended by that mentality than I would being called a nappy headed anything.

By Ed

April 12, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

Where did the term “hoes” come from? Rapper music. Double standard. Imus is taking heat which he should. But why are Al and Jessie not in the face of record labels demanding them not to produce certain artists because of the degrading references to black woman with terms like, “hoes, b***, etc. Attacking those to foster racism and negative images is appropriate but go after the blacks as well who continue to instill racist, sterotype images. Rapper artists have done much more damage to the black community and their black women thru the venom they spew in their songs and videos. Al and Jesse set them straight too.

By Bruce Wilcox

April 12, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

Jesse’s Girl I take it just the opposite, but hey this column is all about differing opinions. No one can ever be completely right, nor completely wrong.

By Tender Hearts

April 12, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

Southern Mentality? How many Southerners are really Southerners? Illinois has the biggest KKK grouping in the whole nation. Northern states have skin head groups as well. Get over the whole Southern thing, that is a load of crap, people still trying to hold on to what “white people did” get over it, look at what your own races did. I was not alive then so I will hold any burden of responsibility, but I will make sure that everything will be equal and never happen again and we head in the right direction. Blog police, Don’t like it, Don’t listen to it, can’t have everything you want, that’s why there are different stations for everybody, and I do not want to control the crap spewed from the other stations as well, but I am not in favor over controlling everything people say, because I do not agree. Get over it

By That's Just Me

April 12, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

Listen Imus is fired and rigthfully so…get over it! By the way not all Blacks listen to rap music and subscribe to the ignorance that some of it portrays. Are you poor white trash???????? GET REAL!

By Jim Crow Jr.

April 12, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this

And Jesse’s Girl

Your response to my comment shows me just challenged you are in your ability to think CRITICALLY. My comment was not stated to communicate that point, rather than to use a bit of satire and sarcasm (which as you should know one actually comprises the other). My intention..to put a harsh reality into the faces of the “pedestaled” .

Let me be clear My life and many in my life are testaments that Blacks can and DO make sound decisions DAILY. I don’t need anything from white america, as I do not from Black america other than to coexist peacefully. I can and have made my own way!!

Maybe you should try reading my entry with a bit more of a clear head.

By Ed

April 12, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

By the way, not all white people listen to Imus and subscribe to the ignorance that he portrays. So I do not understand what you are implying.

By AJ

April 12, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

Um the term Ho’s came from rappers…oh really and what background facts do you have to support that claim??

By woodie

April 12, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this

I think Imus made a really bad joke. He apologized. Firing him will not do anything for anyone. If people got fired for making bad jokes, unemployment would sky-rocket. People like Chris Rock and Eddy Murphy would have long ago been unemployed. Rap music probably wouldn’t exist. So we need to learn to be more understanding and stop carrying our hearts on our sleeves. Seriously, who cares what Imus says or thinks anyway? He’s just another bad comedian. He should stick to political commentary which is what he is famous for.

By Pedro

April 12, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this

Check out the lyrics to the top 10 Rap songs of the past 20 weeks.

Misogynistic? Self deprecating? Wildly popular among the black community? Exemplary of the “successful black lifestyle”? Ouch.

We have Chris Rock saying things like, “if you want to hide your money hide it in a book cause books are like kryptonite to a n*ggah.” Try saying that yourself in polite company and see what happens. Can you say ‘double standard’?

If the Rutgers team wants to showcase their achievements, how about waving their academic achievements in Imus’s face? That would really put him in his place if the classroom cred is there. College is supposed to be a higher learning institution not a gymnasium. If the most complex math you can deal with is, “how many times can 5 put 1, 2, or 3 through hoop” that’s a sad commentary on higher education. If the academic numbers are being put up then shout about it.

And what happens on the rare occasion that a black celebrity speaks out against a culture of violence, anger and hatred? (yes hatred)

Cosby gets crucified by the black community for trying to set a real example of “coming up” from the mean streets and lambasting the gangsta culture.

Makes me laugh. The Muslim leadership never speaks out against extremism then beefs about being typecast and the black “leadership” shucks and jives to the rap beat then beefs about an irrelevant redneck’s retarded blather.

Go figure. It is what it is and stereotypes are born of reality, including ignorant rednecks.

By Jesse's Girl

April 12, 2007 10:52 AM | Link to this

Jim Crow…..your logic seems a bit pedestrian on this issue. But it is your opinion and I respect that. What you seem to glaze over entirely is that there is no clarity with this debate…..and therein lies the rub, no?

By Charles

April 12, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

Let me write succinctly. We don’t have time to blow off steam as other African Americans and others do talking about the comment of Don Imus; “That’s some nappy headed hos there, I’m going to tell you that.”

African Americans definitely need to find new leadership. 99% of African Americans work for other people. That’s not good people. During slavery 100% of African Americans worked for other people. African Americans do not have the businesses and institutions capable of meeting the basic needs of the masses of our people. That is a bad sign folks. We are paying a terrible price for our ineptness. African Americans are killing and murdering each other in the streets of America on a daily basis. That is a direct result of integration. The prisons in this country are filled to capacity with African American men and women. They are building more prisons.

Someday history will record that the masses of African Americans were too ignorant to save themselves from the enemies within their ethnic group. The first enemy of a people is always the enemy within.

The African American masses should be smart enough to know that some Jews and some liberal white people support integrationist black leadership with their power system because black leadership allows them to exploit the masses of black people. It should be understood why black integrationist leadership will not have as their priority black businesses and institutions capable of meeting the needs of African people in America. It’s not their priority because some Jews and liberal whites make money in the black community by servicing the basic needs of African American masses. There is a quid pro quo taking place. By allowing the exploitation of the black masses by other groups, the so-called black integrationist leadership is rewarded with good jobs, fame, money, protection, leadership status, and celebrity; a case of quid pro quo. Allow me to pause a moment. A great master teacher would always admonish me at this point. He would say to me, “no one is deliberately making these foolish decision with ill intent; they just don’t know any better.”

African Americans have no say in what happens to Don Imus. We don’t have real power. Some Jews and liberal white people do; they have real power. They have many small/big businesses and small/big institutions capable of controlling/influencing the lives people.

So to those African Americans playing the Don Imus game, the masses are learning fast. There is nothing done by men and women on God’s earth that is fait accompli.

By Jim Crow Jr.

April 12, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this

Ed Always willing to do my service to the community, I thought I’d provide you with just a couple of quick links regarding Al Sharpton’s protest of rap music and its content at record labels and other forums:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110006615

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0503/09/ltm.03.html

And this is not even to say I am a supporter of Al, I’m just giving you what you asked for. Now can you please do YOUR part to help us all progress?

Thanks.

By XD

April 12, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this

The term Ho came from the word w*******. Also, for all those so quick to assume rappers are talking about black women, keep in mind when they refer to hoes and b’s, they rarely say black hoes and b’s….all women should be offended…

The fact that so many assume they are referring to only black women says something in itself.

Using the Imus gets it from rap argument is soft too…do we really think Imus is rolling through the city, sitting on 24’s with 3 Six Mafia blazing as background music….

By elliot

April 12, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

this is my last comment about this Imus issue.

By Becca

April 12, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this

This is so stupid. I think Imus should have to apolopgise for calling those women “ho’s” to me THAT is more offensive than “nappy”. It means having nap or texture, seriously LOOK IT UP. People should be concerned with something a little more important that this “he said, she said” crap. GROW UP!

By Jim Crow Jr.

April 12, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

**Jesse’s Girl”

I realize that your trying to reduce my logic to that of being “pesestrian” is just an elitist response to your inability to deal with harsh facts.

You see.. the problem is that you are trying to complicate the statement and seek “logic” and all those things; in that I said, when all I did was state facts to you (and rather simply I might add). But that’s how people sometimes deal with the truth. It’s okay.

By texmex

April 12, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

(c)rap music should be banned if blacks are saying that ho, b***, and n**** is offensive. Until that happens, leave the white man alone for using the same terms. Blacks are their own worst enemy.

By AJ

April 12, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this

So Texmex..since rappers use those terms that defines all of the black race?..so of your race if someone stated a derogatory remark does that define you and are we to group you under that umbrella as well?….Whatever your race im sure someone has had a negative comment and let me see should we view it like you do of this issue???

By elliot

April 12, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this

Lets not forget he called them hoes. Hoes is an offensive word to all women no matter what the race. Now lets not forget that there are white women on the rutgers basketball team also. but since he used the term nappy headed. he singled out the black women on the team.

By Kurt Cobain

April 12, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

Hey texmex

While we’re at it why don’t we go ahead and ban all that C(ROCK) music! I’m sick and tired of hearing kids, curse their parents out, get strung out on drugs and KILL THEMSELVES and others rather violently because of the very dark lyrics and messages that are conveyed in that “music”.

By Me

April 12, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

Up until this week I thought the term “nappy” meant nasty hair, and have used it to describe my own hair when it was dirty and ichy.

Being a European-American female, I guess I was guilty of being racist all these years with out even knowing.

How am I am supposed to know when something is offensive to others?

By omy

April 12, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

So..being called a “dirty, itchy, nasty ho” shouldn’t be offensive them?

(LMAO)

And you know something is offensive to others..when they tell you.

By Confused

April 12, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

elliot, So, because black were brought over here to America against their will, and did not have equal right and etc. But, now you do have all the equal rights and slavery is banned, you are still owed something? My family line was not here during that time, so why do I owe you anything? I know, I am guilty because the color of my skin, I guess.

By texmex

April 12, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this

Kurt Cobain- Rock music has melodies, and (c)rap music is just ignorant n**** talking with a tribal drumbeat in the background. You obviously are illiterate.

By AJ

April 12, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

Texmex…you may want to go and climb back up under that rock you came from up under. Your statement is false on so many levels. Even if it is your opinion.

By texmex

April 12, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this

Not hard to figure out who is black in this blog…..

Leave Imus alone. He only said what blacks say in their “music”.

By AJ

April 12, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

IS that all you got??..figured…

By Kurt Cobain

April 12, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this

texmex

Most (C)ROCK music is no more melodic than rap and is actually even less moreso, esecially considering that much of rap music uses sampled material (from earlier soul, funk and jazz compositions). Just so happens, you’re talking to a TRAINED musician homie. By the way, a great many of your rock acts are now “rapping” and/or collaborating with hip-hoppers. Not only that, but the very fact that 68% of rap music is purchased by young white people..I guess you have just crowned a whole generation of your young people N——S

Congratulations!

By landsaf

April 12, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

Do you want to know where and when I learned the word Nappy? In grade school from my “black american” friends (they will be quick to tell you they are not African, but American).

Do you want to know where and when I learned the word Hoes, Hos, whatever? From music and lyrics of black rappers AND from my black american friends in school.

I can speak like that around my black friends, I can speak like that around my white friends. I’m pretty sure I cannot speak like that around strangers, black or white.

Its just like talking about your hemmoroids or your diverticulitus, you’re probably better off keeping the talk close by; not in public. Not everyone is used to hearing it nor do they want to hear it.

BUT——-we should be free to speak when we want, just be mature enough to know the boundaries.

By Kia

April 12, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

Situations like this always bring out the bottom feeders of our society in every race…texmex is only here to remind us of why education and tolerance is so important.

Every person (regardless of race, background, social status, etc) should be held accountable for their actions. The situation highlights the need for equal standards for us all. I don’t want to take Don Imus out back and flog him when Al Sharpton has said some of the most inflammatory remarks of our time.

Also, our society is one that discourages accountability. I’m sick of people blaming music, TV, and movies for our social ills. We have an inherent sense of right and wrong and we can’t blame our own shortcomings on someone else saying or doing something stupid. And in this day and age, ignorance is NOT a good defense for being insensitive or idiotic.

For the record, a large number of black people do not support Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. They are not my personal heroes or saviors and they do not speak in MY behalf.

By Jesse's Girl

April 12, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

OH Jim….I am not saying that you are dumb. I simply think that your take on the situation is lop-sided. Not one group has a complete grasp of the situation. Blaming and pointing the finger has gotten us eaxctly nowhere. If standards are to be exacted…then by God everyone should be held up to them. Can you at least see my point?

By texmex

April 12, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

Kurt Cobain- A “trained musician”. LOL. (c)rap isn’t music, but you’re trained on it. You’re killin me here…

And I’m not your “homie”, spook….

By Ms. Writer

April 12, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

I am a Black American female

I will ignore the ignorant comments posted from the racists on the blog..

I think that until Black people deal with the internal racism that we have towards one another, we can’t get upset with Whites when they make ignorant comments like this…When Jesse and Al start protesting against rappers that demean women and blacks then I will understand the heat…until then….

By AJ

April 12, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

Texmex yep now you’ve become predictable, Hilarious, I laugh at your ignorance and you have the nerve to call some one illiterate, interesting….

By Ms. Writer

April 12, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

Ok, maybe I won’t ignore the racists..

Texmex: Spook? Who says that anymore…that is so antique it’s funny, that doesn’t even offend Black people anymore…Like I have always said ignorance is multi-colored.

By Kurt Cobain

April 12, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

texmex

No I am in fact trained as a musician and have performed in all genres from classical to hip hop. My repetoire if instruments includes the clarinet, saxophone, oboe, flute, piano, percussion and drums, guitar and a little trumpet.

I have performed music from T. Monk to Tchaikovsky, Ellington to Stravinski, Basie to Bach, Diane Warren to Dvorak. This is one “spook” you are waaay out of your league with Tex.

I can write and produce in all genres as well. I’m done with you now, you poor execuse for life.

By texmex

April 12, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

AJ- Mind your own business you blind lemming. You know nothing about the real world. Read a paper, or simply look into any jail docket to see what race is filthy and violent.

By Jim Crow

April 12, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

I invite EW, Texmex, Confused, and others to read my 9:48 am post and respond.
Confused, after centuries of slavery and decades of disparate treatment, how can you honestly believe:

“But, now you do have all the equal rights and slavery is banned, you are still owed something?” See Confused, 11:23 AM.

Blacks have been discriminated against in this country like no other group (except perhaps Native Americans), and with only a little over 40 years having past since the Civil Rights Act was signed, you and many other (not all) white folks expect there to be no resentment over these sanctioned injustices? It is not reasonable to just give Blacks “equal rights” in the last half century and then expect the same sort of successes experienced by other groups - especially when the sentiments of yesteryear are not forgotten. Look away, look away …

By texmex

April 12, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this

Kurt Cobain- Judging from your spelling maybe you should “train” in the english language.

www.dictionary.com

By AJ

April 12, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this

Im out of my league? Now that is the joke of the day. Keep throwing out insults love..your ignorance is showing….welcome to the real world, seems to me your world isn’t reality and you are proving that.

By GA PEACH

April 12, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this

Just a little fyi for everyone….Badie mentioned Halle Berry and an upcoming role she has where she shave’s her head….but for some reason he chose not to mention the film’s title: “Nappily Ever After”…. hummmm….

By Leah

April 12, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

I, for one, do not believe in censorship. However, some things should not be tolerated — regardless of race, sex, or the medium in which it’s being used. I find what Imus said disgusting. I also find “some” rap songs and “some” comedy equally disgusting and extremely insulting. I agree with NBC canceling the Imus show and I think we should now turn our attention to the major record labels and negative rappers. Comedians, however, have to police themselves.

As for the Duke lacrosse team… I had absolutley nothing to do with the allegations yet I am very sorry. Innocent people should not have to suffer due to misguided behavior or actions. It should not have happened.

The intent of this piece was to try to shed light on a term know throughout the African-American community. The context in which a word is used defines its meaning. For some, enlightenment is futile. Ignorance does not disciminate.

By buddah monk

April 12, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

see…this is why america will not be strong in the future…white people for some reason will not acknowledge black people’s history of pain (mainly because it has been and is still at the expense of them). I don’t want to hear about issues of hair that white people go through when our people were forced to iron their hair on ironing boards so that they could look white enough to get jobs. That is totally different from people having hair issues related to their sense of vanity. People who consider themselves have violated and continue to violate people of color’s sense of self-worth, and other whites as well. You see some states fretting over apologizing for slavery…whether they should or not. Why shouldn’t the entities responsible for slavery not apologize for it? But when 9/11 happens and mostly white people die from it..we are suppose to be good americans and sing we shall overcome. Please! When it’s white people’s pain we are suppose to acknowledge their pain but they won’t return the favor. I love nappy hair it’s beautiful and it’s what God gave the first people of the planet which were black and therefore it is nothing to be ashamed of. But to put vain issues concerning beauty in the same boat with descendants of former enslaved people’s struggle is not only disrespectful, but apalling and when people say we have come a long way from the past i say please. When coming a long way means well “at least they don’t hang us in trees, but they disrespect our women publicly” then i realize this society is a wretched one and that the people who classify themselves as white will never change.

By Kurt Cobain

April 12, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

Texmex

I know I said I was done with you, but you just posted something totally idiotic. You quoted “train” as being mis-spelled. I challenge you to point that out in my post please. Not that it even matters, I’m just wondering if you need to replenish your meds or something. And how in the hell can YOU judge anyone’s spelling????

You are as retarded and dispicable as they come. As long as there are people like you in the world, I know my chances for success are that much greater.

Thanks friend.

By SharonH

April 12, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this

I take exception with Marcelle Johnson’s observation that our hair isn’t “nappy”. Of course it is and there’s nothing wrong with that. Why would we want to “get the curls out” as she suggests? That’s just another way of advocating straightening our hair. It’s bad enough that Imus used the word nappy as a prejorative but what’s even worse is that Black people take the use of the word nappy as an insult- no matter who says it. I think that most people are madder about that then the word “ho” or the word “jigaboo”. It reminds me of how it was growing up when being called “dark” or “black” was an insult. And if you wanted to really insult someone you called them dark with nappy hair. Having “good hair” was something to be envied. Thank God, that phrase is falling out of favor. It’s very sick and I pray for the day when we can learn to accept and love ourselves as we are.

I personally am proud to be nappy. I realized several years ago that there was something hugely wrong with wearing weaves, wigs and spreading caustic chemicals on my hair in order to achieve a beauty ideal that was forced upon me. Now that I have learned to love my nappy hair, I’ve never been happier with myself and I’ve never looked better, to be honest. And the Don Imus’ of the world can’t touch me with their ignorance.

By Kurt Cobain

April 12, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

BTW tex

I put a mis-spell in my last post. Can you find it??

LMAO

By HoosierPeach

April 12, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

Charles, Kia and Ms. Writer:

Thank your for telling it like it is: I don’t think we as black Americans know who the really enemies are. The problem is not Don Imus. The problem are people within our group who use and manipulate hundreds of years of pain and hurt for their own gain, as well as people who ignore that pain and hurt and do whatever they have to do to “get paid.” We know who those folks are, and it is about time that we call them out, just like this Imus character is being called out. There is a new generation out there, the beneficiaries of the fight and sacrifices people have made before us, and our questions and concerns are not being answered by this one man losing his job. I want to know why the outcry over these stupid statements, and no outcry over things that REALLY matter: skyrocketing AIDS rates; skyrocketing prison rates; kids leaving schools with diplomas who are unemployable because they can’t read, write or speak coherently; and poor numbers in business ownership and real leadership positions. Too many issues to list and none of them have anything to do with white people. And since “School Daze” seems to play such a pivotal role in this mess, I want to quote the last line in the movie, the one Lawrence Fishburn screams at the end: why can’t we wake up??? People such as Sharpton and Jackson are using stupid “controversies” like this Imus thing to distract us from what is really up. And I want folks on this board to stop answering trolls and answer my post. Wake up.

By texmex

April 12, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this

kurt cobain- “poor execuse”?

Your lack of “training” in your inner city school is quite obvious. Learn to spell before you go calling anyone ignorant.

By EW

April 12, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

Jim Crow get that huge chip off your shoulder, you could build a house with it. Do you realize just by typing black in upper case and white in lower case, you’re showing your real prejudices. Perhaps you think there isn’t anything to this little display, well…..perhaps some people whom you deem racist are the same as you, they don’t see their daily litte habits and words as being racially divisive, like your typing. Get over your anger, let some air out, take a deep breath. I believe the real rub with you is that see some white people not cowarding down, rolling over and saying I am sorry. Many won’t until the double standards are gone. Again, black entertainers can not make a living by using certain language with with cop out excuse it’s your culture and when a non-black uses the same words, its suddenly diatribe. Thats about as absurd as saying drives by’s are part of your culture. Grow up crybaby.

By AJ

April 12, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

I don’t think Jim Crow is the one with the chip on his shoulder…but i see you aren’t seeing or reading that.

By AJ

April 12, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

I don’t think Jim Crow is the one with the chip on his shoulder…but I see you aren’t seeing or reading that.

By AJ

April 12, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this

So where were you trained or educated Mr Texmex??? If your posts are any indication of where, I would say it isn’t the inner city or private schools. I won’t say from where it ‘appears’ because I don’t want to stoop down to your level, but I’m just curious?

By Kurt Cobain

April 12, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this

OK Hoosier

I will answer you. While we do have a great many problems in the Black community which I have no problem acknowleging, one other major enemy to Black people is the continued perpetuation of racism by a dominating white society. Another poster said it earlier, though I do no know how true “99% of black people work for someone else”. And given this “fact”, along with the “fact” that our society and economy as a whole is dominated by Whites, one cannot discount the impact of racist attitudes held against us as a people will continue to hinder us as well.

Here is the truth, THE VERY ELEMENT THAT THE WHITE RACISTS NOT ONLY STEREOTYPE ARE IN FACT A RELATIVELY SMALL MINORITY, AND ALSO ARE NOT THE INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN SUCH ACTIVITIES AS READING NEWSPAPERS OR BLOGGING. Therefore all this racism that Whites so freely demonstrate they actually never see or hear. Rather it is us professionals, educated and more productive members of our community that receive the full blast of this stuff. All they know is what they know, which consists of the images that are constantly put out there for them to consume.

I find it strange that racist Whites have such a problem with the “coonery” and minstrelism that prevails in some of our people on different levels, when for a long period of time Blacks were not ALLOWED to be portrayed any other way. I incenses me whenever I watch the movies of Blacks portrayed and clowns, gorillas, lawnjockeys, etc.

So.. now they are upset that that is exactly what they bred?? This continues to this day in our current music industry. The record labels see know money is positive music and encourage the current path for profitability. Anyone in the industry will tell you this about marketing and promotion of urban artists. They would not pull this off without the desperate and disenfranchised element that they exploit. These artist only see fortune and fame for themselves, which is why they will sell their souls to the “devil” so to speak.

All those issues are merely outshoots of what I have spoken. Yes, we need to step it up, but we also have to squash the racism that is put in our way to sabotage our success, because even though I bust my @ss to remain educated and achieve there are a lot of (racist) Whites who would have the rug pulled from underneath me because they truly don’t feel I deserve my success; because they feel it has been give to me. Also, we need to begin to be exposed to these realities on a broader scale so that we may become motivated from the ground up to achieve. Pre Civil Rights movement Blacks understood this. I truly think if the Black people who are in the lower levels of our group KNEW how many of the Whites out here feel in the ideas they express in forums such as THIS, they would be angered to the point to do something about it; that we would propel ourselves forward at a rate never seen before.

I am not checking for spelling or usage here.

By robdawg06

April 12, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this

I think the Don Imus situation is a double-standard. Its okay for rappers to slander women calling them ho’s in recorded music that will be played over and over but wrong for a goofy white man in radio to say it. I think its wrong for both Imus and the rappers to say it. Where is Al Sharpton’s outrage for the rappers daily degradation of (especially black) women ? Its as if being black gives them the right call women ho’s. By the way, how did Snoop Dogg get probation and 800 hours of community service as a convicted felon convicted of 2 more felonies (marijuana and home weapon possession) ? It just goes to show the double standard also exists with celebrities’ justice. An average guy off the street goes to jail for 3 years minimum for the same offenses… Judges today are weak and should be replaced by new judges with backbones that will uphold the prescribed sentencing.

By Rusty

April 12, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this

I think Imus was as my father would say “trying to hard”. The free market will decide his fate. He either still has an audience or he doesn’t. I don’t believe the the majority of moral white America turns a deaf ear to the concerns of obvious on going racism. However, When a people, notice I didn’t say you people,allow people like the Rev.Jesse Jackson with his illigitimate child from an adulturous relationship and the Rev. Al Sharpton who has no problem making accusations against people which on more than one occasion have proven to be false and have caused unrepairable damage to reputations as well as enciting riots in which people have died to speak on their behaf tends to lose credibility with anyone with any sense. If you need a spokesman for the trials and tribulations of black America, the issues would be taken far more seriously by everyone if they were being delivered by someone that everyone, black and white, respects like a John Lewis or Andy Young. Allowing these two disapointments to continue is not going to get anything done. It only diminishes any real credibility that would otherwise be recognized.

By Jim Crow

April 12, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this

EW

I will go ahead and tell you that I do not at all have a chip on my shoulder. The reason I use caps, bold, italics, etc is because that is what I learned to do from elementary school through college. In other words..I merely type in the manner that I would speak it. And this IS A debate, you know.

I’m sorry that my being so forward is a threat to you.

You will also notice from my writing style that I am also Kurt Cobain; which I used that alias because it was another tangent of the same topic. I’m used to the “chip on the shoulder” thing though. That’s what happens when one chooses to engage in a debate. I know you probably think I’m “angry” too. I just think I have something to offer to the debate. No need to feel threatened.

By AJ

April 12, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this

I think what people need to realize is that even though the rev Jackson and Sharpton may be wrong on occassion they step up to find out if some situations are as they appear or otherwise that is leadership. Although they aren’t my savior and I don’t approve of every move they make and that goes for anyone… I can appreciate the efforts at trying. No one is 100% not the courts, not the law, not people everyone can be wrong and they are not exept but someone has to stand up, stand up and stand for something and they do…what are you doing to help the situation of racial relations today?….

By HoosierPeach

April 12, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this

Hi Kurt,

Don’t worry, I am not an English teacher (smile).

I agree with most of what you have written, however, in order to have the mass movement of action you describe in the last paragraph of your statement actually happen and be effective, I think people need to see a little bit more than what is said on these blogs. I think people know where they stand, but something is keeping them from doing what they need to do. I know drugs, religion and BET are doing a pretty good job of keeping the masses complacent, but there is another issue here. I see some ugly stuff on these blogs, but these fools aren’t running companies and making decisions, or they wouldn’t have time to write that crap. I still have to stand my by statements that to fight the good fight we have to start cleaning up at home. Our current “leadership,” if that is what it has to be called, seems unwilling to do that.

By Dave

April 12, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this

If you are someone who gets upset and calls someone a racist, look at your past. Have you ever said something that could be deemed racist or bigoted? Growing up in the south, at the same time being a minority white Jew, I have been attacked by all sorts of different people. I learned early what black racism is and how extensive it permeates the south. I see a terrible double standard at play here.

By Zip it up

April 12, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this

Jesse and Al are just perpetuating the slave mentality that so many uneducated afro-americans buy into.

Nothing much has changed from the slave days, some 150-200 years ago, for these dependents.

Thing is, what Imus said was an accurate depiction of the Rutgers team as seen through the eyes of a ghetto black. That description when made by a senile bitter white dude has somehow allowed the ghetto black puppeteers Jackson and Sharpton to arouse their racist black mob and with the help of self hating whites in the liberal media make this into a story lasting longer than ten seconds.

Note to blacks: Quit playing the victim. You have long ago graduated from that position.

By Jesse's Girl

April 12, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this

Dave…as a Jewish southerner, I could not agree more.

By Rusty

April 12, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

AJ, I guess your post was directed for me so I’ll respond with this..These guys, Rev.A and Rev.J are in it for themselves. Neither of them should be wagging their judjmental fingers at anybody. I’ll repeat myself, Sharptons flying off without all the facts,”wrong on occasion” has gotten people Killed! Jackson is in it for money and has been since before the assissination of Dr.King. Dr. King even knew that and called Jesse out on it. It is my opinion that Jackson is an adulturous hypocrite and should be awarded no audience with anyone. Sharpton should be in jail. As for my contribution to racial relations today, it is very simple, I do unto others as I would have them do unto me.

By Kia

April 12, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this

AJ: I think that Sharpton and Jackson are more than just “wrong on occassion”. So often, they stir up trouble or blame social issues on racism. Sometimes, issues are just based on one person’s stupidity, not an entire nation’s prejudice and racism, as these two self-appointed leaders would have you believe.

You asked what we were doing to improve race relations ourselves. My answer to that is that I constantly educate myself about what’s going on in this country and why. Being informed is the key to improving any situation. I don’t rely on outdated thinking like some others have demonstrated here on this blog. I also think that engaging in civilized dialogue (like most of us are doing) and understanding different perspectives helps improve race relations. You don’t necessarily have to be a public figure to enact change. Like others have already said, it starts at home, in our schools, and in our communities. Leading by example always trumps double-sided talk in a public arena in my opinion.

By Stone Cold

April 12, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this

Listen up! Bill Cosby was right. blacks have gone thin skinned, offended by everything and blame everyone else for things that go wrong in their lives. America does not Guarantee you a job or food. They give you CIVIL freedom as long as you don’t rob or kill someone or deal drugs, which it appears is the mainstay of African Life. I used to live by Rutgers for 18 years-have you SEEN these women? They had that hair style back in 1971! So what is wrong with someone’s opinio? Opinions are liek A holes-everyone has got one and some ARE one-like Jesse and Al who protest and scream at the drop of a hat. Remember-Civil Rights are for people that act Civil-not like Jackasses. And look at the 10 and 11 pm News-Look at who/what is being arrested-BLACK MEN. You want reparations? Go to Africa-they are handing out White Farms jsut for showing up and proving you are black. You complain about separate but equal-who the hell wanted to be with you back then? You acted like jackasses by causing riots. You won’t even acknowledge taht you are AMERICAN-you put AFRICAN in front-is that like Franco-American? Are you a food product? What the hell is that mess? Then you have Jesse and Al be the King and Prime Minister of the Black Nation and allow them to call Jews (which is a religion but unfortunately, some of you are too stupid to know that) Hymies and Whites Honkies and no one is offended. They were talking under the “I was oppressed” doctrine. Well, Jews were oppressed over 2000 years-what’s your problem? They are still oppressed-Damn Arabs keep firing on them on a daily basis because they are “occupying ” land that was given to them by the Lord. What is the black community going to do now that Jesee Jackass has given a scholarship to the lying postitute who tried to put innocent college kids in jail? And that school with students that wanted the kids to go to jail for a crime they did not commit to even up the jail population. what kind of civility is that? NONE! And you want civil rights? Act Civilly and you get them. Jeesh-and these people vote? Whoare they going to vote for-Osama Bin Laden, Robert Mugabe or Idi Amin? This is AMERICA. Act like a Civil American, or get on the next African Airways Jet back to Botswana or wherever the hell you came from. this double standard is unconstitutional and there is no amendment saying you must not offend someone. Grow up and recognize that people see you for how you dress, act and speak. And for Beer’s sake-get rid of that Crap Rap garbage-it is not music. And that’s the bottom line.. “Cause Stone Cold SAID SO!

By Nappy Headed White

April 12, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

Okay, first of all, does anyone see the irony in this whole Imus thing? Possible THE ugliest white man on the planet calls some decent looking black women names. If that ain’t the pot calling the kettle, I don’t know what is.

Next, Rick sweety, not all white folks have straight silky locks. Take if from a nappy headed white woman. My hair (and many women in my family) is kinky and unruly as all get out. It’s a daily struggle for me. I can’t use products made for either ethnicity…one dries it out, the other greases it up. I just let it go natural and hope for no rain.

By HoosierPeach

April 12, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this

Thanks Kia and Rusty. I don’t think constantly putting yourself on a national platform and running off at the mouth is necessarily doing a whole lot for the black race. Before Imus gave him a bone, the last statement Al Sharpton made was he might be related to Strom Thurmond. Yeah, that did a lot for brothers and sisters in prison, the drug problem, etc.

How do I try to improve race relations? I understand that we all, including me, have issues we have to deal with. Sometimes I catch myself thinking or saying something and I am like, where in the world did that come from? I try to really ponder what is in my mind and in my heart and I work on that all the time. Also, I am a wife and a mother of one, with one on the way. I am trying to raise productive, responsible citizens who can give something back. I am trying to support that fine chocolate man of mine. I am in the corporate arena battling the lions because my successes, failures and issues can help the next person on the come up and open doors for people. I do what you do and what a lot of us are doing in between posting on this blog. And we and you are doing a lot, AJ. Stay up.

By WM

April 12, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this

Imus is a lout. He said something really stupid, in a public forum and he’s getting raked over the coals for it. This is the reality in America. Wasn’t there recently a very prominent Black Public Figure who had to relinquish their position with Wal Mart for making hateful statements about Jewish people? What about that dude from Grey’s Anatomy who had to go to “rehab” for using a homophobic slur, or Tim Hardaway getting bounced from the NBA All Star festivities for hating on gay people. This Imus thing is really no different than that. It is cutting both ways here. You have to watch your mouth. If you can’t do it out of decency, then do it to stay out of trouble. But how is it OK for Chris Rock to say “Black people don’t Jews, Black people hate White people!!!” (cue the uproarious applause)?? We all need to a little letting go, don’tcha think?

By Ms. Writer

April 12, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this

Nappy Headed White: You are the voice of reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Imus does look like Captain Oloff from the Limony Snicket series!!!!!!!!

By LJ

April 12, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this

Pale One, you are so correct!

I was raised that people are people. I moved to the Atlanta area 20+ years ago and I am VERY sorry to admit that even though I adher to what my parents raised me to think, I can totally understand why many people feel the way they do.

Quite frankly I am fed up with the ‘tude that I get from folks I have no idea who they are any more than they know who I am. I cannot count how many times I’ve had a young black male purposefully walk into me while I am standing on one of the nice WIDE sidewalks in downtown Atlanta…then say ‘scuse me ma’am” and not mean a word of it. Don’t ride MARTA unless you want to be shoved into or out of the train. I had one young male practically push me over because he wanted to make a “statement” (I guess). All I wanted to do was enter the train - on the right side of the door like the directions tell you to do. All he wanted to do was make his statement by standing there looking at me then forcefully pushing past. Didn’t matter the right side of the door for HIM was wide open. To her credit an older black lady sitting across from the door looked at me and said “I saw what he did. There was no call for that!” I responded by saying I just figured he had to show he could do it. I find it fascinating that white folks are so prejudice, yet who do you hear spouting off about the asians and mexicans (we don’t need to list white folks here, it’s a given).

As far as the rapper music? Just take a stroll down mainstreet Atlanta…it won’t be long before a car passes by with music blaring out its windows. Words such as have been repeated time and again in other blogs floating by, along with nasty things about white people, women. If one group of people are not to speak certain words, the same rule applies for ALL groups, PERIOD! Otherwise, those who DEMAND that they have carte blance over what they can say had better sit down and let it sink in that as long as they are h**l bent to prove they can do and say as they wish yet don’t anyone else say or do the very same, no one is going to think any better of them. No one. Ever

The person I respect the most is Mr. Bill Cosby. HE knows exactly about what he speaks. HE cuts through the crap and tells it like it is. His reward? Being labeled an “Uncle Tom” by his own race. Not all grant you! Those who have made it on their own no matter what, those who were raised to have self respect, those who are adult and mature in their thinking…they agree because they know he is speaking the truth. It’s those who find it much easier to complain about their situation (but do nothing about it), who are raised to believe they are owed something, they are the ones who are holding up progress. They raise their children to think that, and their children raise their children. Well, you get the picture. Unless and until people begin to realise that nothing is going to change until people start taking responsibility for their own lives, the cycle will continue into infinity.

How absolutely STUPID Mr. Imus is!!! But how hypocritcal of Rev. Sharpton. Is he saying he has NEVER said anything derrogatory about white people??? And the fact he is a “minister”, shouldn’t he be following Jesus’ lead? Forgive (to forget is unreal) and move on. If Imus said anything more then get rid of him.

What I am going to find interesting is how these bright young women handle their final decision. What they want in the end will be very telling as to how they will handle such problems in the future. Meet the hateful remarks with hateful actions? Or will they be more mature?

By EW

April 12, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

Jim Crow Cobain…whatever your name is, dude I am not threatened by you, now way…no how. I kind of feel sorry for anyone who has to suffer through Daddy Pimp Al Shaprton and Jesse Jsckson as my spokespersons. And for all you dishing Imus about his looks, well at least he doesn’t need subtitles to be understood. Have you tried to understand Jesse, I mean unless you come from Building C in the projects, how are you suppose to understand the man.

By Jack

April 12, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

I think that there is alot of things that turn people off and irritate them. Like I said I hate racism, their is absolutly no reason for it. However this is where I am going with this.

Let’s take example of someone saying that they are a devoted christian but outside the church they do not live a true christian life. They maybe curse, drink alchohol, mistreat people, snub their nose up at people that they feel are underneath them…ect…. This turns people off from religion and irritates them. It is called hypocrites.

Well maybe alot of people are racist because of what I am reading in these blogs, the so-called double standard. Those few not all blacks that always pull the race card, cry about the past (slavery), cry that the white man oppresses them, cries that their skin color keeps them from good jobs, good education, getting the american dream. Allowing famous blacks such as rappers to talk down about women, call their own the N word, curse like sailors, wear clothes hanging off thier bodies. Looking up to and agreeing with people like AL Sharpton and Jesse Jackson who cant see they keep racism alive for their personal gain. Ect..Ect…

It’s time for blacks/african americans to clean up thier own race and families. It’s time they realize that skin color is not a excuse not to be successful in life, succesful in career, or successful in society. No one decides your fate, your financial status, your decisions, your successes, your failures except you yourself. Where you are in life is because of your own decisions and actions.

This goes for white people also. White people need to stop being racist also. They need to stop thinking they are better than black people, stop having the white trash/redneck way of thinking and acting. This goes for all races, skin colors and nationalities.

It’s really sad but racism still exsist today. Blacks are racist with whites, whites are racist with blacks, whites are racist with mexicans, ect..ect… WHY? it is so ignorant and stupid to be racist or to hate.

What will you do when you die and you stand before Jesus and his awesome heavenly father God and they ask why were you racist? Why did you have hate in your heart for people that were not like you? Why do you think you were right for feeling that away about others? Did you do anything or act in a way that promoted love? Do you think there is racism in heaven? NO WAY….

Why is it that we dont have nor ever had a black president? Will Obama even come close to it? Could it be becuase people of other colors and nationalities are scared of the reprocussions of having a black president or minority president? Will favortism or revenge be their first thought? Listen people we are in Iraq because our president had a personal vendena of revenge over what happen to his father.

Being racist is ignorant.. Lets pray for God to break that curse, stronghold and bondage.. There is NO reason for it.

By Go Figure

April 12, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this

I have a question, this has puzzled me for a long time now. Okay, here I go…

Why do young (I seldom see older) black males strut around the streets of Atlanta while holding their private part??? Do they fear it will fall off? Many times I notice they “assume the pose” when I (yes, I am a white female) approach them. I want to laugh out loud and ask them why they do that, but figure they might not appreciate it.

So please, can someone tell me what the reasoning is behind that? And how many young men of other ethnic groups do that? I remember seeing only one white male do it.

Oh, I know! If I happen to run across a program where there are rapper groups, ah HA…that’s IT! The lead singer is running around the stage doing the same thing.

But I still don’t “get it”…and I’m not even blonde. OOPS, I guess that was wrong to say! :-)

By AJ

April 12, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this

Im loving this blog and am enjoying reading everyone!…I hear and relate to what you are saying Hoosier!…

By texmex

April 12, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this

Go Figure - They do that because it it their only attribute. It’s a sign of ignorance. I think they are trying to say that their penal proud or something.

By Kurt Cobain

April 12, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this

Hoosier

There is only so much one can say in short bursts; through a 1 1/2” by 3” window, and what I said was not all inclusive by any means. I think you need to not be naive though about who is posting on these blogs. This is why we really need to take these attitudes seriously. I myself am very much a white collar guy with major responsibility for a pretty big time organization, yet I am blogging. Thank God for the ability to multitask.

The truth of the matter HoosierPeach is that some of the very people on this blog are our hiring managers, Directors, next door neighbors, Realtors, Educators, and so on and so forth. Just pay attention to blogs throughout the day where the topic is Georgia Education and see how many posts from professors and school administrators show up.

This is very real; my many years in the military and corporate america have exposed me to these attitudes at various levels of my organizations; from the subtle to the not so subtle. “Starting at home” is definitely the answer, but when the “afflicted” are so far removed from the corporate environment, blogs, news, talk radio, town hall meetings etc. the job of the informed becomes that much more difficult and we can only do so much. That’s what my “blog” statement was all about. Not only that, but blogging has slowly but surely become an impactful forum for politics, social movement, corporate commentary and so many other things, so again please do not at all discount them.

But you best believe I am doing my part, starting at home…

By texmex

April 12, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this

Stone cold- Right on!!

By Ms. Writer

April 12, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this

EW: So you can understand a country hicks incorrect phonetical tirade?

The hubris in this blog is unnerving…you assume people of your own race don’t have these same flaws or equivalant ones?

By LJ

April 12, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this

Ms. Writer: Your succinct missive says a lot.

The white community has something in common with the African-Americans (and every other ethnic group on the face of the earth). I do not know whether there is a “label” for them, but we call ours “rednecks”, “poor white trash” or “trailer trash”. Now I do live in a doublewide but I’m far from being “trash”! However I did have one co-worker years ago make a sideways remark about “trailer trash” knowing all along that I lived in a mobile home. I still didn’t appreciate it but then…I also considered the source. Same person told me once, quite out of the blue, that if we had attended the same school as we were growing up, she would have never spoken to me. I don’t think she believed me when I told her I would not have cared. Now she was a “fine, well-brought-up, southern lady from south Georgia”. I’m from the central states and was raised better.

I just figured she skipped manners class.

By HoosierPeach

April 12, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this

Kurt, you are right - who knows who these “blog kooks” really are? It would probably make my blood run cold to really find out. I do see your point about attacking these attitudes. I just don’t know if having people such as Sharpton and Jackson help things much, as I don’t think they are doing this for selfless reasons. I see the young women on the Rutgers team being victimized over and over - first through these comments, then the relentless media attention and people speaking for them, when they didn’t ask for any of this. All they did was play some good ball.

On the other hand, I don’t think there is one thing I, you or anyone else short of the Lord Almighty can do to change the minds of an Imus, our good friend TexMex or people who think like them, black, white or purple. That’s a sickness of the heart and soul that can’t be reasoned with. HOWEVER I think the people who think like that are in the minority. I think more people than not are basically good at heart (a young Jewish woman named Anne Frank said that best) and want to see change and growth.

Stay up.

By Nappy Headed White

April 12, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

LJ - I can assure you that the woman you refer to in your statement was NOT a “well-brought-up” woman. Anyone that would say that to someone just puts themselves three or four rungs DOWN on the ladder of life. What an idiot! I’m glad you said what you did to her. People like that are a dime a dozen. It’s the ones who work hard and pull themselves UP the ladder that matter to me…and you. ;)

By LJ

April 12, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this

Nappy Headed White: Actually, I was being “tongue-in-cheek” about being “well brought up”. She thought she was special but I found it sad how she put more importance on “who” she’s seen with than on who SHE is. I grew up “on the road” for a little over 9 years because of my father’s job. We got an education the majority of kids will never experience. I may not have grown roots until I settled in Georgia, but just as we are advised that we should visit other countries in order to get a better understanding of how they live…people should visit this great country by car. It’s a whole ‘nother world out there!

By Kurt Cobain

April 12, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

Hey Hoosier

I think what you just said in your last post sums everything up so well.

For the record, I don’t now or have ever viewed or coined Jackson or Sharpton as my “leader”, as I have never needed a “leader”. My being my own “leader” is what has allowed me to transcend my situtation growing up to where I am today. I think if you ask most Blacks, they will tell you the same about Jesse and Al. Yes, of COURSE they have their own agendas, always have.

I just find it sad that so many (racist) whites are so fixated on those two. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton only exist because of the media exposure they receive; the very fact that they stand behind a mic or podium or in front of the camera and say what they say. Who makes this possible? That ALL POWERFUL MEIDA, of course!! A great many gains are obtained by some who thrive off the strife maintained between the races over Jesse and their White counterparts. Jesse and Al both have, roaming “bully pulpits”, while people like Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage, Ann Coulter and such have stationary (and deeply entrenched) ones. While their target audiences are different, their goals are the same. (I’d be interested to see who will try to discredit my statement of saying there is a difference between all these people).

Jesse and Al are a necessary evil for the truly powerful of this country. They, like the rappers are being pawned by the larger structure. Yes their pockets are fat, and just like the rappers…at the same time they mislead and represent the downtrodden and “hopeless” of our community. They too, have sold their souls to the devil for their own personal gain.

You’re alright HoosierPeach!

By Cletus Snow

April 12, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this

Sure, he made a radical comment,we all do at one time or another. I think that what Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson do is just as bad , they are rabble rousers and agitators every day at every opportunity. Are we all so thin skinned that we can’t get over it, I don’t think so. I was raised by a housekeeper who happened to be black, I know she loved me as much as I loved her,the Day I left to go to UGA about 35 miles away she was the only one crying.When I went to Viet Nam I thought she was going nuts,when I came home she was the only person I ever saw at Hartsfield dance a jig. She’s gone now and I miss her, but if she were here she would say “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” let it go.

By buddahmonk

April 12, 2007 4:14 PM | Link to this

i get so irritated when whites make the argument that blacks are racist against whites. let’s analyze this. Racism has been born out of a perceived racial/genetic superiority of one group over another and also having the ability to affect that group of people. Now when one looks at the world what group black or white has the ability to affect the other economically, medically, educationally, etc? It’s whites. So in order for racism to exist one p has to have power over another and in this current state of affairs, whites have power over blacks at this point, although not as once before, it’s worse now because it’s more mental than physical. So when you hear black people say they hate white people…. that’s not racist…that’s born out of a history that has seen blacks horribly disfigured culturally at the hands of white people. When white people say they hate black people on the other hand, there is no history of us culturally destroying them at all. If anything we have lifted up white culture when our culture mixed witrh their. Greece got it’s knowledge from (Egypt) Kemet which was a black civilization. Europe got a lot from its interaction with the Moors who invade in 711 AD> i believe. Rome received Christianity, a story which is heavily based on the Egyptian religious story of Osiris and Isis. Imhotep, considered to be the Father of medicine by ancient men of caucasian persuasion. So when you talk about black people being racists, you are making an ill-informed argument and one which wastes time being made. Whether people want to realize it or not, the problems that exist in the world right now have the footprints of white people all over it. China and Taiwan, Palestine and Israel, Africa as a whole, i which european powers at the berlin conference carved up the different African states only to use them like a dirty W…. right after the slave trade, the greates atrocity in human history purpotrated by monsters and beasts, Iraq,. But they claim they’re being civilized when they dropped bombs out of the skies. In order to be civilized you have to be civil. Was greece a civil society? Was rome a civil society? Was europe a civil society? if they are the arbiters of being civilized i’d rather be myself. I’d rather be myself anyway but i wouldn’t want to emulate them.

By Ed

April 12, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

Kurt Cobain, you claim to be educated, I will give you the benefit of the doubt. You say you type like you speak and how you were taught in elementary school. Show some respect and write America this way and not america. If you don’t have respect for your country, how in the world can you have respect for yourself.

By This is the truth

April 12, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this

I’ll admit that what I am about to say is probably an ignorant statement, but it is the truth. I don’t know exactly how the saying goes, but you can talk about a family member, but no one outside the family can. This is the same thing, though I agree that all the negative language should cease now, but the fact is that a White person can’t say anything negative about any minority, it comes off as racist everytime. I know it is wrong, but it is the truth. Can it be changed? NEVER. There is too much history with White people, and are any minorities ever really going to get over it, NO. No because rasicm is still alive and well, just not as blatant in most cases. Not every White people is, but it is more than you want to beleive. So, yes Black people should stop saying offensive thingsngs, but when we do, it doesn’t give anyone outside of the Black race permission to use the same language. I know it’s unfair, but so is a lot of other stuff in life.

By LJ

April 12, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this

Buddahmonk: You wrote: “i get so irritated when whites make the argument that blacks are racist against whites. let’s analyze this. Racism has been born out of a perceived racial/genetic superiority of one group over another and also having the ability to affect that group of people. Now when one looks at the world what group black or white has the ability to affect the other economically, medically, educationally, etc? It’s whites. So in order for racism to exist one p has to have power over another and in this current state of affairs, whites have power over blacks at this point, although not as once before, it’s worse now because it’s more mental than physical. So when you hear black people say they hate white people…that’s not racist….…”

THAT is an amazing statement. We need two dictionaries everyone!

“… that’s born out of a history that has seen blacks horribly disfigured culturally at the hands of white people. When white people say they hate black people on the other hand, there is no history of us culturally destroying them at all…”

Perhaps we all need to go back and study history. The REAL history, not what they teach today (you know, where some teacher says she won’t teach about the Holocaust because “it might offend” some children! STUPID reason)…if my memory serves me correctly, I believe yes. .European people (white) exported Africans into slavery. Dig into good, honest history and you’ll find out WHO captured them and sold them in the first place.

That’s right, other Africans from warring tribes!

This is a subject that will never, ever resolve itself because we have people giving differing definitions as they see fit depending upon what color they are. People allowing ugliness to be extended towards others - depending upon what color they are. I.E. it’s okay to shout epiteths at someone if you are black and the other person is white. If it happens in reverse…crucify ‘em!

We need more people - on ALL sides - who can really SEE the problems and solutions. You know, someone like Mr. Bill Cosby.

By HoosierPeach

April 12, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this

BuddahMonk,

Your definition of racism is just small one part of a whole. If I state, “I hate white people,” then I am a racist and I have some issues, because I am taking the bad experiences I have had with a few misguided, screwed up people and attributing that to a whole group.

I have had some messed up experiences in my life and will have more. But more good than bad. I have to move on from that. We all do. You cannot function or survive in this world unless you do. I agree that this country has an ugly history and we need to address that appropriately in order to grow. But I don’t think either side is doing a great job at finding that middle ground.

By RH

April 12, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this

This is the truth

You stated “So, yes Black people should stop saying offensive thingsngs, but when we do, it doesn’t give anyone outside of the Black race permission to use the same language. I know it’s unfair, but so is a lot of other stuff in life.”

Such as being called a Ho. Or being called nappy headed.

By RH

April 12, 2007 4:35 PM | Link to this

HoosierPeach, you saying you hate white people or any race is not being a racist. Maybe being prejeduce, but just not hating a race is not being a racist. Being a racist means you think your race is “superior” to another.

Read about is sometime.

By Kurt Cobain

April 12, 2007 4:37 PM | Link to this

Ed

I will say to you LOUD AND PROUD, you can KISS MY @SS!!

I have spent YEARS of my life underneath the deep blue sea SERVING to protect this COUNTRY! I have spent more time standing at attention and holding salutes than you probably have eating.

For you to even try to use my typing on a BLOG to evaluate my respect or love for this country is at best absurd!

I’ll present the Michael Vick middle finger to you to go with that as well.

By RH

April 12, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this

buddahmonk, move out of America.

By This is the truth

April 12, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this

Yes RH, that’s what I said. Being called nappy headed and a ho is unfair and that’s life, but be prepared for whatever consequences come. Don Imus can say whatever the hell he wants to say, but you must be held accountable for those things you say, regardless of race. Like someone said earlier, if a popular Black person in the same position as Don Imus said, those sure are some jackwhite trailor trash white hos there, I am pretty sure he/she would be off the air too.

By designjohn

April 12, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this

Ok…a little off topic from the responses. I’m a 50 something white guy that has had the good fortune of travelling around the world over the years for my job. It’s funny how that people (especially women) all over the world spend, what I would assume, is large sums of money on their hair. If someone has black hair, they want it blond… curly, they want it straight… blond they want it red, and so on. sometimes the results are hideous, but as long as they are happy. It’s actually quite funny. Not sure what Mayor Franklin is trying to look like though…..I apoligize…shouldn’t have said that.

By RH

April 12, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this

FYI: Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are not helping your cause. Any educated “human” can see that they are taking advantage of the poor and uneducated. They are only creating prejudice ideology in this country and that is a fact. I’m not sure why anyone would support someone that takes advantage of a large group of disadvantaged people and hurts the group’s cause, which used to equality and freedom. Now that both of those things are accomplished, these 2 crooks and the NAACP are looking to stir up drama to fatten their pockets. It is like dumb and dumber. They have a hidden agenda, they jump to conclusions, and they keep the prejudice thoughts in America alive and growing at this point. Great work?

By RH

April 12, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this

this is the truth, Don Imus did not call those girls ghetto fabulous crack smoking nigge* w*******, which would be the same as you stated “jackwhite trailor trash white hos there”

By RH

April 12, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this

this is the truth, Don Imus did not call those girls ghetto fabulous crack smoking nigge* w*******, which would be the same as you stated “jackwhite trailor trash white hos there”

you human piece of trash

By Fred

April 12, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this

1st part- Lets start with the black womans hair styles (not nappy headed hos)but I’m sure it takes a whack out of the welfare check for many to have it done, now to the mens style, the average blackmans styles look like crap, kinda like a retard styled it but worst of all is millionaire grown black sports figures running around with the greasy looking black string mop style with the pretty little beads in them now thats ugly.. Take ole Pacman for instance, oops NFL already did.Thats it. To get to the root of the hair issue, the Badie Tour stopped by the Heavenly Touch Beauty Hut in Lawrenceville. It’s a boutique that caters to black women, but can style all types of hair.

2nd part- Ole Rev Al got his wish, he is one despicable human being, the following is just a few of hundreds of mistakes made by the TWO POVERTY PIMPS, its time for the black community to have these two step down or disappear, they DO NOT represent all blacks.

The Rev. Sharpton for example - in 1987, he led the Tawana Brawley fiasco, calling the white prosecuter a rapist and a rascist, and stating he would not rest until the whole world was brought to its knees and justice was served. Of course, we all know now that he lied, Brawley lied, the whole thing was made up to create a racial incident where none existed, and a suit was filed and WON against the Rev. Sharpton by the prosecuter for libel and slander.

1991 - The Rev. Sharpton incited a riot against Jewish people, when a Hasidic Jewish cab driver accidentally ran over a 7 year old black girl, leading a march of 100’s through the Jewish neighborhood chanting “no justice, no peace”. A Jewish student is surrounded during the march and stabbed to death by a mob of the marchers shouting “Kill the Jew”.

1995 - A black landlord in Harlem, the United House of Prayer, raises its rent on Freddy’s Fashion Mart owned by a white Jew, forcing him to raise his rent on his sub-tenant, a black-owned music store. The Rev. Sharpton incites another riot, setting up picket lines, making speeches that he will not stand by while “a white interloper moves a brother so another white can exand his business”. Sharptons pickett lines chant “burn the jew store” and simulate striking matches, and finally one of the protesters go into the store, shooting 4 employees and sets the store on fire. 7 employees die in the fire.

Lets also not forget when Jesse Jackson called New York City “Heimytown”.

Now lets all just get along (RODNEY KING QUOTE) what a joke

By Lurker

April 12, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this

I wonder if you are the same Fred who calls into WAOK all the time? You know, ol’ self loathing, jiggin’ Fred???

If you are allow me to say to you go jump into oncoming traffic on I-75.

By RH

April 12, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this

Lurker, I am sure there is only 1 Fred in the world. Get a grip.

By HoosierPeach

April 12, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this

Wow, RH, you just took what I wrote and completely twisted it. I won’t retype what I said to make it more clear to you because it is here in black and white for your viewing pleasure. And I read plenty, but thanks for the tip. :-)

The bottom feeders and rable rousers are back from their smoke and potty breaks.

By RH

April 12, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this

Jackson and Sharpton are here?

By This is the truth

April 12, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this

RH, I’ll be that, words really don’t hurt me and you are entitled to your opinion, but I am pretty sure how the phrase that I said came off as offensive, what Don Imus said was just as offensive, but thanks for your input. God bless you.

By Kia

April 12, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this

LOL @ Hoosier…you are so right. We were having peaceful, thought-provoking conversations and they had to come back and set this blog and the country back with their ridiculous rants that have to be deciphered into standard English before reading.

By RH

April 12, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this

This is the Trush, I am not a racist or prejeduce, I hate ignorant people the same.

By Fred

April 12, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this

No LURKER This FRED lives down here in beautiful Mexico. Sorry but does the truth hurt ya.

By RH

April 12, 2007 5:10 PM | Link to this

For all the “people” who “think” that Sharpton and Jackson are helping remove racism and prejudice behavior in this country, you are badly mistaken. What Imus said was stupid and he is just one person, but Jackson and Sharpton do worse things every day of their life and keep race relations on shaky ground.

By This is the truth

April 12, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this

Well RH, that is great that you are not a racist or prejudice, but I never said you were. I am pretty sure a good percentage of all people are prejudice, because all that means is to prejudge, but not all people do it with malicious intent. If you are calling me ignorant, I am pretty sure that is the truth with me when it comes to some things because I don’t know everything about everything. What else you got?

By Fred

April 12, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this

LURKER, if you are from ATL, bet you’d love to live where one can walk the streets any time of day or night and be safe.Also there is NO WELFARE down here. Drop a kid- you raise it, not the MX GOVN.

By RH

April 12, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this

Jackson and Sharpton try to recruit followers to spread the same type of hateful ideologies that this country has tried to overcome for quite some time now.

It is working.

By Fred

April 12, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

LURKER I’m way too old (69) to jump onto I-75 After 20 yrs in the military I went back to Acworth and worked downtown ATL (1980-81) that was when I gave up and moved to MX. No where was safe in Atl. Lets end this, this column started with nappy hair.

By This is the truth

April 12, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this

Everyone talking about Sharpton and Jackson, make some very good points, nut trust me, not too many people listen to them anymore because they come out at the drop of a dime when race is involved. At the same time, everything that they preach is not all wrong. You have to have some education and knowledge on whatever they are talking about at the time and come up with your own informed decisions and not be like the Democratic and Republic parties and go with whatever the majority say. Blindly agreeing with someone before you know the facts is truly ignorant. Next.

By RH

April 12, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this

This is the truth, We are not talking about everything, we are talking about a specifice subject and a specific incident that occured. I never said you called me a racist; I just wanted to point that out to you.

That is what I am talking about. Not anything and everything.

By HoosierPeach

April 12, 2007 5:28 PM | Link to this

Kia, it is crazy! And I addressed my question to BuddahMonk too! I can see if HE lit me up, I would hope he would be cool about it, but I don’t know what I did to ruffle RH’s feathers. It’s all good. Rick Badie is reading all of this and laughing somewhere.

By archer

April 12, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this

Rick Badie is reading all of this and laughing somewhere.

Or crying. Y’all are depressing.

By JimCrowJr/Kurt Cobain

April 12, 2007 6:18 PM | Link to this

I’d really like to chime back in on this so bad, but this whole thing has me TIRED! (And I’m wireless right now waiting for choir rehersal).

Maybe I’ll go somewhere else for now..

By Michael H. Smith

April 12, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this

A personal thank you to all the people who had the guts and honesty to righteously assign the comments made by Don Imus and those of all these Rap bums to one and the same offensive category. Don’t expect Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to show equal treatment, equality really isn’t their purpose in life; and neither is it the purpose of CBS, ABC or any of the other media to go after the demeaning trash talk spewed out of the months of these Gangsta Rappa so-called musicians. If you plug the plug on Imas, then pull the plug the on these thugs that are calling women b*ch and whre and the media that profits from supporting both. They are all equally guilty of pimping hate and indecency for a dollar.

I hope this entire diverse group enjoys the same bad hair day Don Imus is having right about now.

By Sigh...

April 12, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this

I have a question… Why do these people who make disparaging remarks about blacks always end up on Sharpton’s show? Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are nothing but race baiters who thrive off of idiots like Imus and Michael Richards! There are more pertinent issues facing blacks that need to be addressed! Jesse stop marching about comments made by Imus and march for:

-The high AIDS rate in the black community -Blacks falling behind in education -High rate of young black males committing violent crimes -No personal accountability -Amount of black children born out of wedlock -The family of the young teenagers that were brutally murdered by two black men -The family of the woman who was murdered at the CNN center -Misogyny in HIP-HOP/RAP The list goes on…

I’m deeply saddened by the direction that blacks are headed and the so called “Black Leadership” has failed to address the real concerns that face blacks in America. BTW, I’m a black woman (not African American).

By Bruce Wilcox

April 12, 2007 7:28 PM | Link to this

Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson still have jobs, Imus thankfully does not.

By Michael H. Smith

April 12, 2007 8:49 PM | Link to this

Regrettably Al, Jesse and the rappers still have jobs and thankfully Imus does not.

By Bruce Wilcox

April 12, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this

Regrettably Pat Robertson, Big Al Farwell and American Idol still lurk the earth.

Bottom line is it’s about a Big Mouth, Big Corporations and Big Bucks.

By ripkelly

April 12, 2007 10:31 PM | Link to this

accountability.

applies to imus. applies to all of us, sooner or later.

hard pill to swallow. say something or do something stupid, be held accountable. don’t show up at work and get fired. don’t do a good job, lose it. speed on the highway and get a ticket. have 3 babies before you’re 20 and live in poverty. sell drugs and go to jail.

conversely, work hard and get promoted. save money, live within your means and retire comfortably. treat people right and they treat you right. raise your kids to do good as well as have a strong sense of family and reap the benefits. seek first the Kingdom, all thing will be added…..

accountability.

By Chuck Uga

April 12, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this

Folks, Don Imus is certainly not a racist. He is a “shock-jock” who simply chose to use a ready-made, hip-hop style comment. Don’t agree with what he said, just know that his job is to “shock” people in NYC who listen. Howard Stern did the same thing. It is ALL garbage. The whole thing is a sad commentary on what it takes to entertain people today (shock, discgust, rudeness, crude behavior, sex, sex and more sex, out of wedlock I might add). He did not deserve to lose his job, BUT maybe it is the beginning of the end for all the societal GARBAGE emanating from such lovelys as Howard Stern, Shug Knight, Russell Simmons, Pat Robertson, etc. The way to peace is not to embrace violence and anti-societal culture. It’s to care for one another through acts of charity and love (which is color-blind for those who are missing it).

By Chuck Uga

April 12, 2007 10:46 PM | Link to this

P.S. Sharpton and Jackson are an embarrassment. This not only according to me, but to ALL of my friends of color. They are in it for themselves! That’s it!

By Bruce Wilcox

April 12, 2007 11:26 PM | Link to this

Chuck I was with you until the PS, seems a little double standard came up with you and ALL of your friends of color.

By Michael H. Smith

April 12, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this

Enough babble please. This society has real problems and one of them has just been brought into the spotlight. People get off without so much as a slap on the wrist for saying stupid things and some of them get paid quite handsomely for those remarks. When entire industries develop around destroying the esteem of the unseen countless numbers – specifically women in this case - it’s time to call a halt to it in the here and right now, not later.

Just heard a clip of Sharpton disclosing a conversation he had with the late James Brown who said of blacks: How did we go from being black and brown to being b———-, w——-, and n——— ? Sadly, the whites and others have all followed in lock-downward-step. Will Big Al step up to the plate and do what is right instead of playing what is, as he calls it racist.

Russell Simmons made the usual trite comments along the lines about art imitating life, well if that is so then life needs to change abruptly, religious or no. Hopefully the people of this country will take account of where we are as a nation and begin to deal with the real problems of the current destructive culture we have tolerated and endured to date by taking the necessary steps to end the promotion of it, rather it’s for nonsense or profit. Drugs, violence, babies out of wedlock, people on welfare that should be on workfare, the politics of destruction that has given us this society of destruction.

Some might recall the R and B song that spoke to the real issue at large: Respect yourself. America in totality has lost that respect, not just the blacks in America but all we Americans. If you don’t respect yourself how will anyone else respect you? No wonder the world has such a low opinion of Americans. We really haven’t given them much cause to think better of us.

By Confused

April 13, 2007 7:32 AM | Link to this

Jim Crow,

I did read your post from 9:48a yesterday, and I agree out there that there is still some discrimination that exists. But, why does it seem that whenever some blacks think that they are discriminated against they get their way? Many times I have not received promotions and accolades at my job because if they gave it to me then a black person would complain.
So, actually I am being descriminated against because I am white. Back when I went to college I tried to get in to a certain school but I didn’t meet a certain criteria because I am white, but I would have made it in if I was black. So who is the discrimination against now? I am being penalized because white people before me???

Can’t we all leave the past behind and move towards the future?

By Katie

April 13, 2007 7:45 AM | Link to this

My advice to all races: -if you dont’ have a job, keep your legs closed so you don’t become a welfare mom -get a stable job -be responsible for your actions -appearance does matter, no matter what your mother told you (first impressions stick with people for a very long time) -be honest and sincere -not everyone will like you and that’s just a fact of life, just move on -the rich are not trying to keep you down, they don’t care about you so stop acting so self entitled -you have to work for what you want, there are NO freebies -you are NOT entitled to anything, you must work for everything -you don’t deserve respect, respect is earned—period -cars are a privledge, not a right (the same goes for spandex) -nobody owes you anything, no matter what you are taught at home -the situation you are in is 100% in your control -if you are underprivledged only you can change your situation, other races did not put you there. -if you can’t afford a college education, make the best of your educational experience in high school, you may just get a scholarship. -everything isn’t always about ‘you’ -practice what you preach

have a nice day

By Katie

April 13, 2007 7:46 AM | Link to this

Okay, a few more:

-you will not always make it on the team, it’s a fact, except it and try again next year -the chances are very very slim that you will be a movie star, the next top idol, a rapper, a professional basketball/football/hockey player or lottery winner. Face it, you’re the same as everyone else and your chances are the same. -always have something to fall back on -treat others as you would like to be treated -violence is for losers, learn the ability to have a heated discussion or argument without picking up a gun or hitting someone -no matter how good you think you are at something, there is always someone out there who is better at it than you -no matter how good looking you think you are, you are probably not attractive to everyone, deal with it

climbs off soapbox and goes back to work

Have a nice day

By Buddamonk

April 13, 2007 8:08 AM | Link to this

BuddaJUNK

You are Truly an idiot Please go crawl back under the rock you came from, and stop teaching false history

By jim d

April 13, 2007 8:17 AM | Link to this

So much for freedom of speech.

There really is a simple soloution to these type of issues. turn the damn radio off.

Sure I realize there are things that can’t be said—things like shouting fire in a theatre, which could cause injury or death. But I really do tire of all this PC speech crap. This is suposed to be a free country. I become quite concerned when we are able to limit someone elses speech just because some group are offended. Who’s speech will be limited next? Mine or maybe even yours Rick?

Personally I found Imus offensive long before this incident. Here’s a clue folks, that’s why I didn’t listen to his program. How difficult is it to be responsible for what you listen to or read? The bottom line here is that if no one listened, he wouldn’t have had a program and no one would had their feelings hurt.

By Bruce Wilcox

April 13, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this

Free speech Jim? Ever hear of Howard Stern, there is no such thing as free speech when someone is paying you. Let us not forget the FCC, how much in fines have they handed out for mouthing off over the public airways. Free speech isn’t a defense.

Confused ever consider that those who received the promotions are just better at the job than you? You’re not being descriminated against, but it makes a heck of an excuse.

Katie, these girls did make it, one will be an attorney, one a musical prodigy, another a valedictorian, all shining examples of intelligent hard working students. Imus did not apply his comments to rappers, to single moms, just to the Rutgers Basketball Team. But it did open the floodgates for racist comments and excuses for still having them did’t it?

By s.reed

April 13, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this

IT IS AMAZING WHAT PEOPLE WILL SAY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IN THIS BLOG, BUT WILL NEVER COME OUT AND HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ISSUES IN A PUBLIC GROUP SETTING

By Michael H. Smith

April 13, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this

From Anderson Cooper 360

BRUCE GORDON, DIRECTOR, CBS CORPORATION: I worry about at least two things, one, that there is so much content in the media, that no one person can begin to absorb all of that — that is out there.

But, secondly, I also think that each of us know enough about that content to begin to challenge our tolerance. I think we’re too tolerant. I think that, over the years, we have allowed too much vulgarity to slip in, too much of just degrading commentary about women to slip in. And I think we have been tolerant.

And I have used the phrase during the course of the week. I think we need to develop a zero-tolerance approach to content that ads no value to our community, no value to the minds of young people, who too often have their images shaped by what they see on television, what they hear in lyrics and so forth.

JASON WHITLOCK, COLUMNIST, “THE KANSAS CITY STAR”: Well, I think hip-hop culture, which is really just prison culture, is the problem in the black community. It’s something we need to address.

We have young people embracing prison values, a prison style of dress, a prison style of carrying themselves with this hostile manner. Hip-hop is nothing but prison culture. Too many of our young black men are incarcerated. That pain has created a culture and a form of music that is self-destructive for us.

And, if we don’t wean ourselves off of it, we’re going to continue with our own genocide that we’re doing to ourselves, that Don Imus has nothing at all to do with.

This whole thing — and I’m sorry to filibuster here, but this whole thing has made nearly physically ill. Listening to this fact that this man is having a meeting at the governor’s mansion, and women are crying about a man they probably didn’t even know two weeks ago, who said some words they didn’t even hear — someone had to repeat to him — who has no relevancy in the sports world, and he’s having a meeting in the governor’s office, with tears being shed, as if he is so powerful, one white man that they don’t know is so powerful, he can destroy their dreams, their happiness?

That is just a falsehood that has to be rejected by the black community. Don Imus, nor is any white man so powerful — the white man is not God. He is not that powerful that he can steal your happiness and your joy and your ability to be successful here in America. It’s a terrible message we’re sending, these kids all over the country: Play the victim. We will put you on “Oprah.” We will celebrate you. Give you all this media attention. And we will make people come to the governor’s office to apologize to you.

It’s repulsive to me. I’m nearly physically ill listening to this.

The entire show is on the transcripts.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0704/12/acd.01.html

By Katie

April 13, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this

Bruce, yes, those girls are very intelligent and have worked very hard. My statements were really focused more on the whiners and were not meant to be directed towards the b-ball players, not at all.

By Michael H. Smith

April 13, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

Katie one comment, not singling you out because in fact this particular thing gets under my skin anyway no matter who makes it, is this “all races”. That is a problem, one that if you listen to the talk of hate groups when they speak of race, they always speak in plural terms.

We have to defend our white race, does that sound familiar? Don’t disgrace our black race, does that have a ring to it? You see these people have to have many races to propitiate hate and propagate division where none exist naturally.

Until race is spoken of in the singular term in this country, that which is called racism will thrive. Race cannot be defined by skin color, hair texture, or the shape of a nose or lips or even national origin, those things are simply God given accessories. For all of us have only one race and it is human.

By Bruce Wilcox

April 13, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this

Katie the point is this discussion has turned into nothing more than an excuse to release bigoted and racist remarks hidden safely in cyber-space.

The Rutgers girls were victims of an idiot named Imus and a media that rather report repeatedly on issues like this instead of the really important issues like the war. That is why I enjoy C-Span.

About meeting in the Governors Mansion, it is a State school and it is probably the only safe place Imus could go in Jersey. Being on Oprah was a great idea, she has far more credibility than Al or Jesse, I think Oprah would give a fair view of the issue and show these girls in the light that they deserved from the very begining.

By Nel

April 13, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

JimD: As always a voice of reason. Imus has been offensive for years now, it just so happened that somebody complained THIS TIME. I wonder what would happen to the sorry state of education in the black community, and also the language used in rap music that many people seem to want to defend? The music side is purely driven by money, but if those people only realized that if they didn’t buy it wouldn’t sell, but they themselves only see teh $$.

By jim d

April 13, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

Bruce,

Have you a controller to turn the crap off? Are you being forced to listen?

My point (that you missed) was that rather than impose our will on what others are free to say, we simply need to be responsible for what WE do.

By Ajamu

April 13, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

While reading this blog it struck me as to how ironic it is that ROOTS is being broadcast on TV 1 as this Imus thing plays out. It is obvious that most of the bloggers were not aware of it or chose not to watch. Of course we know that the story depicts Tom Moore, the plantation owner raping Kizzy as a young and old woman. Despite what any one may think white men have always lusted after African women and Imus didn’t say anything that hadn’t been said 140 years ago. Throughout ROOTS the N word is used by whites and Africans and it is obvious why and how the word was used then. Now in 2007 we are critical of young Africans calling each other N’s, B’s and H’s but while me may not speak with slave dialects anymore the English language is still the only language that American Africans have for common conversation. This was deliberately perputrated by the slavers to stifle unity and rebellions. Who taught the Africans how to speak english, how to say N or B? They came here speaking a multiplicity of languages and it was the linguistic traditions of Africa that made it possible for the multi lingual Africans to help establish some rudimentary form of community in the slave quarters. Ebonics is a direct derivative of slave dialect and the use of slang and colloquial terms are imbedded in the subculture of segregated communities world wide. When a Jewish person refers to another as a mushugona or a mensch no one gets upset, why? If a Latino calls another a maricon no one makes a big deal out of it, why? Within each group there are countless conversations where misogynistic references are made ( men will be men) but the restrictions of the English language allow the whole world to critique the African community for it’s social and cultural practices. I think all of us need to take a step back and look in the mirror. America is what it it because of and despite the legacy of the trans Atlantic slave trade, the antebellum period, the Jim Crow period and the civil rights era. What will be different going forward is that now in the information age ignorance and isolation are no longer an excuse for SLAVE QUARTER BEHAVIOR or LANGUAGE. It is time for AFrican people to learn a new language or an old one which defines us rather than allowing ENGLISH to define us. We are more than an English, Irish, French, Dutch, Italian or German definition.

By Michael H. Smith

April 13, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this

Guess Misters Gordon and Whitlock, like Mr. Badie, paint with too broad a brush our unpleasant hip hop prison thug society (wink, wink). We’ll just let Oprah lead us to some of father Jones’s Kool-Aid.

By Bruce Wilcox

April 13, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

Jim D never listen to the radio, mostly have C-span on in the background. My point is there is no free speech when you’re getting paid for it. Big bucks and the FCC rule the day, when big companies pull their adds, it’s over, they made the decision. So I don’t have to turn it off, I never turn it on.

Gordon and Whitlock do not decide what my opinion will be, it’s sad some have to be told what to think.

Let’s look at a few White hero’s besides Imus, David Duke, Howard Stern, Pat Robertson, Jerry Farwell and White Hip-hop artists. And where do Whites feel they have any kind of right to dictate to all others on the proper way to conduct ones self. It is time for Whites to get over the we’re superior atitude.

By Nel

April 13, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

Ajamu: Before you start comparing Yiddish words with black american “slang”, you really should educate yourself to the meaning of the words you are comparing. Since when did “mensch” become an insult? I know the meanings, and I’m not even Jewish.

By Jack

April 13, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this

Okay its now time to start removing other sick. gross, dispicable shock jocks from the radio. Such as Howard Stern, damn he needed to be booted off radio a century ago!! Lets get rid of the fat cigar smoking Rush Limba, the arrogant marine corp want a be the Kimer, lets get rid of all the radio personalities because now I am crying because they ALL say offensive stuff about something.. THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR PEOPLE…

Snoop Dog really showed his class with that interview he did with MTV.. If I was black, black idiots like snoop dog I would be sickened by and if I caught my kids as a strong proud black father listening to his music I would put a size 10 boot up their little tails.. Snoop Dog is just like Jeese Jackson and Al Sharpton, a huge disgrace to the black community.

I guess I need to face it, WE will always have prejudice and racism in the good old USA. Blacks are just as racist and predjudice as white people, sorry to say but probely more than whites are.. WHY? because they will not get rid of the hate and grudges of the slavery days.. They wont pray for God to break the stronghold and bondage in their lifes to get over something that happened even way before they were born… It is soooooo sad that we as a world, as a nation, cannot get along and stop the stupidity of racism and hate… But unfortunatly it will NEVER stop….

By Bruce Wilcox

April 13, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this

Jack what are you doing listening to MTV, setting an example?

By jim d

April 13, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this

Gee Bruce, Jack may listen to whatever he wants to. I find your comment to him offensive. Should I be able to get you fired for it?

By Bruce Wilcox

April 13, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this

Glad you said that Jim, that is the whole point that I was trying to make before. If people stop watching MTV, the ads get pulled, no profit, no MTV.

I think it’s strange that a person would be blasting MTV, yet they watch it?

The point is Al and Jesse did not get Imus fired, Staples, General Motors and a couple of other BIG sponsers did.

It has nothing to do with free speech, it is all about selling a product and if the idiot you’re are advertizing on insults customers then you pull the adds.

This is free speech here, no one is paying for my opinion and if you really look at the rules of these blogs there are rules you have to follow.

By jim d

April 13, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

If you believe Al and Jesse did not get Imus fired, Staples, General Motors and a couple of other BIG sponsers did you are more niave than I thought.

By Michael H. Smith

April 13, 2007 7:07 PM | Link to this

Gordon Whitlock Badie and Smith see eye to eye on several points therefore the leave it to beaver mentality is leading them by the nose, NOT their shared opinions on this prison life style and the limits that standards should impose? I form my own opinions and should these opinions so happen to coincide with the opinions of others, I don’t see that as a reason to change them.

To a lot of whites these people: Imus, David Duke, Howard Stern, Pat Robertson, Jerry Farwell and White Hip-hop artists are not heroes. I never liked Imus, didn’t watch the guy or listen to him, except when changing channels to find something worthy of hearing. Duke is a nut job plain and simple. Stern does a lot of risky over the edge stuff and has a “paid black woman” laughing at all his stuff in hopes that it will make some feeble people believe he is a cool and righteous dude. Perhaps Robin actually agrees with some of it but know intelligent black or white person seriously thinks, or should think, this woman agrees with everything Stern says or does, which she is being paid to laugh at. Give Stern five minutes one time tops, then you know him, after that then it’s time to change channels to something else that has real value. The Rev’s like Al and Jesse may do some good but most including me see them as in it for the money and they all go over the line like these shock jocks. Read my previous comment about whites in lock step with blacks that live the thug lifestyle prison persona. None of these people are heroes to me. It’s not just whites dictating to all others. Gordon Whitlock and Badie like many other blacks have the shared attitudes of many whites, as to what is the superior conduct one should embrace for life.

Even Cynthia Tucker and I share exactly the same prerogative or pejorative if you will, on the lyrics used in rap so-called music directed to destroy the female esteem and worth. And Cynthia and I usually don’t agree on much of anything, not even the time of day. Some people - especially among elites - need to get over their disparaging belief that blacks and whites cannot hold similar values and opinions which serve the greater good of humanity because of differing psychical appearances.

By Bruce Wilcox

April 13, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this

Jim D this is from a news article from MSNBC, “Imus apologized on the air late last week and also tried to explain himself before the Rev. Al Sharpton’s radio audience, appearing alternately contrite and combative. But many of his advertisers still bailed in disgust, particularly after the Rutgers women spoke publicly of their hurt.” and “Imus initially was given a two-week suspension for calling the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos” on the air last week, but outrage continued to grow and advertisers bolted from his CBS radio show and its MSNBC simulcast, which was canceled Wednesday.”

Gee from a two week suspension to getting canned, “advertisers bolted”, “advertisers still bailed in disgust”. No $$$$, no Imus.

Mr Smith I am not impressed by how many opinion writers agree with you, like Joe Friday I just want the facts.

By Michael H. Smith

April 14, 2007 12:25 AM | Link to this

I don’t care if you’re impressed are not Mr. Wilcox. And once again the only facts that matter, are the ones you choose to see.

As usual we disagree.

By jim d

April 14, 2007 5:34 AM | Link to this

Bruce,

I still contend that there is an element of free speech involved here.

In our system, undifferentiated fear or apprehension of disturbance is not enough to overcome the right to freedom of expression. Any departure from absolute regimentation may cause trouble. Any variation from the majority’s opinion may inspire fear. Any word spoken that deviates from the views of another person may start an argument or cause a disturbance. But our Constitution says we must take this risk, and our history says that it is this sort of hazardous freedom - this kind of openness - that is the basis of our national strength and of the independence and vigor of Americans.

I also contend that if you believe advertisors pulled the plug due to disgust rather than pressure from the black community that you are oversimplifying what actually transpired.

By Bruce Wilcox

April 14, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this

Jim, it is a combination of pressure from the Black community, according to CBS, other employees, but I still contend that it is mostly about money. Look at the fines Howard Sterns recieved, the station wanted him to calm his act, he left. Some local morning guys my wife listens to get fired more than Billy Martin used too. Look at the Braves pitcher a few years ago, he made stupid remarks, they traded him. When someone is paying you they can and will place limits on what you can say, it is not unconstitutional. Even these blogs have some control of what is allowed. That is my point.

We have rated movies, television still has censorship, look what can be said on the networks compared to cable. Books have been banned, even a theory like evolution have been banned. We never really had Free Speech, there always have been limits.

If Imus said it off the air I doubt the reaction would be the same.

By Bonedaddy

April 14, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this

I am a short, bad hair, honkey cracker. I do not care who calls me that. People need to get over the labels and quit being so damn thin skinned.

By Bruce Wilcox

April 14, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

Mr. Smith your words sum it all up, “And once again the only facts that matter, are the ones you choose to see”, exactly, that is how opinions are formed.

By Michael H. Smith

April 14, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this

The difference is the opinions I’ve expressed in counter to those you’ve expressed, are gaining political clot. Big Al Sharpton may yet prove me wrong, delightfully might I say. Sharpton seems settled on going after the prison lifestyle rappers and media as a whole over these slurs and the thug lifestyle. Not only does he have the support of many in the black community, but now he has supporting those efforts a new body in the white community to join in the coalition against this self –destructive indecency. Rap music sales are on a consecutive decline presently. Those are just the facts Joe Friday, the tide is turning.

Source CNN/AC360

As the influence of rap and hip-hop soars, sales are actually sliding. Here’s the “Raw Data.”

In 2006, for the first time in 12 years, no rap album was on the top 10 list of bestsellers. Rap record sales plunged last year, falling 21 percent from 2005. And, for the first quarter of 2007, sales were down 33 percent from the same time in 2006.

By Bruce Wilcox

April 14, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

I just dismiss it as an excuse for Imus, Black rappers do it so as a White DJ I can go nationwide and compare the Rugters Basketball Team to “nappy headed hos”. No matter how you twist it, it just does not fly.

I do not listen to rap or hip-hop, I am far too old for that garbage. Look at all the school shootings, mostly White kids, excuse, the video games made me do it, just more garbage.

By Michael H. Smith

April 14, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this

There is no excuse for Imus, there is no excuse for the white kids who buy 80% of the rap music in this country or any excuse for the black kids using the same slurs as these rappers and trying to say it’s alright because I’m black. Nah, nah, nah, there are no acceptable cop outs are twists.

Many of us against this destructive garbage see this I-mess controversy as a turning point for positive change in our society via a real progressive reform agenda. I’ve always held that before any real permanent progress can be made in relations among the American people, to resolve the differences that have divided us as one people will start by changing the speech – the dialog we use in our discourse, not only to or about one another, but also about how we speak of our selves. Mr. Whitlock of the Kansas City Star said it correctly though applicable to all:

>

Excerpt taken from Lou Dobbs tonight - WHITLOCK: They spoke about an easy target. He’s an easy target. Trust me: these guys in the black community that are doing this, they’re not an easy target. And that’s why you don’t see Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson sticking to this message and sticking to this call, because they know there’s real risk here.

Don Imus is easy. Running him off the air was very easy. Changing this culture, this negative, hip-hop prison culture among black youth that is killing us, that’s hard work. And it’s going to be risky. But it’s a task we have to take on. We can’t just take it on one time with one magazine article. And I’m not disrespecting what your magazine did, Bryan. (Bryan Monroe president of the National Association of Black Journalists)

But this is going to take a lot of work and a lot of commitment. And it’s going to be a day by day, minute by minute thing that we, black people, have to take on. We can’t keep scapegoating Don Imuses.

>

Still deeper at the core of all of this lays the destructive culture of divisiveness we create – the destructive culture even our government persistently creates for us, in making race a multiple choice question on the very census. There is no excuse for this. Race has no multiple choice answers, the word is singular not plural.

We can’t keep scapegoating skin color for humans behaving badly.

By Fred

April 15, 2007 9:18 PM | Link to this

Forget how the dictionary defines W*******, we’re talking HO here, and to me a HO is any girl who has sex with a man and they’re not married, so to clear up what all the Rutgers girls said, including the TWO WHITE TOKEN girls,WE’RE NOT HOs. Have them all take a lie detector test, the gay ones will pass ,the rest will FAIL.

By jim d

April 16, 2007 7:53 AM | Link to this

“a turning point for positive change in our society via a real progressive reform agenda. I’ve always held that before any real permanent progress can be made in relations among the American people,to resolve the differences that have divided us as one people will start by changing the speech – the dialog we use in our discourse, not only to or about one another, but also about how we speak of our selves “

Mr. Smith,

Is any type of limiting of free speech what you really want? While we may disagree with some of what others may say, their speech sparks debate, and forces people to reflect upon and defend their own positions and views (like we are doing here). None of this is a bad thing in a democratic society that purports to value free speech.

Shock-jocks and loudmouth entertainers like Imus and Stern aren’t a real threat to anyone. They’re merely products that exist out there in the free market. If they say crazy things with which you disagree, use it as an opportunity to fight it out with your friends, or to educate your children and teach them how to think critically. Limiting speech is not the answer.