Post by Finaddict on Apr 12, 2007 19:55:31 GMT -5
the following comes from the Detroit Free Press.com
Let me preface this by saying I find Don Imus's comments to be deplorable and in the worst taste. BUT blaming Ice-T and other rappers for it is a leap into ridiculousness. Don Imus spent part of his checkered career in Cleveland. His comments don't surprise me, just disgust me.
ROCHELLE RILEY
Get rid of Imus -- and sexist rap, too
April 10, 2007
BY ROCHELLE RILEY
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
Yes, we are angry over radio host Don Imus losing his mind on his nationally syndicated show and calling members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos."
But step away from the anger for a minute. Imus may have done us two favors.
First, his comments were incendiary. If they incite haters to do harm, then he will have aided and abetted hate crimes, which has to make law enforcement consider hate speech as a motivation for crime.
For instance, skinheads could use his words to say: "We're right, let's go beat somebody up." Or some Strom Thurmond wannabes who didn't father black children could use his words as affirmation of their actions and say, "Let's revisit housing deed restrictions and school segregation."
If Imus' words incite hate crimes, then perhaps he could be arrested for his role. And he'll be off the air.
Or, Imus may have finally cast a large enough spotlight on the social crimes of black rappers, who aided and abetted his comments. Every rapper who uses the language of the genre makes it easier for racists and sad, inexplicably popular stars such as Imus to do so, too. It is rappers who have made those words part of our culture, part of the inescapable cloud of noise outside our homes, in our kids' schools and in most public places.
America's backslide
I actually held my breath when I did a computer spell-check on this column, and it didn't recognize "hos," but instead suggested that I use the word for a garden tool.
Sexist rap, and that's what I call any rap that includes the words "bitches and hos," has become prevalent and acceptable. But it remains as hurtful as the first time Ice-T called for cops to be killed two decades ago.If CBS-Radio leads the way for all radio to forbid hate speech from the airwaves, then the network could retire Imus with the thanks of a grateful nation of parents. And Imus would be off the air.The language and the feelings behind them have contributed to America's backslide to a time when women were considered inferior and black people were considered animals. Imus' apology was silly and inadequate. I don't want it. And I don't want an apology from Ludacris or 50 Cent or The Game. What I want is for them and others like them to stop.
Real change?
So perhaps Imus may lead America to its senses and may lead the FCC, which stands for Failing Children Constantly, actually to do its job. Perhaps the Imus event will one day be viewed as the watershed moment when media woke up and refused to aid and abet hate.
Don Imus didn't do anything new last week. He just went too far. If we ignore it, as we've ignored the rising tide of hatred and sexism in rap, it will be at our own peril.
So whether Imus gets connected with a hate crime and is eventually arrested or whether his comments lead us to stop accepting hate speech as entertainment, either way, he'll be off the air. And we can send a thank-you card to the retirement home where he'll be sitting on a porch wondering, "What was I thinking?"
Contact ROCHELLE RILEY at 313-223-4473 or rriley99@freepress.com.
Let me preface this by saying I find Don Imus's comments to be deplorable and in the worst taste. BUT blaming Ice-T and other rappers for it is a leap into ridiculousness. Don Imus spent part of his checkered career in Cleveland. His comments don't surprise me, just disgust me.
ROCHELLE RILEY
Get rid of Imus -- and sexist rap, too
April 10, 2007
BY ROCHELLE RILEY
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
Yes, we are angry over radio host Don Imus losing his mind on his nationally syndicated show and calling members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos."
But step away from the anger for a minute. Imus may have done us two favors.
First, his comments were incendiary. If they incite haters to do harm, then he will have aided and abetted hate crimes, which has to make law enforcement consider hate speech as a motivation for crime.
For instance, skinheads could use his words to say: "We're right, let's go beat somebody up." Or some Strom Thurmond wannabes who didn't father black children could use his words as affirmation of their actions and say, "Let's revisit housing deed restrictions and school segregation."
If Imus' words incite hate crimes, then perhaps he could be arrested for his role. And he'll be off the air.
Or, Imus may have finally cast a large enough spotlight on the social crimes of black rappers, who aided and abetted his comments. Every rapper who uses the language of the genre makes it easier for racists and sad, inexplicably popular stars such as Imus to do so, too. It is rappers who have made those words part of our culture, part of the inescapable cloud of noise outside our homes, in our kids' schools and in most public places.
America's backslide
I actually held my breath when I did a computer spell-check on this column, and it didn't recognize "hos," but instead suggested that I use the word for a garden tool.
Sexist rap, and that's what I call any rap that includes the words "bitches and hos," has become prevalent and acceptable. But it remains as hurtful as the first time Ice-T called for cops to be killed two decades ago.If CBS-Radio leads the way for all radio to forbid hate speech from the airwaves, then the network could retire Imus with the thanks of a grateful nation of parents. And Imus would be off the air.The language and the feelings behind them have contributed to America's backslide to a time when women were considered inferior and black people were considered animals. Imus' apology was silly and inadequate. I don't want it. And I don't want an apology from Ludacris or 50 Cent or The Game. What I want is for them and others like them to stop.
Real change?
So perhaps Imus may lead America to its senses and may lead the FCC, which stands for Failing Children Constantly, actually to do its job. Perhaps the Imus event will one day be viewed as the watershed moment when media woke up and refused to aid and abet hate.
Don Imus didn't do anything new last week. He just went too far. If we ignore it, as we've ignored the rising tide of hatred and sexism in rap, it will be at our own peril.
So whether Imus gets connected with a hate crime and is eventually arrested or whether his comments lead us to stop accepting hate speech as entertainment, either way, he'll be off the air. And we can send a thank-you card to the retirement home where he'll be sitting on a porch wondering, "What was I thinking?"
Contact ROCHELLE RILEY at 313-223-4473 or rriley99@freepress.com.