Racism denies humanity, and that's what Don Imus did

CarmenVanKerckhove — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 09:25:36 -0500

"Most are not thinking about these girls as people."

Nordette, in my opinion that is the key phrase from your post.

Don Imus and others like him do not recognize that these women are actual human beings, with real feelings and hopes and dreams.

That's what racism does: it denies humanity. It's much easier to treat someone like garbage if you don't think of them as an actual human being just like yourself.

Carmen Van Kerckhove
NEW DEMOGRAPHIC
carmen@newdemographic.com
www.newdemographic.com

New Demographic is an anti-racism training company that goes beyond diversity buzzwords to tackle the real issues behind race and racism.

Words ARE powerful

marymbauer — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 07:05:34 -0500

Words have much power. Don Imus makes a living using this power -- his speech is not for free. This does put him in a different position than others who don't make a living this way. I wish I could say he's the only person in the industry (world) who doesn't "get" the importance of 'living in the shoes of others' as you said, Nordette, and why this type of behaviour is unacceptable.

Yes, we do have to protect the right to free speech -- but in this case this argument seems a deflection for the real issue of prejudice. It is not okay to hurt others, and it is encouraging to see so many people say publically and privately that it is not okay.

I read the link you provided on what "Americans" really think about this issue, and I think it is a fair representation of what I also hear in the midwest. The number one point people make is the gansta rap argument that if that's okay, then so is the Imus remark. And this is a problem. None of this is okay.

http://www.marymbauer.com

Despite it all...a flicker of optimism

Elana Centor — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:48:07 -0500

They are young. They are smart. They are athletes. They are authentic. Listening to them respond to question after question from the media, I felt enormous optimism. Here are group of 17, 18, 19 and 20 year olds who understand that they are being given a "moment" in our social history to take a stand, make a difference and change the social discourse of our country.

I have all the confidence in the world in their ability to live up to this enormous challenge and help all of us become " winners."

What could have been just another disgusting, degrading and ignored comment about women is now turning into a national discussion and awareness that language does matter. It is not acceptable for the media to profit from sexist and racist language. Calling any woman a Ho is not acceptable. Calling a woman a bitch is not acceptable.Calling women pigs is not acceptable.

Through the elegance and grace of the women on the Rutgers Basketball Team, I am cautiously optimistic for the first time in a long time that people are finally "hearing" what many of us have been shouting for years.

elana
Blogher Contributing Editor,Business&CareersFunnyBusiness

Your daughter and Imus

Nordette — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:56:50 -0500

"We ask that you not recognize us in a light as dimly lit as this," said Essence Carson, a junior at Rutgers University and captain of the Rutgers women's basketball team insulted by Don Imus. She spoke at a press conference today where the team announced that the women and their families have agreed to meet with Imus. She wants people not to look at the team in light of Don Imus' slurs but in the light of the team's accomplishments.

I watched video of Miss Carson's speech, and I started to weep. What if that were my daughter? In so many ways she is my daughter. She's every young woman who aspires higher.

Earlier this week at The Star Ledger in Newark, NJ, Steve Politi wrote the following

Don Imus said yesterday he wants to meet with the players on the Rutgers women's basketball team, the ones he called "nappy-headed hos," and that's good. He should listen to them describe the things they've overcome to get to the doorstep of a national championship. He should spend some time at a practice to see how hard they work. He should take a look at their class schedules to see how many different directions they're pulled during the season.

Coach Stringer also spoke at the press conferences, emphasizing challenges the team's faced and that the team consists mostly of freshman:

Imus' comments have overshadowed the accomplishments of the freshman-laden Rutgers team, Stringer said. The team, which suffered through several early-season losses, finished an unexpected second in last week's NCAA tournament.

"That's the greatest story," Stringer said of her team. "I have nothing but pride and respect for them." (source)

Speaking of the use of racist and misogynistic language, Miss Carson also said:

"We're not attacking a major broadcasting figure. We're attacking an issue that we know isn't right.

... We are students first and then we are athletes. And before the student lies the daughter." (WBIR, Knoxville, TN, video)

Not mine, but someone's daughter
People are so wrapped up in whether Imus should be fired and whether freedom of speech is in jeopardy, that they seem to forget that Imus directed his insults to flesh and blood young women. He hurt not only them but also their families.

What if it were my daughter? I don't know that I'd want to meet with Imus. Is there really anything he can say to explain why he chose to insult my child?

African-American families still struggle to get children to college, any college. While we may point to individual middle-class black families that we know who do well in this economy, the fact is that most struggle and for many college is not an option. Imagine the pride you'd feel after sacrificing to get your child into a good school, to see her excel and be part of a historic moment for one of the nation's best universities, only to turn on the TV and discover some man is referring to her and her teammates as "whores" and making fun of her looks.

I have to use the actual word "whore" here because people seem to forget that "ho" means "whore." What if Imus had said, "nappy-headed sluts" or "nappy-headed hookers," would we then understand that not only did he say something misogynistic and racist, but he also slandered these women?

"What hurts the most about this situation is that Mr. Imus doesn't know one of us personally," said team member Heather Zurich. "We were insulted and yes, we were angry."

If these were your daughters or if your daughters were members of a team so slandered, would you want Imus to pay for his transgressions? Would you think it was funny and okay for him to use such language?

And then there's whole "nappy head" thing. Check this post by Professor Kim for more about the hair issue.

Is America more like Imus?

Don't be fooled into thinking that everyday Americans are as outraged by Imus' conduct as those who protest what he said. Read what these Americans in Knoxville, TN, have to say at this link. I suspect they reflect more the average American mindset than activists, professional journalists, and literate bloggers. Most are not thinking about these girls as people. They are using the protests against Imus to vent their anger at black people as a group and anyone who speaks out against racism.

I don't think their sentiments are restricted to southerners. You can read similar comments all around the blogosphere from all parts of the country.

What's happened to putting yourself in the shoes of the wounded person, in this case these girls? What's happened to common decency? Maybe these people think black women don't deserve common decency.

In Don Imus' shoes

From what I see many more are willing to put themselves in Don Imus' shoes and see him and people like themselves as the victim here. They wouldn't want to be fired for saying something stupid, they declare.

Maybe it escapes them that saying something, speech, is how Imus makes his living. Do these people feel this way when they hear of a surgeon slipping with his scalpel? He earns his living with that tool, shouldn't he handle it properly?

I agree with some of Imus' supporters that his remarks about the Rutgers team were stupid. Yep, being racist is stupid. So, I wonder do these people think stupidity is worth their defense? It's my understanding that this is not Imus' first time making racist remarks on the air. And how stupid are these people who don't understand what the ruckus is about? Have these people not been taught that words hurt, that "Stick and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is a myth?

They also argue that black, gangsta rappers demean women. Does this make Imus' words okay? Are they not aware that people have been protesting gangsta rap's misogyny since gangsta rap hit the airwaves?

"Stupid is as stupid does."

I'm amazed at the "stupid defense," and go with Forrest Gump on this one: "Stupid is as stupid does." Would these Imus supporters be offended if I called them stupid because they support racist speech? Maybe they wouldn't be hurt at all. They seem to take pride in telling others to grow a thicker skin. I guess that means that they themselves are thick-skinned and insults roll off them.

But are they thick-skinned or thick-headed? I remember a late black activist who had a saying for people who always advise we should let insults roll off our backs. She said, "Some people are so ignorant that you could spit on them and they'd think it was raining."

However, nobody's spit on these Imus supporters or their daughters. Imus spit on someone else's daughters and I suppose his supporters think that's okay.

I'd avoid telling these people who support Imus that they're stupid. Stupid's such a mean word. My mama raised me better. Let them figure it out on their own. Uh, how long will we wait for that to happen?

As for Imus, is he really stupid or is he crazy like a fox? I mean, how many stupid people earn the money he does?

I'm gonna suggest that bright-thinking people give thought before they speak. And if a person is put in a position for their voice, voices to be heard across the airwaves, those people who employ them should give thought and consideration to those people who speak for all of us. Do they speak for us? (MSNBC video of of Rutgers Coach Vivian Stringer at YouTube.)

I don't know whether Imus should be fired. All I know is that if it were my daughter I'd want him to stay in hot water a little bit longer than two weeks. It's not like he's being sent off to starve. With all that money he's made off insulting women and ethnic groups, he'd be stupid to starve.

Nordette Adams' personal blog is at this link.

BlogHer - Your daughter and Imus - Comments

Racism denies humanity, and that's what Don Imus did

Words ARE powerful

Despite it all...a flicker of optimism

Your daughter and Imus