Imus and Nappy-headed-ho's
 

When is Sharpton, Shabaz, and Jackson going to step up and apologize for the comments they made about the Duke players. Fucking double standard racist idiots. Typical.... Oh wait, I forgot, negros can't be racist, my bad. We can let Nazi mofo's protest in black areas of the country but we want to nail a radio host to a cross, who I really can't stand, for the same protected speech. Ha!

Let the flames be lit!

I really think the word negro should have fallen out of fashion by now merc.

You are right. Nobody should be racist. But.....the power differential between black and white is vast and historical factors don't just disappear because we buried two generations.

When a black man calls a white man by a racist epithet or makes racist comments......what does that really mean to the white man? What power has that comment over him?

When a white man does the same to a black man he is doing so from a position of actual, current and historical power. It wasn't so long ago that black men were being lynched in America at a rate of 3 a week.

Why do you continually defend the right of white people to be racist. Is there something you aren't telling us? Do you have a hood tucked under your bed?

Okay that was probably unfair. My apologies.

I use Negro, because I do not support the self appointed term of "African-American".

We have developed a double standard in this country. Black rappers and so called leaders of blacks in American society can use any terms they care which are clearly racist and no one says a thing, PC response at it finest hour. But a dumb assed radio host says something stupid and everyone wants to hang him from the proverbial tree. The guy tried to atone for his fopaw, Jackson and Sharpton have both made highly racist remarks about Jews and Whites in this country and no one says a word. Rappers use "nigga" all the time, and that is ok? I do not support or condone what Imus said. Fine. But to carry on as if no negro's have made similar comments, some equally racist, and no one has the balls to call them out about it. This is a double standard.

No white hoods. :D

I just googled the story. I thought you were referring to some people as nappyheaded ho's. I am not familiar with the people or events.

Again, my apologies.

No need to apologize. You are a good conversationalist and I respect your views, even when we don't agree on numerous subjects.

Negro was a term used by whites to describe africans. It denigrated them because it reduced them to the colour of their skin. It defined them in terms of their difference to all other races.

African Americans have every right to define themselves as they see fit. The vast majority of them are of African descent and are Americans. Why would you care how they define themselves? Why defend your right to use a term they find upsetting,abusive and derogatory? Does it harm you to respect their wishes in this? Why is our (white european and american) appointed term for them more appropriate than their own appointed term? They didn't call themselves negros until we told them thats what they were.

You are either African or American. Not both IMHO. I am an American of Irish/Scottish/Canadian descent. I am not an Irish-Scottish-Canadian-American. 90% of blacks in America are so racially mixed that there is no way to say who is who. People can define themselves as they see fit, it does not mean I have to agree or go along with it.

Then call them black Americans, or just call them Americans. Negro is an insulting term for you to use. The fact that they do not feel offended when a fellow black person uses that term ( though i suspect many are unhappy with that usage too) is based purely on the fact that it comes from an attempt by this generation and the last to declaw a word which had been used for several hundred years by their oppressors. Whether you agree with that or not, you must be aware that any time you use it around black people you are likely to cause offence. Are you happy to cause offence unnecessarily?

This is a subset of the American community which is still dealing with the scars of hundreds of years of abuse. Even the ones who are not descended from slaves will still feel that heritage, because it carried through across the whole of the white world. It also carried thyrough into Africa during the colonial and post colonial era. If they are still healing, and struggling to define themselves in the face of that heritage, who are we to deny them that right? To what purpose? In what way does it harm you ?

I have heard Irish people in England refer to themselves as paddies. Were I, as an English woman, to use that term with them that would offend them.

What "we" wants to crucify Imus? You got a mouse in your pocket?

Why do you object to a business decision? Do you think protected speech equals protected job? You don't strike me as the Union type, and Imus less so. Should those bushel baskets of tax dollars you paid be used by the government to pay for Imus' salary since he's not the moneymaker MSNBC thinks he should be? Who should be in charge of deciding if he may stay employed?

Well at least you recognize your own history of double-standards and the colonization of Africa. Your own history of oppression of the blacks in Africa goes back a long way as well, not to mention a myriad of 100 other countries. I don't take every chance to beat up England for the treatment they gave to my ancestors in Scotland or Ireland every time England or an Englishman stumbles in some speech. I do not deny the right of any people to call themselves what ever they wish, I reserve the right not to agree and call them what ever I want. It harms me not. It harms them not. Sticks and stones and all that…

The business decision was based upon a PC fear of a backlash by the organizations with the loudest voices among those who are trying to exploit this event for race baiting reasons, instead of letting the parties involved deal with the issue. But no, suddenly we have all these other parties getting involved in an attempt to exploit this as something larger than it is. The women of the Rutgers team are not defined by the statements of some idiot on a radio show. So much more is being made of this. The sooner people stop blaming others for their current situations the sooner people will advance on their own merits regardless of color. It is prison culture that is being advanced. There is no magical mythical white man keeping anyone down.

A business responding to its customer's preferences. No story here, move on people.

Shit, now you got me all confused. Who's side are you on again?!?

I don't support what Imus said, other than from a free speech stand point, the guy is a jerk, always had been.

I don't support this event being the cause of his firing.

I don't support the comments of Jackson, Sharpton, or Shabaz in their attempts to exploit this event, esp given their comments about the Duke players. They are igger idiots than Imus could ever hope to be on his worst day.

You are either an American or you are not.
There is only one race, the human one.
Your nose or melanin content does not mean shit.
Call me a name, since it has to do with Me, it is a compliment... I am awesome!


Imus has every right to say what he said, as do everyone to react the way they did.
I also agree the double standard for "minorities" is for bigots and fools. If it is not ok for one person, it is not ok for anyone and the reaction should be the same.
A cracker is a FL cowboy that uses a whip to drive cattle out of palmettos and scrub. I grew-up as one.
There are black, hispanic and white crackers... the term in the vernacular always confused me.

First, yes, there is a double standard against whites for use of words but the real double standard is against minorities. There is so much racism against minorities it is really embarrassing and you have the balls to complain about not being able to say a word? Do you have the balls to say this to a mostly non-white forum Merc because I can direct you to one if you want?

The fact that this double standard has made such a big deal proves of America's racism. If anything goes against minorities it is seen as normal or covered up while any double standard against whites is the worst thing in the world. If you want to end racism you will have to start with white supremacy because without that, you don't have any other double standards.

Well said pierce.

And Merc of course I recognise my own country's part in history. Nor am I beating on your country when I talk about its historic and current role in racial politics. I feel no guilt for my country's role. I do however recognise my country's role. Its simply a matter of history.

I already said this in unpopular opinions but the deal is, Imus was fired for the true ugly things he said about Clinton and Bush not the false ugly things he said about the Rutgers' women.

1970s Imus was hilarious.

After an airliner was hijacked to Cuba, Imus called Cuba to negotiate a discounted purchase of a used 727. US State Department was not amused.

Those were the days when Imus, Soupy Sales, and Howard Sterm shared the same radio station. Amazing how hate in both radio (Rush Limbaugh) and music (hip hop) is now considered entertainment. Amazing that the color of one's skin now determines what that person can and cannot say.

Imus will be back on the air in a couple of months, you just watch. His co-host had already been fired and re-hired three times for offensive statements.

This is the same way most whites feel in this country. I have no guilt about it either.

I'm surprised by this whole thing because I hear some of the girls at my school call each other worse names. I would have never known what he said was a racial remark if somebody didn't point it out.

I am not complaining about not being able to say a word. Yes, I have the balls to say it to anyone anywhere to their face. I assure you that I will say anything I have said here to anyone in person.

The fact that there is a double standard among blacks that no one wants to address is the issue. You can't have it both ways and ever expect advancement and equal treatment. I am all for ending racism. I want to see negros step up and admit and deal with it as well instead of exploiting this case, the Duke case, the Brawley case, and all other cases where people went over board in an attempt to make something huge out of an issue to further an agenda on race.

I agree. So does this guy.

This painfully liberal human being agrees as well.

Someone called a comment into a local paper, saying: Imus is an equal opportunity insulter. That's true.

What those girls accomplished should not be minimized. The class they showed afterwards should not be minimized.

However, I feel they let some shock jock minimize them by even acknowledging a stupid statement made by someone who is irrelevant to them and their accomplishments.

Rkz has it right: color of skin is inconsequential in what kind of person you are. Why do we continually let others' idiocy have any bearing on what we really are?

I'm ready for flames, but this whole issue was just stupid. It was a stupid thing to say, it was stupid to overreact, and it's stupid to pretend that only minorities are discriminated against.

Pssst...Bruce Willis used the word "broad" referring to women last night on the Letterman show. He also made joking references to how many women he has bedded. I am abhorred, offended, downtrodden. He has demeaned my womanhood with his callous, uncalled for statements. I demand the immediate dismissal of Bruce from whatever contracts he has, I want his new movie pulled from the theaters, and his old ones from the DVD store shelves. I want a public apology, though that won't be enough. I want him stripped of his title "Maxi-Mega Super Star." He has lessened the fact that I was born with a vagina, and goddammit, I'm not going to take it anymore! :right: Don't even get me started on Howard Stern's attitude towards women (the shock jock, not the "not Anna Baby Daddy" guy.)

Do you consider it appropriate to call black people negros?

Awesome link, Beestie.

In the 60s, it was the preferred term, and "black" was considered offensive and racist.

Ever heard of the United Negro College Fund?

true enough. But this isn't the 60s. It's not about the inherent offensiveness of a word, it's about whether or not it's acceptable to use a term which the group in question finds offensive and which was originally externally imposed upon them.

No, it's about a person choosing to use a term deemed offensive by a group and what the repercussions should be, and in what cases those repercussions should be employed.

Sorry, I wasn't talking about the radio guy....I was talking about merc's insistence on referring to African-Americans as negros.

I wasn't trying to make it a challenge but if you are really telling the truth then I have a little more respect for you. I know of a lot of white that will talk shit about how they are getting the short end of the stick but once a minority shows up, change their views to the other side.

I don't have a problem with acknowledging the problem but it is when we start calling white and black racism equal when I have the problem. They are completely different and different types of racism, white is proactive while minority is reactive. That means black racism is caused by white racism.

Also, if you want to get into it, most of black racism against whites is made by whites. Record companies, white, basically make the songs for the black rappers nowadays so it is the whites that promoting black racism against whites to make money.

And about the negro comment, I have heard many blacks find that very offensive. You don't have to say African American but just say black. Negro is too close to n****r.

Whoops, double post, delete this please.

I strongly urge you to re-read the column Beestie pointed to.

I want an apology. Not sure what for, but it sure as hell seems like everyone else is getting one, so I want one, too.

And, I want bunny rabbits on my bib.

Sorry Hyoi.

Not long ago rosie o'donald made fun of chinese people and she didn't apologise nor was she kicked off of the view for it. So why is this man being condemned and she wasn't?

And the bunny rabbits ? :sniff:

the apology is never enough, is it?

I ate them. They made a great stew.

At the risk of further reperations:

After watching monty python and the holy grail, I don't think I would want rabbits :p

I did. It makes a good point but only covers one of the many problems regarding this larger issue. To think that all of the minorities problems are minorities' fault is just as stupid as saying that all of it is from white supremacy. But while the article does make a very valid point on how this shouldn't be a big deal it has nothing to do with the point I am trying to make.

I think everyone here can agree that all of this controversy and talks of double standard is receiving too much attention because it isn't that big of a deal. But where is the controversy whenever a double standard happens against blacks or other minorities? How many topics on here are from white supremacy screwing over the lower class and other minorities? Do we see that as normal or do we think that they have progressed enough and we should stop worrying about it now?

The thought of only talking about the double standard against whites proves that we have an even deeper standard against minorities by not further fighting for their rights. There is still racism in this country and world and no matter how much we want to push it aside, we have to fight this battle to the end. We should work together to get rid of this monster, not fight against each other for it.

Well said Pierce. The battle against bigotry and racism is far from won.

The article was taking the extreme side; that all minorities problems are caused by minorites is the other extreme to the side you were taking:

At any rate, I still haven't received reparations from either whities for what they did to my Native American peeps, or from Bruce Willis for fucking too many women and being a general horndog. :rolleyes:

Haven't you heard? It is okay for one minority to insult another minority!!

Either extreme side is wrong. No matter how much everyone helps the inner city nothing will happen unless everyone in there works to help themselves too.

Reparations are tough because the people that screwed over the Native Americans are long dead. Before jumping to conclussions, what do you think you should happen?

And the people who held African-americans in slavery must be MUCH older than I am.

That's my point. I don't expect anything to happen. And I don't demand apologies and firings every time I hear the racist words Injun, squaw, scalpers, redskins, or savages.

Jumping to conclusions? Not sure I catch you; I think you've used the word "conclusion" out of context (better apologize now.) But here is a pic of Humbug jumping to the Island of Conclusions just for you:

But Rosie isn't a minority, she is white.

and gay.

But what does that have to do with racism?

It has to do with being a minority

Sometimes I think Rosie just sticks her nose into these things (recall her recent feud with the Donald) just for the free publicity.

I don't have anything against Rosie but it seems like she always shows up when there's some extra cameras around.

I like this article. I never could stand Sharpton or Jackson.

http://sports.aol.com/whitlock/_a/ti...11111509990001

And he'll have to swim back; we know that.

Last night on the Nightly News they spoke with Maya Angelou (who I have had the honor to see in person twice.) She spoke about what Imus said being a sad thing to say, but went on to berate rappers, et al, for degrading women. I can't speak as eloquently, but I was pleased that she didn't go the Sharpton route, but didn't back away from the issue either. That woman is a class act.

I have a lot of respect for Maya Angelou, and reading her autobiographies did help me see a difference between racist assumptions made by blacks against whites and those made by whites against blacks.

I'm not saying it applies to anyone of any age, but certainly the world she grew up in and what she had to face, I'm surprised her views have mellowed to the extent they have.

She's a good argument for tolerance and integration as a way of changing prejudices.

Getting back to Don Imus, he has always been a jerk. On the other hand I thought his comment was about actions and self determined appearance. I contrasted the Rutger's five that were mostly in the game with three black commentators on Meet the Press yesterday. These three (2 men and a woman) were well groomed in professional buisness dress. The future doctors and lawyers on the Rutgers team were some of the roughest and unsportsmanlike players since the infamous Minnesota team. They were tatooed and scruffy looking and I am sure it was an intentional "look" similar to the "gangsta" look of the hardest hardcore rappers. They were not trying to look like future doctors and lawyers (and I'll take your bets that not one of the starting five ever becomes a doctor or lawyer). In short, they looked like a bunch of n_____, h_____, h__. I won't deny the racist overtones of the comment, but it was a fairly accurate discription, in the Black venaculare, of what one saw, and the tough image that THEY intended to project.

If you and an African American were standing next to each other, what can I call you that would differentiate the two of you?