Pushback

How come no one has yet mentioned how many times Quentin Tarantino uses the word "Niger" and other racial slurs in his movie Pulp Fiction? Oh, or is it acceptable because most enjoyed the movie or all his movies for that matter? This issue with Imus is not the first, nor will it be the last. We must all be able to distinguish the differences between racism, sexism, and freedom of speech, only then will there be changes.

I do not agree with what Mr. Imus said about those women it was very degrading and rude. I am a woman of color I do not listen to rap. I refuse to let my children listen to rap it is degrading to women of any race, I think it is just wrong. We need to take control of our families and teach them right from wrong and how to respect each other. My boys are not allowed to listen to hip hop, will they listen to it when I am not around maybe I can't say, but they better not bring into my home. (Stop stereotyping) I don't believe hip hop is an American Culture I am an American and I do not purchase any hip hop music. I think it is wrong to use the n-word b-word or H-word regardless of race or gender. Lets stop and teach our future generation, remembers learning starts at home, that's where we all need to start I don't care how much money someone has, that doesn't make disrespecting a person ok.

I do not agree with what Mr. Imus said about those women it was very degrading and rude. I am a woman of color I do not listen to rap. I refuse to let my children listen to rap it is degrading to women of any race, I think it is just wrong. We need to take control of our families and teach them right from wrong and how to respect each other. My boys are not allowed to listen to hip hop, will they listen to it when I am not around maybe I can't say, but they better not bring into my home. (Stop stereotyping) I don't believe hip hop is an American Culture I am an American and I do not purchase any hip hop music. I think it is wrong to use the n-word b-word or H-word regardless of race or gender. Lets stop and teach our future generation, remembers learning starts at home, that's where we all need to start I don't care how much money someone has, that doesn't make disrespecting a person ok.

Don Imus was used to making racial remarks about Blacks. And to say that he can say those words just because rappers say them is not excuse. Since when did he drop down to the level of a rapper? When he can make a rhythm to music and bop to the beat in time with the music and wear a grill on his teeth, then he can then be considered on the level of a rapper. Also, if he calls those black college girls "Hos", what does he call the little black girls with cancer who come to his ranch. Does he call them little black "Hos"?

In my high school classes, the word, "ho,"
is common parlance. It is used primarily by
Blacks and Hispanics, not Caucasians.

Terry,

Quick: publish links to all of the stories you did before this one, where you call out the scumbags in the rap industry (the rich Jewish owners, the corporate media companies, the pimp labels, and the slimy rappers) for their misogyny, racism, pornography, and all around cultural sickness.

(cue crickets ... )

Terry Moran-

You declared your self not be an expert in the fields of rap or hip-hop—I assume humility prevented you from stating that you are indeed a leading authority in the propagation of white-guilt.
Imus said something offensive. He is a radio entertainer. An apology is appropriate, but by no means should it be requisite. The market would “sort-out” any potential consequences via ratings and/or advertising revenue.
You sir, on the other hand spout ignorance of a particularly distasteful variety. You are news commentator, not an entertainer. You should be fired.

The market did work itself out. If you believe Imus was fired because of the statement he made you're an idealistic leftist. Imus was fired because of the advertisers who bailed on the show. He was no longer worth the contract CBS was paying so they took the opportunity to cut their losses. He'll resurface on satelitte radio within 1-2 years.

...and while we're on the subject...does anyone else think it's hilarious/apporpriate that this guy looks so confused in the picture at the top of this page???

I had no idea Walt Goggins, who plays Det. Shane Vendrell on "The Shield" on FX writes a blog for ABC news.

Vic

Don't worry, Terry will be back on the beat (where all Irishmen belong) before you know it.

Mics really aren't cut out for the newscasting life.

Revolution indeed. This is the loudest outcry I've heard from philosophically conservative people on the internet. It's interesting, but predictable, that he refrains from endorsing Imus' firing. He certainly implies it.

An interesting view into the mindset of a mainstream journalist. Certainly not suprising, everyone knows they are required to view the world through these lenses.

Calling for Moran's firing would be grossly hypocritical, for me anyhow. Probably a fine chap, if not a little misguided.

Let's just save time and have two standards of morality based on race. The "do no wrong" and the "do no right."

Mr Moran, I wasn't quite sure what to think about the issue but by the end of your post I was convinced by your arguments.

I'm supposing there is one big blowback from the Imus lynching and this weathervane of a reporter is just following the trend.

Your beloved Grandpa Walton would see you for the bigot and race-baiter that you so clearly are.

It's a shame the young students from Duke don't meet Mr. Moran's lofty standands, being too white, too male and too rich to deserve sympathy, let alone respect. If one were to suggest that the so-called rape victim had deserved to be assaulted because she is a poor black woman of doubious morals, that person would rightly be branded a callous bigot. Mr. Moran judges the three real rape victims based on their gender, their race, their social standing and their assumed morals and then he pats himself on the back for being a compassioned liberal. A bigot by any other name....

Having adopted the phrase "rich white boy" as his version of "nappy-headed ho," Mr. Moran might do well to consider that the one thing that money can't buy back is a destroyed reputation. Having joined the chorus of those who stubbornly believe that being innocent of a crime isn't enough justification for ceasing to slander the Duke students, Mr. Moran might do well to remember that their reputations were stolen from them by a liar, an opportunist and a lazy media more interested in getting a story than getting honesty. On the other hand, Mr. Moran has flushed his reputation down the drain by his own hand: I don't see how I can ever watch him do the news again without doubting his integrity or his sense of decency and fairness. Is that fair? Well, he is just another "rich white boy of privilige," so why should I treat him with respect? And should his ill-conceived diatribe permanently damage his career, I promise you I won't feel too much sympathy for him.

I would like someone to explain to myself and others who might be wondering the same thing. Why can the entertainers, lets say those that are on Comedy Central, can say far greater racist type remarks, an thats ok. Yet Mr Imus, whose show was part comedy, an the remark came as a result of it, he is fired an condemend. My opinion is that no racist remarks, no matter what venue, should be allowed. Maybe if the Democrats would stop trying to waste money an time on a fishing expedition trying to find something on Karl Rove, who they are obsessed with, an do something about difining what is free speech an who can say what.

I told you so "STUPID"! Only thing people are going to remember about you is your comentary about the DUKE BOYZ. You can write articles from now to the end of time and the only thing folks are going to remember is the DUKE comentary. Maybe an apology is in order or do you consider yourself so enlightened that you don't believe you were totally wrong. We will remeber, ALWAYS. How does that CUSHION feel now? I imagine it will get more and more uncomfortable as time goes on.

Free Speech now has a whole set of clauses that don't belong.

If white people can't say the N word OK blacks can't say cracker or whitey.

The rules need to be the same if Imus gets fired because he offended a basketball team than anytime someone is offended they should lose their jobs.

I do many anyone by anyone.

I think we need to get over ourselves.

I do believe for a second the girls basketball team is scared for life because someone said 3 words on the radio.

If so those girls need to grow a spine and thicker skin.

Terry,

I think what alot of people involved in the argument miss is that to a large majority of us Don Imus was merely repeating language which we interpret as representative of black urban culture. Just by chance I was watching Imus that morning. I did a double-take when I heard the comment and thought "you know, he said that just as it woould probably have been said down in the 'hood." If you want the perception changed - change the messages being sent out by the artists. If I mimic a comment made by somebody should I be publicly stoned and hung because people need a poster boy for numerous side causes?
Don't Imus me for repeating what I've heard on the TV this week....

Try and backpeddle all you want, Terry. From now on, you will be known as "The Rich White Boy" reporter, and I use the word 'reporter' very, very loosely. Hope you enjoyed whatever reputation you used to have, because you're garbage from now on. The "Dukies" are now your legacy.

As long as ABC News allows someone such as Terry Moran to spew such 'Moranic' things using their pulpit I will not watch ABC in any manner....Dear ABC exec, please e-mail me when you fire him...I kinda like Gery's Anatomy and will miss watching it.

There IS a double standard! Why can Rosie O Donnel say, ching chong on national television, plus all of the other "objectionable" stuff she says on The View, and keep her job? Why can a back woman FALSELY accuse three white boys of rape and Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson quickly chastize them? Why do my children continually tell me about the videos they watch on MTV: this ho, that ho, that b****, and the grinding of the women in a very sexual manner. And Don Imus gets fired? There is an extreme injustice in American television and it is making me feel ashamed that I am from the USA!

There IS a double standard! Why can Rosie O Donnel say, ching chong on national television, plus all of the other "objectionable" stuff she says on The View, and keep her job? Why can a back woman FALSELY accuse three white boys of rape and Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson quickly chastize them? Why do my children continually tell me about the videos they watch on MTV: this ho, that ho, that b****, and the grinding of the women in a very sexual manner. And Don Imus gets fired? There is an extreme injustice in American television and it is making me feel ashamed that I am from the USA!

By the looks of this topic and repsonses and the responses to Terry Moron's other idiotic rant aginst the Duke lacrosse players and white people in general, It seems as though a) ABC should fire Terry Moran, b) no apology or expression of regret can prevent this action, and c) Americans should boycott ABC.

Rather than attack the messanger, here's a point I would like to make about the actual issue.

No white person would know to use the term (either rightly or wrongly) "nappy-headed ho" if the the rap/hip hop community had not created the language in the first place.

Nappy-headedness is not generally a caucasion hair issue. And although "whore" has been a part of the vernacular "ho" is new this current culture.

I'm not sure why so many respondents feel like they have to tie this story to the Duke story, but as I see it, as a woman, their primary link is in the stories being about men behaving badly.

In the documtentary "HIP HOP - Beyond Beats & Rhymes" the film maker Byron Hurt not only chronicles the movement of rap/hip hop but gets shut down too by those at the top when confronted with their being responsible for the perpetuation of denigration of specifically black women.

Not one of the current "movers" of the industry would address their culpability in any meaningful way.

By the way, Mr. Hurt is African-American. As were those he interviewed from the "old school" rap movement which was about having a voice and starting a revolution that included their sisters in a meaningful way, who echoed their disappointment with the direction the art form has taken.

Today, mainstream hip-hop is really just about men behaving badly and not much else. Of which Mr. Imus mearly joined in and did what the hip hop culture appears to celebrate.

What a bunch of hypocrites.

This is back-peddling all the way. Moran, you should be fired. I hope you are sitting in your office sh*tting your pants because you have been fingered as the next head to roll over this race debate. I am also going to boycott any advertiser who advertises on any ABC program until you are fired. I hope your booses are reading this blog You're finished buddy.

Rap and Hip-Hop are, for the most part, just acoustic pornography and worse (murder, etc.)

They are a blight and disgrace on our (America's) culture. Money means TOO much to the purveyors of this junk.

I'm not sure how Terry got from "Duke" to this commentary, but he was way off on the First Principle of the Duke issue, "Justice for all".

He's pretty close on this Hip-Hop issue if his First Principle is "Dignity for all".

I haven't been following the story of Imus completely, but here is how I view it. An individual with access to the public airwaves stated an opinion that was offensive to a great number of people, including myself. Its unfortunate, its disrespectful, its hurtful to the women of Rutgers University but protected by free speech. Should Imus have been reprimanded, absolutely, but I do not believe he should have been fired. We can either support free speech or we should revise the bill of rights to allow free speech with the exception being that if what you have to say can be offensive to someone else. And, if we did that....I bet we'd have far fewer blogs out there!!

Double standard; yes. If you do not think so...answer this. The movies, White Men Can't Jump and White Chics. Could a white film producer create a film called "Black men cant...(add any stereotype)" or could there be a movie about two white guys dressing up as black women and playing to stereotypes...not likely. For those who say, well those movies are for entertainment...I reply so to is Imus. If you don't like, turn the channel.
I seem to have done pretty well not listening to sexist shock jocks like Howard Stern.

For one thing I Imus singled out the rutgers basketball players. Plus there were racism back in the day you forgot. Blacks being dragged and hanged for no reason.

Are you racist ? It is relevant. I am black and my grand father been called worse and it takes it took a toll on him.

While I don't agree with shock jocks, I think it is outrageous for people like Jackson and Sharpton to nail Imus for his remarks when hip hop and rap artists are far worse. In an interview with another network Jackson wouldn't even address the question when asked what should be done about these artists and their language. Enough of the racist card being played everytime a white person says something off color until blacks address the problem in their own culture. We could all stand to be more tolerant.

There is some truth to Snoops statement about black females being called hoes. I believe that everyone is missing what is really going on. What came out of Don Imus' mouth was strickly racism, but rappers are strictly talking about the life that they live. Both are bad, but there are two seperate issues that needs to be addressed, racism and degrading women.

Imus has to accept responsibility for what he said and accept the consequences of what he has said.
I believe this is a perfect example of people today being De-sensitived regarding all the inappropriate language and name calling people are used to hearing from the music industry,and the acceptance of what is typically described as racial comments. How is it people of color are able to speak freely to each other, sing the lyrics about what they come back as saying offensive. I do not believe that the role models and leaders of the music industry do not understand the profound influence they instill in people of all ages and races. It does not make it acceptable in any forum. If people are offended so deeply by what is this laguage represents it does not matter the context of what is said or how it is said or where it said or when it said or by whom it is said, it needs to STOP!

I am a 22 year old educated black man, I grew up on Rap music and I live the Hip-Hop way of life. Everyone is taking this situation too far, and it seems as though people are using this as fuel to change the world. This is America people "freedom of speech", everyone knows what Imus said was wrong, him losing his job over it should be nobody's business but the people he is connected too, listeners, accusers, sponsors, etc. This will not stop the way people think and how they speak, comparing this to rap music is insane. I wish people just move on, I am sick of hearing about this.

Ithink thatMrImus should have been fired he was on national airwaves and made a statement that he thought was funny. Funny to who? He is a 66 yr old man and for everyone info I have never heard a rapper or a hip hop say nappy head that is so seventy. Noone I know sings about a nappy head and furthermore where did he hear this at I know he doesn't watch BET or listen to black urban music he also used the all mighty word you people which all black people know that is how whites used to address us.But when said we automatic know what they are talking about so for me Mr Imus is a very unhappy man that gets off by name calling other people. I bet he will watch what he says from now on to me if he said it once he has said it before. pb

Here is my comment I Told my son's some time ago me being 56 My son's 26 an 32 do not call any women a name that you would not call you mom or sister. Were did i get this from my Grandmother who raised me. An yes i am a black male an my son's are to.There are a lot of people that been after the rapper's for some time about what they say an do.But never get printed in main stream meadia or aired.Sa i was growing up wit my grandmother as a kid an being in the south i could tell you some stories that would make you say what the ---- but i want. Thanks for hearing me out.

In a country like ours where it is unpatriotic to disagree with the government, I'm not surprise about the uproar over Imus. We are happy to give up rights just to have more people agree with us. America is too precious a word to dissect. Many have given the ultimate gift away, life, to ensure this country is the beacon to the world. Americans should know these words, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...". Please also note that "Only if we agree with you" is not there.

Mos Def, Prez, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Common, De La Soul, these are some hip hop artists who continue to express the experiences of blacks in America through their lyrics, as many artists did during 1980s when the art form was dismissed and then embraced and manipulated by white controlled music companies. They are not artists in heavy rotation on MTV, VH1 or most other musical outlets because they don't glorify degrading images of black women or criminal activity. The latest one-sided debate about hip hop, rap and rappers by journalists, mainstream media and uninformed whites, blacks and other Americans, does not allow for any constructive debate about positive versus negative images of blacks in hip hop and American society. Many of the artists I mentioned have had to find alternative ways to get their music heard because music executives prefer artists who use degrading language towards black women and glorify criminal behavior and turn away hip hop artists who do not make music that portrays this. Also important to this "debate" is the fact that the majority of people who support hip hop/rap music are white people, not black people, and that has been the case for that last 20 or so years. I really wish that the hip hop artists I first mentioned, who I would classify as "positive" or relevant, would address the unfair and uninformed generalizations about hip hop that are being used to justify Imus' remarks.

After listening to the nightly news tonight, I decided that I had to put my two cents in. There was a comment made that the word "ho" is accepted in the black culture. This is an untruth. The word "ho" will never be accepted in my household and I am an African American woman. Imus and many of these factory made rappers (corporation made) should all be fired for their comments. I used to be a lover of rap back in the 80's and around the 90's is when rap began to change and the videos turned to soft porn. The "n" word will never be accepted in my household regardless of their nationality. Yes, there is a double standard and that is not fair. It is about time that someone regulate the airwaves. The music and videos are very degrading to women. I do not watch BET or MTV for this reason. There are many corporations and artists who pockets are getting rich by degrading women and it appears as though no one cares or pretend as though this is not happening. The only defense that can be given is this is "freedom of speech". There are some good rap artists such as Common who has not sold out his soul to obtain finances. For this reason, he is not as popular as the Ying Yang Twins.

I would just like to say that I don't understand why rap music always comes under fire when something like this happens? Granted, there are certain rap lyrics that are degrading to women, and negative. But not ALL music reflects this. To those of you who may not be aware, there have been, AND STILL ARE, many positive rap artists out there, that respect and uphold black women, and the entire black race in general: Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Common, Nas, KRS-1, The Roots, The Fugees, to name a few. There was Will Smith, who was the first rap artist to win a grammy, LL Cool J, who has made the successful transition into movies/tv, Queen Latifah, now an oscar nominated actress, who, as a rap artist, always spoke highly of black people and made positive music; the list is much longer than this, I just don't want to take up too much more space, this comment is going to be long enough. I don't hear anyone talking about Grandmaster Flash, who were recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Or RUN DMC, who were one of the pioneers of Rap, and who never said anything negative about women. Everyone just wants to say rap is bad...period. We need to educate ourselves. First of all, rap is simply poetry put to music. There are messages and lessons to be heard and learned, in the more POSITIVE rap songs. And another thing, if rap is soooo bad across the board, then why do so many companies use artists such as T.I., Snoop Dogg, and Ludacris to sell their cell phones and automobiles? I think we've become a society that has let so much go on for so long, that the line between right and wrong has become blurred. I think we all, each one of us individually, need to really step back and reassess ourselves, and before opening our mouths to speak, really ask the question, is what I am about to say going to offend someone? Is this a nice thing to say about another person? ANY person of integrity and character, wether they be WHITE or BLACK, should know what is deemed appropriate to say and/or do. Just because an artist may use certain language in a particular song, it does not mean the next person should do it. NO ONE SHOULD DO IT!!! it's that simple. I'm so tired of us going over, what is okay to say, and what is not? if you have to ask yourself that, then it's pretty obvious that maybe it's something you shouldn't say....DOUBT means DON'T....And as far as the comment someone said about Rosie O'donell being on tv, maybe she shouldn't be on either. And I also feel that Howard Stern should have been taken off years ago as well. But that's just it, we've become the kind of society where anything goes, and IT'S NOT ALL RAP MUSIC where this happens -that is all I have to say.

Art is Art no matter how vulger; like beauty it is in the eye of the beholder, if one dislikes don't look or listen, or participate in the mediam, a supposedly gauranteed right of the U.S. Constitution. In stark contrast the publicly sanctioned air-waves and broadcasting media neither are nor free accessible, none has a right to a radio show or to have a TV spot. The comparison being made here is a whimsical diversion, a ninny minded distraction from the truth tantamount to making Venus by Canova porno. The problem here is not Mr.Imus, Mr.Fifty, or Ms. Brat, it is the nuckle-headed white only execs making the decision in the various media board rooms. Just like other U.S. industries the media, including all its varying factions and related sub-industries such as advertising, broadcasting etc. is stymied by the overwhleming and limiting dominace of a single race controlling to of the thought process and innovations, truth is lost to the exploits of self respect, (thus the revenge factor in this debate), a true melting pot relies on all parts to contribute. Soon just like the phenominon of the dying U.S. Auto industry so too will we be relying on imported media,(i.e. Brithish invasion of Rock, "American Hockey", "American Baseball") Get a grip racism and art are not the same. The board rooms is where the racisim is. Imus was just a tool. So is the Rap they "think" people will buy. You know what you are dead wrong.

Dear Mr. MORON-- You have NO CREDIBILITY after that Duke blog.

I'M DONE 100% WITH ABC NEWS AND IT'S HACK STAFF.

GOOD BYE RATINGS!!

Racial tensions have been with us a long long time and aren't ging away until we get to the core of the problem.
Unless people (of all skin tones) begin to see as, and act as one people, we're going to have the differences magnified.
I am not racist at all yet I am so sick and tired of racial tensions that I'm ready to move away, yet, there's no where to move to! So why not make it work here ? How?
As I said, I'm not racist, yet the tone of racial attention will not go away as long as we have what is called "Celebration" of the black color.
If there were to be "Red Miss America" contests, or "White History Month" or any celebrations of ethnicity that shut out one another of a different etnicity, we ARE going to have tensions and problems arising from such ideas.
If we were to have 'White only' colleges, or 'Yellow entertainment T V' stations, there would be lawsuits flying about like bats in a dark cave. Perhaps that's where we are today, walking in darkness, living in caves of separatism, so the 'Parent-land' we stem from can be held on to instead of upholding THIS country and it's diversity of people and nationalities, blended together in appreciation of one another.
I was born in the ghetto. All my neighbors where so thoroughly blended in color that we ALL loved each other, respected each other, helped each other, and saw each other very simply as My Neighbor and My Friend.
Bottom line is this: If continue with celebrations of 'Color' , we will continue to exasperate the problem by holding it in from of each others faces more as a Threat and a Challenge or a Brag, than what it claims to be.
Anything that irritates someone else becomes a problem, and anyone outside of the color of the days and/or weeks of celbration that I mentioned before will continue to keep the rub raw to many people of a different etnicity.
Is it worth at least trying to let those days go by for a couple of years to see if it helps?
"Black History Month - Black Miss U S A, Black Miss America, Black Entertainment Television, Black Colleges, Black Holidays", all are days or weeks that promote racial tension instead of appeasing it. There are more days given to celbrating "Color Differences" than there are celbrating the men who founded this country.
Isn't it time we celebrate 'Where we live", and "Why we have the freedom to live there" instead of those other celbrations that tend to stir and agitate tensions that we "say" we are tryin so hard to control and extinquish?
Isn't it worth trying?

You are such a Ghey, Moron. HAhahahah. People are laughing at you! hahahahahha....It's like when you were in high school.

Stop writing. People are not going to take anything you say seriously after your DUKE column. I have a feeling that it will come to haunt you. We'll see.

Racial tensions have been with us a long long time and aren't going away until we get to the core of the problem.
Unless people (of all skin tones) begin to see as, and act as, one people, we're going to have the differences magnified.
I am not at all racist yet I am so sick and tired of racial tensions that I'm ready to move away, yet, there's no where to move to! So why not make it work here ? How?
As I said, I'm not racist, yet the tone of racial attention will not go away as long as we have what is called "Celebration" of the black color.
If there were to be "Red Miss America" contests, or "White History Month" or any celebrations of ethnicity that shut out one another of a different etnicity, we ARE going to have tensions and problems arising from such ideas.
If we were to have 'White only' colleges, or 'Yellow entertainment T V' stations, there would be lawsuits flying about like bats in a dark cave.
Perhaps that's because that truly is where we are today, walking in darkness, living in caves of separatism, so the 'Parent-land' we stem from can be held on to instead of upholding THIS country and it's diversity of people and nationalities, blended together in appreciation of one another.
I was born in the ghetto. All my neighbors where so thoroughly blended in color that we ALL loved each other, respected each other, helped each other, and saw each other very simply as My Neighbor and My Friend.
Bottom line is: If we continue with celebrations of 'Color', we will continue to exasperate the problem by holding it in front of each others faces more as a Threat and a Challenge or a Brag, than what it claims to be.
Anything that irritates someone else becomes a problem! And anyone outside of the color of the days and/or weeks of celbration that I mentioned before will continue to "keep the rub raw" to many people of a different etnicity.
Is it worth at least trying to let those days go by for a couple of years to see if it helps?
"Black History Month - Black Miss U S A, Black Miss America, Black Entertainment Television, Black Colleges, Black Holidays", all are days or weeks that promote racial tension instead of appeasing it, by giving prominant notice to the differences. There are more days given to celebrating "Color Differences" than there are for celbrating the men ( of all color)who founded this country.
Isn't it time we celebrate 'Where we live", and "Why we have the freedom to live there" instead of those other celebrations that tend to stir and agitate tensions that we "say" we are tryin so hard to control and extinquish?
Isn't it worth trying?

a few months back i was involved in a debate over racist terms...as a hispanic woman raising a daughter who's father is black, i weighed in my thoughts...here was what i wrote back then and what i stand by now:
"i try to imagine what an african slave felt when a white man beat him and used the word nigger...my horror and disgust is just a minute sliver of the horror and absolute disrespect that slave tolerated...out of respect for these souls from the past, i won't allow the word in my house, from the mouth of my child or her friends...no where around me...i am not african american, my child is...i can only venture a guess into the experience of black people in this country...i struggle with what shames me about this country's past and with what to do or feel about the consequences that exist today due to that past...
my thoughts are this...here is a culture whose very identity was attacked...whose very sense of self was torn from them, an attempt at spiritual and cultural genocide was waged on these beautiful human beings, simply because the white european feared him/her and coveted what he/she possessed...the descendents of the slaves on whose backs this country was built must be encouraged NOT to make positive a word that was nothing but trash talked by racist pigs...they must be encouraged to find their own beautiful words and use them instead...there's nothing positive about the word nigger...even if you replace the last two letters with an a...that word is shit...throw it out...
my two cents, for whatever it is worth...i sit here and feel so sad...every culture is so rich in it's potential beauty and God given worth...i ask that we delve deeper into ourselves...let go of that which was used to bind and destroy both in the physical and spiritual sense...this word was/is like the whip used to beat down the black man...throw it out... "

Art is Art no matter how vulger; like beauty it is in the eye of the beholder, if one dislikes don't look or listen, or participate in the mediam, a supposedly gauranteed right of the U.S. Constitution. In stark contrast the publicly sanctioned air-waves and broadcasting media are neither gauranteed nor freely accessible, none of us has a right to a radio show or to have a TV spot. The comparison being made here is an obvious whimsical diversion, ninny minded revenge an obvious distraction from the truth. Which is tantamount to making the sculpture Venus by Canova pornography.
The problem here is not Mr.Imus, Mr.Fifty, or Ms. Brat,(a woman who raps vulger I might add), it is the nuckle-headed white only execs making the decisions in the various media outlet board rooms. I beleive that just like other U.S. industries the U.S. media is now doomed, including all its varying factions and related sub-industries such as advertising, broadcasting etc. because it is stymied by the overwhleming and limiting dominace of a single race controlling all of the thought process and innovations, truth is lost to the exploits of "self respect, and preservation" (thus the revenge factor in this very debate), a society formed as a true melting pot has to rely on all parts to contribute in order to succeed. Soon, as been witnessed by the phenomenon of the dying U.S. Auto industry so too will we import media,(i.e. British invasion of Rock, "American Hockey", "American Baseball") Get a grip racism and art are not the same. The board rooms is where the racisim is. Imus was just a tool. So is the Rap they "think" people will buy. You know what you are dead wrong. At least thats my view after seeing this story played on the BBC.

I am surrounded everyday by people who dream of having the "most pimped out Cadillac Escalade eva" and idolizing rappers for their music. The former I have no problem with, it's the latter that bugs me. I've heard what filth is put on the radio and I'm quite frankly sick of hearing people just idolizing a man in a recording studio encouraging America's youth to repeat the filth coming out of their mouths. These rappers are sending messages of praise through songs like "Cocaine Dreams" (by 50 Cent) in which the first verse has eleven lines and only two lines which is "50 Cent, you heard me" don't include any sort of profanity. This isn't even the sadest part. Out of the whole song which is about 40 lines long, only about 10 (if that many) are printable on this site. that leaves at least 30 lines using words such as the "N word" and the "F word" like they are perfectly acceptable words in normal conversation. People are getting paid to produce songs that are immoral in more than one way. And the worst part is that America's youth are making these people their role models. If you just skimmed over this let me sum up my message: People are getting paid to corrupt our youth with violent and immoral images every day. Something must be done. Now.

Here is a link to an example of what rappers put in their music: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Cocaine-Dreams-lyrics-50-Cent/32428D588472C2C948257156002B54C0

Racial tensions have been with us a long long time and aren't going away until we get to the core of the problem.
Unless people (of all skin tones) begin to see as, and act as, one people, we're going to have the differences magnified.
I am not at all racist yet I am so sick and tired of racial tensions that I'm ready to move away, yet, there's no where to move to! So why not make it work here ? How?
As I said, I'm not racist, yet the tone of racial attention will not go away as long as we have what is called "Celebration" of the black color.
If there were to be "Red Miss America" contests, or "White History Month" or any celebrations of ethnicity that shut out one another of a different etnicity, we ARE going to have tensions and problems arising from such ideas.
If we were to have 'White only' colleges, or 'Yellow entertainment T V' stations, there would be lawsuits flying about like bats in a dark cave.
Perhaps that's because that truly is where we are today, walking in darkness, living in caves of separatism, so the 'Parent-land' we stem from can be held on to instead of upholding THIS country and it's diversity of people and nationalities, blended together in appreciation of one another.
I was born in the ghetto. All my neighbors where so thoroughly blended in color that we ALL loved each other, respected each other, helped each other, and saw each other very simply as My Neighbor and My Friend.
Bottom line is: If we continue with celebrations of 'Color', we will continue to exasperate the problem by holding it in front of each others faces more as a Threat and a Challenge or a Brag, than what it claims to be.
Anything that irritates someone else becomes a problem! And anyone outside of the color of the days and/or weeks of celbration that I mentioned before will continue to "keep the rub raw" to many people of a different ethnicity.
Is it worth at least trying to let those days go by for a couple of years to see if it helps?
"Black History Month - Black Miss U S A, Black Miss America, Black Entertainment Television, Black Colleges, Black Holidays", all are days or weeks that promote racial tension instead of appeasing it, by giving prominent notice to the differences. There are more days given to celebrating "Color Differences" than there are for celebrating the men ( of all color)who founded this country.
Isn't it time we celebrate 'Where we live", and "Why we have the freedom to live there" instead of those other celebrations that tend to stir and agitate tensions that we "say" we are tryin so hard to control and extinguish?
Isn't it worth trying

I agree Imus should not have made derogatory remarks about the young female basketball players. He doesn't know if any of them are "hos".

It's common to hear blacks call each other "ho", "nigga", "nappy hair" on national television talk shows with not so much as an eyebrow is raised. NOW a caucasion says "nappy haired ho" & it's a national scandal. Hip hoppers & rappers use the same dialogue - no problem. Caucasions would NEVER be allowed to use those same words in the lyrics to their songs. Gimme a break. This is just another example of reverse discrimination.

Imus will be back on the air soon as if this whole ridiculous double-standard incident had never occurred.

I wouldn't expect a WASP male who has had all the benefits of American society at his feet his entire life to understand anything concerning this situation. You will NEVER understand how it feels to be oppressed in this country. When statistics show that a black man does 6 times the amount of jail time that a white male does for the same offense, we have a problem. Can you understand that? Is that acceptable to you? As an educated black man in America, I understand all too well. I do NOT excuse blacks for using derogatory and self depreciating terms with reference to themselves; but that is not an excuse for whites to use this language, especially in light of the fact that it is because of the oppression and degradation of whites that wrought forth the sociological conditions which are responsible for the language. You don't understand? ...... I'll explain it to you ...... White slavers created the word 'nigger', not black slaves. White slave masters used black women as 'hos' not black slaves. It is extremely important that you understand what racism is. Racism is when one has POWER and uses that power in a way that can oppress or influence others. Imus certainly had power since he was on the national airways and he certainly had the platform to influence others. Without that platform he was just another prejudiced person. Without power, racism is nothing more than prejudice or predilection. But more to the point is the fact that Imus was using inflammatory language for decades. In 1976, he used the word 'nigger' while being the featured speaker at a communications conference attended mostly be college students, black and white. He should have been fired long ago and white America's tolerance, even acceptance of this only shows that the entire corporate world doesn't give a damn as long you make money for your sponsors ......... or your 'massa', just like a plantation overseer. Let's get it straight. I wouldn't be insulted if someone called your wife an ugly name, but you would. That's why you don't hear the insult of Imus' words but black people do. And concering hip hip, hip hoppers aren't on the radio for free. If you want to hear their music you have to BUY it or download it or do whatever the digital generation does for it's music. Imus was on FREE radio for hours everyday .... And do you REALLY believe that a black radio personality would survive calling a bunch of country white girls 'trailer-trash, redneck, hillbilly hos'? If you say yes, then you're either a liar or just plain naive and are REALLY the thing Black America needs to fear. I'm glad Imus said what he did. Now the people know what he's been thinking for years. Don't smile in our faces and talk badly about us behind our backs. Be upfront about who you are and how you feel. And he finally did .... and he finally got what was long overdue. This is America and everybody has the right to be heard. Everybody just isn't worth listening to. Imus is one of the latter.

I don’t see why many or most of these hip-hop, rap or whatever the musical style is, videos and songs are not considered pornography. What is the redeeming social value of promoting violence, drug use/abuse, prostitution and generally degrading women? Oh, they don’t actually show uncovered titties, dicks or buns. So they comply with the letter of the law but surely not the spirit of it.

I don’t listen to rap-hop (my new term for this so called “music”). I think it is terrible as music. There might be an occasional song that is ok but most of it is braggadocio from some urban thug, the majority of whom seem to be black (African, negros or whatever word I’m supposed to use – how about “niggers”). In fact, my impression of all rappers is that they are “niggers”. It doesn’t matter if they are black, latino, white (m&m, k-fed, etc). They all put out trash and claim to be artists.

In my opinion, from what I see and hear of “rap-hop”, it is nothing more than inciting violence and criminal behavior. It is creating a homegrown urban insurgency in America, just like they have in Iraq. Street gangs are flourishing in big cities and many smaller cities and even rural areas. What is the inspiration? I think it is rap-hop. Even if many of these street gang types are not in the more well known and larger gangs, they are wannabe’s and go out and do crimes to prove and make themselves. Ever hear the term “street cred”? I’ve been arrested, therefore I’m cool. This isn’t cool. Anyone who aspires to having “street cred” is an idiot.

Maybe I should start a new musical form that glamorizes being a child molester. Or maybe something that glamorizes torture. I know, lets glamourize buring down black churches. Or killing cops. “Yo, yo, if you really want to be man and get lots of hos, go burn down a black church…..” Or “I woke this morning with a hard on for the 4 year old boy next door.... This make me a real man that all the hos will want. Make my tool big and hard….” Etc. Oh, and for a pedophile, being attracted to children is their reality. They would just be singing about something that they experience. Just like the rap-hoppers blowing about their so-called reality in de ‘hood.

By the way, if you want to call me racist – let me say thank you, I’m proud of that.

There is a fundamental difference in the manner in which Don Imus referred to the young black women of Rutgers basketball team and the lyrics of Rappers. When Imus referred to the Rutgers University basketball team as "Nappy headed hos" he was speaking of Black American women in general terms because he did not know these women. He only knew them to be young Black American women. Therefore, his remarks were a general reference to young Black American women. In this regard, it was totally inappropriate for the ladies to meet with him. They need not prove anything to Imus or anyone like him. Further, those of you, black or white, who are avoiding discussing this fundamental difference are either just plain stupid or without good intentions. How would you have reacted if a black TV personality had referred to all white girls as "stringy headed hoes" or "Bokra Bitches"?

According to all the press reporting, the only racists and people who make racist comments belong to the white race. Black people can make whatever comments they want against their own race or anyone else's and everyone shrugs it off. But lets hang the guy who did make a offensive comment and was suspended for it. Please check out some of Malcom X's comments from the past or Al Sharptons'currently. They were and are more racist than any of the people I know of including Don Imus. Lets start publizising some of the most visible black politicians and artists and lets see who is really the most racist in this country.

I think that people should forgive Imus and stop being stupid. He meant what he said as a joke, then apologized for it. Imus shouldn't have said what he said in the first place, however, people say worse stuff everyday. I go to high school and I hear worse stuff then what he said. It's a part of life. People aren't going to be all friendly with you all the time. Some just don't like you and are going to try to bring you down by saying bad and stupid stuff to you. Discrimination happens everywhere and to everybody whether you like it or not. So people, GET OVER IT!!!

I do not for one moment condone Imus'remarks, but on the other hand where is Mr. Sharpton and the rev Jesse Jackson when these remarks are made everyday on the radio by rappers and comedians of their same race? Is that not considered dehumanizing? Now who is racists? Whatever happened to "forgiving and forgetting"?

I do not for one moment condone Imus'remarks, but on the other hand where is Mr. Sharpton and the rev Jesse Jackson when these remarks are made everyday on the radio by rappers and comedians of their same race? Is that not considered dehumanizing? Now who is racists? Whatever happened to "forgiving and forgetting"?

The only white people in America that can say anything about discrimination are poor white women. The rest of these comments come from naive opinion, no experience whatsoever. Speak about what you know, not what you think.

Don Imus' words were reprehensible—sexist and racist. So is Gansta rap which denigrates women of all races. Yet, rappers are allowed, encouraged, and paid enourmous amounts of money for their misogyny in the name of "poetic expression." As a woman and a human, I'm offended by both Imus and rap. However, if one is allowed, so should the other. If one is censored, so should the other.

Imus should have been suspended, fined, etc. for his irresponsible public display, but instead he got a bum "rap."

As a black female I find it far more offensive that many (black male) rappers refer to women in such a derogatory manner. And, while I believe that Imus' reference was completely out of line, I am having a hard time feeling as much outrage as the many so-called black leaders are claiming to be. Is there a double standard here? I think it very hypocritical that they have not defended women of color with the same intensity when it comes to rap lyrics. How about boycotting and demonstrating against companies that promote these artists?

So why are the folks at ABC.com pulling blog posts??
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This is a very interesting debate for several reasons and something that continues to come up in our society...something that doesn't seem to go away.

I won't bring up many very public instances of racism that are alive and well today like the government's direct racist singling out of those of Arab descent all over the world, or the continued exploitation of Hispanic immigrants, just to name a few...

I think there is an inherent misleading string in this discussion..