Imus Yanked, Now Yank Blacks With Same Talk

April 13th, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

Young Black Professional Guide to ImusYoung Black Professional Guide to 50 Cent

Imus Got His Trash Talk Pass Yanked, Now Yank it for Blacks Who Talk The Same

“Can U Control Yo ‘H.’” The video commercial of the high priest of gangster rap Snoop Doggy Dogg demands on his CD “R&G: (Rhythm and Gangsta).” Then Dr. Dre in the cut “Housewife” on his 2001 CD “Dr Dre 2001,” says, “Naw ‘h’ is short for honey.” Next rappers Beanie Sigel says, “Watch Your ‘Bs’” on his def Jam release, and 50 Cent commands, “‘B’ choose with me” on his 2003 top ten track P.I.M.P.

That’s just a light sampling of how gangster rappers, some black filmmakers, and comedians routinely reduce young black women to “stuff,” “Bs,” “H’s” and “MFs.” Their contempt reinforces the slut image of black women and sends the message that violence, mistreatment, and verbal abuse of black women are socially acceptable.

Despite lawsuits, protests and boycotts by women’s groups, gangster-themed films and rap music continue to soar in popularity. Hollywood and the record companies rake in small fortunes off of them, and so do the rappers.

Now enter shock jock Don Imus. He’s the latest white guy to be transformed into a racially and gender incorrect punching bag for his Michael Richardsesque racial and gender tirade against a group of young black women. He, of course, has been verbally mugged, battered, abused, and momentarily dumped from his radio and TV show.

Imus has genuflected, no groveled, to the Reverend Al Sharpton, civil rights leaders, the Rutgers women’s basketball team, begging forgiveness. Imus certainly deserves the kick in the shins that he’s getting. In his very public self-flagellation, even he admitted that he rocketed way past the line of what even by the raunchy and low road standards of shock jockism is considered acceptable.

But again, Imus, as a white man that spewed racial bile, is the softest of soft targets. The same can’t be said for the black rap shock jocks. They made Imus possible. They gave him the rappers bad housekeeping seal of approval to bash and trash black women.

In many ways, their artistic degradation has had even more damaging consequences for young black women. Homicide now ranks as one of the leading causes of deaths of young black females. A black woman is far more likely to be raped than a white woman and slightly more likely to be the victim of domestic violence than a white woman.

Their assailants are not white racist cops or Klan nightriders but other black males. The media often magnifies and sensationalizes crimes by black men against white women, but ignores or downplays crimes against black women. The verbal demeaning of black women has made them the scapegoats for many of the crisis social problems in American society.

What’s even more galling is that some blacks cite a litany of excuses, such as poverty, broken homes, and abuse, to excuse the sexual abuse and violence of top black male artists. These explanations for the misdeeds of rappers and singers are phony and self-serving. The ones who have landed hard in a court docket are anything but hard-core, dysfunctional, poverty types. P. Diddy, who predated R. Kelly as the poster boy for music malevolence is college educated and hails from a middle-class home, typified the fraud that these artists are up-from-the-ghetto, self-made men.

The daunting puzzle then remains why so many blacks storm the barricades in fury against a Richards or an Imus but are stone silent, or utter only the feeblest of protests when blacks bash and trash? Or even worse, tacitly condone their verbal abuse?

There are two reasons for that. Blacks have been the ancient target of racial stereotypes, negative typecasting, and mockery. This has made them hypersensitive to any real or perceived racial slight from whites. That’s totally understandable, and civil rights leaders are right to call the legion of other white celebrities, politicians and public figures that get caught with their racial pants hanging down on the carpet for their racial gaffes, slips, or outright verbal broadsides.

The second reason is that blacks fear that if they publicly air their dirty racial laundry it will be gleefully twisted, mangled, and distorted into a fresh round of black bashing by whites. But that’s a lame reason for not speaking out, and speaking out loudly against those blacks who either out of ignorance or for profit, or both, routinely commercialize racial and gender trash talk. That failure fuels the suspicion that blacks, and especially black leaders, are more than willing to play the race card, and call a white a bigot, when it serves their interest, but will circle the wagons and defend any black who comes under fire for bigotry, or for any other malfeasance.

The same standard of racial accountability must apply whether the racial and gender offender is an Imus or a 50 Cent. When it doesn’t that’s a double standard and that always translates into hypocrisy. Imus got his trash talk pass yanked. Now let’s yank it from those blacks who do the same, or worse.

By Earl Ofari Hutchinson, New America Media

There Are 21 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Sheria on 13 April 2007:

    I completely agree. We shouldn’t be hypocrites when it comes to unacceptable behavior - no matter who the person is.

  2. Comment by Fredric on 13 April 2007:

    unfortunately, i’m going to have to disagree with the sentiment from this piece.

    imus shared his opinions on public airwaves that had no censorship. the black music artists in this piece are exploitations of a commercial product.

    while i no doubt believe that music that promotes ignorance and misogyny shouldn’t be supported, i can’t deny that if someone chooses to package it and sell it that it shouldn’t be available for sale. that is the american way, no matter how much you disagree with it.

    the thick dividing line is that public airwaves cannot be used to promote such images unless censored or approved by the FCC. this is why you have warning labels.

    what imus did was violate the terms of being able to broadcast publicly by spewing things that are not regulated by government.

    he’ll go to sirius or xm and say whatever he likes…just like 50 and diddy can create a song and sell whatever they like.

    if you don’t like it, don’t buy it.

  3. Comment by Candace on 13 April 2007:

    I’m actually tired of hearing about it already. There are more important issues we as a black women need to get behind with the same vigor and excitement. I also think it is interesting to point out that those girls found some flat irons and a relaxer after the incident and you didn’t see not one resemblance of a curl in any press interview of them.

  4. Comment by suchalady vol on 13 April 2007:

    LOL @ Candance! I noticed that as well.

    Maybe I’m a little biased as a UT alumnus, but why isn’t anyone asking the Lady Vols how they feel about the situation? The whole situation with Imus and Rutgers is stealing the thunder from a great moment in women’s history: the 7th National Championship for Pat Summit and the Lady Vols. Summit has won not only more championships than any other coach (male or female) but also now has over 900 wins to her credit.

    Go Lady Vols!

  5. Comment by OHSucker on 13 April 2007:

    See, my thing is it’s not rap’s responsibility to provide “positive” reinforcement of the Black community. In my mind that’s akin to expecting a Pimp to lead a campaign on stopping sex outside of marriage. It just doesn’t go. Why are we so bent on having rappers speak up for the community? I know there will be those that say “it’s because they have such influence over our children”. To that I say, “why not create groups/organizations for our children ourselves”? Why are we waiting and EXPECTING others to raise our children in the way they should go? There needs to be a balance. Where are the groups, shows, events, etc that were all around us when I was younger? I’ve said this on another board: We need to revive shows like “Teen Summit” because we need positivity and valid cultural information sent to our children.

  6. Comment by Dame on 13 April 2007:

    OHSucker, I have to respectfully disagree with you. Yes, these rappers need to put out positive images for our youths, for the simple fact that these kids from ages 12-21 listen to them. These kids actually believe everything their favorite rapper is saying. Of course we don’t see that, and we don’t believe half of what rappers say.

    But I agree with the author, these rappers need to receive the same treatment as Imus, if not worse. I won’t lie, I use to love all of those songs. But has I get older and wiser, looking back, it’s like what was I thinking….
    But the kids do, so these rappers should take that responsibility to help lead these kids in the right direction. Because they’re not going to listen to you or me. Sure we could help one or two kids change their lifes around. But rappers if they do the right thing could help hundred or thousand.

  7. Comment by Tambra on 13 April 2007:

    Have you heard of ‘corporate social responsibility?’ Well that’s the new term that will get the music industry like media into hot water if they don’t catch on to the game. In today’s environment were reputation matters and image is everything. Rappers will fall victim to CSR. The bottomline is if your brand (from Ludacris to Wal-Mart) doesn’t have a social conscious; you too will be in the unemployment line with Imus. I am a lifetime member of Net Impact and former co-chair of the DC professional chapter; and I am here to say rap will die like Nas said due to the inability to invest in the community. With the lack of parental support guiding our children, those companies and people (including entertainers) have a responsibility to promote positive, healthy messages. If you believe that rappers shouldn’t then will the social conscious leader within you please stand up and create the balance that’s needed in the community. Because in a world of violence, war, competition, and unhappiness, our mental/emotional health needs the space to be free, relax and have an optimistic outlook on life. If not, we will continue to have the violence plaguing our communities. So I ask what are you doing to plant hope in the community?! http://www.planthope.org

  8. Comment by Tambra on 13 April 2007:

    Furthermore, having an awareness of the once forgotten concept it takes a village to raise a child is why we all must play a role in building a better community together. Check out the social ecological model to get a sense of how we have levels of change from self to society. And ever level in between plays an impact on our world. However having self-determination and a driven spirit filled hope is key to overcome the negative messages. In reality we need more people with that spirit; otherwise they fall victim the messaages.

  9. Comment by OHSucker on 13 April 2007:

    My point is being missed. It is not rap’s responsibility to raise our children. That’s the simple truth of it. WE have to step it up. We’ve left it up to others TOO long and this is what we’re reaping in this season. This cycle needs to stop. Yes it takes a village to raise a child. That’s the fundamental value of the Black Community. But that goes BOTH ways. WE have not stepped up our game. PERIOD. Putting all the blame on rap is getting us nowhere. Rap is not going anywhere (as much as many of us may not like it). So instead of casting the “blame stone” WE has the village members needs to step up…declare a mutiny…take our children back. PERIOD.

  10. Comment by Tambra on 13 April 2007:

    I simply ask ‘what are you doing to make a difference?’ Because the truth of the matter is that the amount of money pumped to skew the community in a manner in which is counterproductive for thrivability is present. So it’s take talent, time, and treasures. I am developing several youth programs in the area through a social enterprise that I have started with colleagues from a diverse, educated background. So how are each of us planting hope? PERIOD.

  11. Comment by OHSucker on 13 April 2007:

    Sorry sis…I missed that direct question. But I’ll answer it now…I’ve co-founded an organization geared towards helping Black Women (young and old) re-image themselves. That’s getting the ball rolling on my end. I’ve often said if we can’t have a positive image of ourselves FOR ourselves…how can we expect others to?

  12. Comment by Martin Lindsey on 13 April 2007:

    Thank you for saving me a post Tambra. The “litany of excuses” from the African American entertainers and the old “keep our dirty laundry to ourselves” mentality that we hold on to are the biggest jokes we have going. Thanks for airing out those further points in detail.

  13. Comment by Kimberly Michelle on 14 April 2007:

    Obama Compares Rappers to Imus

  14. Comment by PAULA MOONEY on 14 April 2007:

    God bless Earl Ofari Hutchinson!

  15. Comment by Villager on 15 April 2007:

    The question that many of us are asking is –> Imus fired, is hip hop next?. Personally, I agree that the Black community needs to use the energy and passion that built up over Imus and focus it on some of the ills in our own community.

    peace, Villager

  16. Comment by Sylvia on 15 April 2007:

    I must commend the author who wrote this article … WE ARE OUR WORSE ENEMIES!
    Why get on Imus? Just because he is white?
    We created this double standard … now we must live it or get rid of it.
    Ciao
    Sylvia

  17. Comment by Sylvia on 15 April 2007:

    The sad thing was hearing my fav rapper Snoop say in response that Imus had no right to say those things about women like the ones on the basketball team. But he went on to defend what he says about women living in the “hood” by saying that they really are all “ho’s”.
    It was shocking to hear that Snoop was saying this from the heart. It is a sad thing when you see something like this. It is a lot worse than what Imus did, in that no credible person really thinks Imus believes that these women playing ball were “ho’s”; but, Snoop really does categorize the women in our urban areas all as “ho’s”. What a shame.

  18. Comment by Fredric on 16 April 2007:

    bob johnson, founder of BET, decided to weigh in as well last thursday.

    deep.

  19. Comment by tom g on 18 April 2007:

    how many rappers have ranch’s for kids with cancer, have given millions for charities, have radio thons for charities, have oncology department named and funded by them, have been personally involved in helping to build a state of the art rehabilitation hospital for our servicemen and women, have food products in many supermarkets with 100% of the profits going to charity, have cleaning products selling in stores and have changed the way many homes and commercial institutions clean their area’s using chemical free lotions, oh, also with 100% of the profits going to charity, have a book out on how to clean and green your home, oh, with 100% of the profits going to charity. i getting tired of typing his good points so get over it already. he said something stupid and apologized, so to be politically correct we jeopardize everything else. how ridiculous!!!!!

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