Imus Should Apologize For the Latest Racial Insult

Reprieved Talk shock jock Don Imus has done it again. On his nationally syndicated WABC morning talk show on Citadel Broadcasting Corporation, Imus in response to a statement from another WABC programmer about Dallas Cowboys defensive back Adam "Pacman" Jones legal difficulties asked "What color is he?" When the programmer responded he's African-American, Imus responded, "Well, there you go. Now we know."

The response reinforces the worst racial stereotypes of crime and violence about African-Americans. White football players and other sports notables have run afoul of the law but there is no known Imus statement linking their misdeeds to their race. But he did it with Jones.

Beyond that there are a couple of things really interesting about Imus' latest slur. When Citadel brought the thought to be disgraced shock jock back to the airwaves, the brass at the media syndicate solemnly pledged to closely monitor Imus' remarks and on-air conduct to insure that there would be no embarrassing repeat of the nappy headed ho zinger that brought the Reverend Al Sharpton and packs of civil rights and womens rights advocates screaming for his head. They ultimately got it. CBS and MSNBC canned him.

Imus took the warning to heart for a time. He kept a properly low keyed, subdued, almost dignified presence on the airwaves. He knew that he was being watched and listened too for any sign that he would revert to his old ways. The betting odds were that it would sooner or later do just that. Imus being Imus first of all, and secondly, shock jock radio is still big stuff on the airwaves, and there's not much value as in ratings and ad dollars by spewing verbal pablum. It was only a matter of time for Imus.

The other interesting thing is that Imus would choose to tread again on old, dangerous ground with a racial crack about an African-American athlete. Remember it was his racial insult of black athletes (the Rutgers womens basketball team) that got him banned in Boston for a hot minute. But again old habits die hard, especially when it comes to racially stereotyping African-Americans. Thse stereotypes are always the most durable, convenient, and even crowd pleasing ones. In any case, Imus has done it again. So what's to be done?

Imus and Citadel Broadcasting can clean up his latest mess by issuing an immediate public apology for Imus' racially offensive remark. Citadel must go further and issue a public reprimand of Imus.

If Citadel is true to its word about closely monitoring Imus' on-air conduct and statements, it should have no problem with ladling out what's really nothing more than a gentle wrist slap for his on-air bigotry. Let's monitor the media conglomerate to see if they can do that much.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His new book is The Ethnic Presidency: How Race Decides the Race to the White House (Middle Passage Press, February 2008).

Comments

[yappnmutt]

i think it is a great idea to ignore the serious crime issues in the black community. sweeping it under the rug will by making the subject that which must not be mentioned will certainly solve the issue.

black people are treated more harshly in the eyes of the law from the street level to the courtroom but the question is not about fairness. the question is whether the black man's propensity for violence (look up crime statistics) precedes the harsh treatment. i don't agree that the "unfairness" should be applied as a blanket but human nature has a tendency to match the simplist correlations perceived. in this case it is skin color to crime. so the solution would be to change the perception by changing the reality not by media denial but by media light. shame works wonders on the human spirit.

[MyThought]

Curious - why don't you folks go after Rush Limbaugh (horrible remarks about blacks/Katrina for example), or Michael Savage?

They are worse yet no one asks them to step down - is everyone afraid of them?

[mephjeff]

Perhaps Imus et al. "should" apologize, but I don't particularly care if they do or not. Apologies should be heartfelt, and with a pattern of behavior like Imus's, I don't see how sincere any apology would be.

I'm tired of forcing people into half-hearted attempts at decency. Let them shine on as the trash they are. Or, if you're really concerned, pressure their bosses into feigning some semblance of a national standard. But sometimes you gotta let a jerk be a jerk.

[presto]

Imus is dumb, but not that dumb. I take him at his word when he says he was trying to point out the problems with racial profiling. It was clumsy and obtuse but I think he thought he was being an advocate. He'd have to be insane to utter a deliberate slur. I don't really care if I never see him again, but this seems like a weak case.

[Dunnage]

Do yourself a favor and forget about Mr. Imus.

[Johnnn]

Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Keep harassing Imus. Every time Imus is unfairly attacked, Obama loses votes.

[steamboat]

Johnnn, you are a honest man. Blunt----but true.

[joemac1114]

I will look for an apology from Imus when I see guys such as Earl go after the Bill O'Reilly's and Rush Limbaugh's with the vehemence as they pursue Imus with. Limbaugh playing Barack The Magic Negro and he is still on the air spewing his venom. Popping pills traveling to foreign countries with his big ole bottle of Viagara (wonder what he was doing with those in Haiti?)

Further, Imus has been having an honest conversation about race on his show on a regular basis, maybe if you had been listening Earl you would have known that. So many here come off as Americans, talking shit when they don't know the whole story, or care about the truth, as long as your agenda is met.

[geg6]

Anyone who listens to an idiot like Imus and thinks he is funny or insightful or no big deal is someone who either doesn't think or who doesn't much care about racism or sexism. I've reluctantly educated myself on these so-called "shock jocks." What they really are? Much like Karl Rove's remarks about Obama being like the cool dude at the country club, they are the biggest geeks in the room who show what cool, macho, tough guys they are by being as racist and sexist as they possibly can. It's not comedy, wit, or humor. It's adolescent male posturing and about as pitiful as it is unintelligent. People like Imus, Stern, Limbaugh, and the rest are just the weirdos who got beat up on the playground every day, not because they were weird but because they were weird and downright mean. They don't know what the real meaning of being and acting like a man is so they posture and point fingers at others hoping no one will notice.

[arthuride]

Free speech does not include the right to incite. If I yell FIRE in a crowded discotheque that leads to a stampede and death, my free speech was a crime. To use the platitudes of Imus to gain an audience is to incite hatred, and it is wrong and a crime. I do not care for Obama--not because he is black--but he lacks experience....but I will never silence him...as he does not incite (his followers do that) and thus he can speak as he will. Imus only tries to intimidate, aggitate, and infuriate. He has to go.

[noradunn]

I'm no fan of Imus, and I never listen to the guy. But what he was saying, clearly, is that the athlete was arrested because he's black, and that black man get arrested more than white men for the same behavior. This knee jerk reaction is silly. Meanwhile, whenever I hear the "n" work in my neighborhood, it's blaring from a car driven by, without exception, a young black male. Why are they spreading that word? I find it offensive, but who's firing can I call for?

[tojoi]

Im a black woman and I don’t get it. Imus makes a derogatory comment and everybody gets all up in arms. But FoxNews, Pat Buchanan, and Bill O’Reilly spew racial insults all day long and no one says a word! Rarely is there even a slap on the wrist. Whats that all about? Why arent we demanding apologizes from them? Or better yet, why do we allow them to continue? I guess Imus aint in the click!

[Faithtoo]

I'm with you Tojoi. There are certainly worse offenders and I too wonder why they are still on the air. Any and all racism is unacceptable and we should tolerate none.

I must say however, that if Don Imus' follow-up comments are accurate then what is the big fuss right now? His clarifying remarks were that his commentary was about the police and Pac-Man being targeted by them. Sounds like an accurate statement. He may not have said it correctly but I think we might give him the benefit of the doubt. He at least apologized, Buchanan, Fox and O'reilly never have, never do and continue spewing hate. I think we should place our anger where it really belongs.

[LeaveArtieAlone]

Whether he is racist or not, Imus should get off the air because he simply is unintelligible. How can anyone understand what the heck he is saying anymore!

[ohbomba]

Let's play Match the person to the racist statement or event!
Hymie Town Don Imus
Chocolate City Don Imus
Tawana Brawley Don Imus
A Mormon President Don Imus
Duke rape case Don Imus

[avalanch112]

i think hymie town was actualy jesse jackson. you might wanna check your references.

[wheresthebeef]

Ummm...you might want to switch on your snark detector.

[presto]

You might want to read all the references more carefully.

[dadw5boys]

Do not even listen to IMUS that is how you get rid of him!!!!!

[Poboy]

I agree with bgregs, except I never defended Imus. And unlike Earl, I never wanted his return.

I disagree with both wheresthebeef and uhappytoo who apparently show no understanding of history.

There is over 200 years of history of criminalizing Black people's behavior, as was explained by Douglas Blackmon in his book "Slavery by Another Name."

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6515

[wheresthebeef]

Actually, I DO understand that there's been (more than) "200 years of criminalizing Black people's behavior." Which, I believe, was exactly Imus's point. Try to keep up with the rest of the kids in class, won't you?

[Poboy]

If you are with the group who is ahead of the class, then certainly I am not with you.

Normally, I don't give Imus one second of my time, but because of you, I took the time to listen to his comments.

They are unmistakably racists.

1. He and his comrade painted Pacman Jones with a brush of womanizing, drugs, alcohol and guns, all negative stereotypes of Black men.

2. Imus' comment was clear about the negatives a racist could expect from Black men in the environment of a night club. I thought it was to have a good time.

3. They called him a "dickhead," in other words, they called out of his name.

4. There was no mistake about what his comments implied, and that's why Pacman Jones took offense, according to news reports.

Q. Who the hell are you to tell someone who has been offended, not to take offense?

If no offense was intended, then an apology, at least, is in order!