Imus Has a History
bella | Apr 11, 2007 | Comments 60
So I wound up discussing this Don Imus controversy with two of my good friends here in Miami, both of whom are well-respected journalists and all around brilliant dudes: Forrest Norman and Francisco “Frank” Alvarado.
They brought Imus’s history of racist remarks to my attention. I knew the guy had a reputation as a prick — in the Seventies he released a “comedy” album called This Honky’s Nuts, which says it all. But Miami area DJ Sid Rosenberg (790 AM) was on the air with Imus when he spewed his racist remarks about the Rutgers girls. Here’s the video of the whole disgusting exchange.
Rosenberg works in Miami after being kicked off the Imus show for making racist comments in the past.
According to his own Wikipedia page: “Rosenberg was no stranger to controversy on the Imus show, which was also simulcast on MSNBC cable television, therein increasing his remarks’ visibility. Among other things, he would say on-air that Venus and Serena Williams would be better suited for National Geographic Magazine than for Playboy, that “faggots play tennis” and that the United States women’s national soccer team were “a bunch of juiced up dykes.” He referred to Palestinians as “stinking animals” and suggested that “They ought to drop the bomb right there, kill ‘em all right now” during the November 12, 2004 funeral of deceased Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat. Rosenberg would eventually be removed from the Imus show in May 2005, after saying in regard to Kylie Minogue’s battle with breast cancer, that ” … ain’t gonna be so beautiful when the bitch got bald head and one titty.”
Oh, he sounds like a thinking man. A real scholar.
And as for Mr. Imus, he had this to say about noted, respected black journalist Gwen Ifill: “Isn’t The Times wonderful. It lets the cleaning lady cover the White House.” In case you don’t know who Gwen Ifill is, she’s written for the Washington Post, New York Times, she’s a journalist for PBS, and she moderated the vice presidential debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards in 2004. I have infinite respect for the woman.
Ifill addressed the comments herself in this opinion piece.
Her final comments really struck me. “Why do my journalistic colleagues appear on Mr. Imus’s program? That’s for them to defend, and others to argue about. I certainly don’t know any black journalists who will. To his credit, Mr. Imus told the Rev. Al Sharpton yesterday he realizes that, this time, he went way too far. Yes, he did.
Every time a young black girl shyly approaches me for an autograph or writes or calls or stops me on the street to ask how she can become a journalist, I feel an enormous responsibility. It’s more than simply being a role model. I know I have to be a voice for them as well. So here’s what this voice has to say for people who cannot grasp the notion of picking on people their own size: This country will only flourish once we consistently learn to applaud and encourage the young people who have to work harder just to achieve balance on the unequal playing field.
Let’s see if we can manage to build them up and reward them, rather than opting for the cheapest, easiest, most despicable shots.”
Imus’s remarks seem to be part of a bigger recent trend — celebrities reveal themselves to be prejudiced idiots, they get the public smackdown. They apologize profusely. They lose advertising revenue, they might lose their agents, a few newspapers might drop their column — but that news won’t make the Drudge Report. If they’re caught on video, their friends might distance themselves from them for a while (cough * Perez * cough). Or they might be entered into rehab, ala Mel Gibson, Kramer, and Isaiah Washington. But then what? And is this the right way to deal with publicized prejudice in a country that prides itself on freedom of speech?
Frank had a wise point to make, which might not be popular: “I kind of feel it’s unfair to go out and destroy someone’s livelihood because they exercised their right to free speech in a very stupid manner. Maybe I’m getting soft, but sugar-coated politically correctness just doesn’t work on radio. Just look at all the successful radio shows in syndication. Whether you think a guy is a scumbag, people want to hear controversy. I just think it is a scarier thought that we as a society have grown so intolerant of anything that would offend others that we’re falling into a facist trap of choosing who deserves and who doesn’t deserve to make a living in media and entertainment. If something on the air offends you, just change the dial.” He’s definitely right — my dial was never on Don Imus’s show to begin with. He’s definitely not the only racist idiot with a morning radio show, and most of ‘em are still on the air every day.
To which Forrest responded: “I don’t think he belongs in jail or anything. But people have a right to get pissed and try to get him fired, which is all that’s going on.” And that’s true, too.
Personally, I’m exercising my right to be pissed off. But I want to hear what you smart, thinking bellas and fellas think about this. Many of us feel close to this story, as proud wearers of nappy hair ourselves.
What do you think should happen to Don Imus? What do you think WILL happen to Don Imus? And what does this whole debacle say about the state of race relations today?
Filed Under: Issues
Erin Says: April 12th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
i don’t know if u are answering me .. but i never said nigga was positive or bitch or ho .. I was specifically talking about “nappy ” or nappy head and was refferring to a post above that saids we have websites talking about nappy this and that .
and last time i checked whore or ho , was used to define a loose woman of any color.
In regards of the word nigger , I am not so hung up on rap artist using that word . But someone is supporting and buying it, and as one poster wrote it was 80% white boys. So now rappers are producing for white people .
The situation is worst than this the imus scenario. Its been going on for a long time since we were brought here on the slave ships . This is part of our legacy , its nothing new ..
Speaking of the word ho , who buys all of the urban clothing , that is not even produced by us , you think it is produced by us , but it’s not ,,,
Our own people sell us out eveyday , we have got people making green jewlery to hide the fact they are still using diamonds possibly from conflict countires. And to top it off diamonds are not even worth anything , they are not rare , it was a advertising hoax. and the list goes on .
I Cannot understand , how any black person saids they never experienced racism .. Funny everyday u are insulted by racism , from tv programs , radio programs , advertising , when u go get a weave done and use korean hair , or buy hair products from the korean store ( you know the koreans dominate the black hair business, do the research ) .
No I tell you I am not going to put down black rap artists, because of an imus smokescreen …
and what’s funny i don’t really listen to rap , i am more into old jazz , groups like le nubiens or massive attack.
“Rappers can say what they want , most rappers are rapping about what they know OR what they are/ were taught . Who control’s this ?? The white media.”
Sorry, Byrdparker, I can’t buy that. Once you’ve banked millions, you don’t have to be around the sterotypical conditions of overt crime and overall degradation referenced in the music. They’re officially talking about what they think will sell, not that which they continue to experience. Remember, their careers hinge on maintaing the street cred that is as much of an asset as Mariah’s high notes. As far as who controls it all, don’t we all have the option to quit if a boss makes us do things that go against our morals?
To byrdparker, I was not referring to you, I actually agree with some of your points. I am referring to our race as a whole, the fact that Russell Simmons is producing green jewelry is not new to me, and believe it or not we all buy into the hidden racism on a daily basis. When I say growing up in the south I never experienced DIRECT racism it meant the type of in your face, person to person racism that my parents experienced, which is rare because New Orleans is a racial hot spot. As far as rap music I don’t buy it or listen to it either, neither am I putting down rap artists, I never said a negative word about them I am against the way they degrade black women, its a disgrace simply because in putting us down, they are bringing themselves down also… I agree the situation is worse than the Imus scenario, but why is it just directed towards him? Answer this… If a black personality in the same situation would have said the same thing Imus said would the NAACP get involved? Would he be fired? Would our race even acknowledge the fact that the comment was made? If they did acknowledge it would he suffer the same course of action Mr Imus has? I think not… I don’t have hairweave, I rarely get relaxers, I am of creole descent I embrace every part of my heritage from my White great grandfather to my Black and Indian great grandmother. So let me ask you a question, do you buy into the propaganda? Because one way or the other we all do, it’s inevitable. As I posted before, we are reactive by nature its inbred in us, why lash out at others when it begins with yourself? Discipline begins in the home… I am simply saying that we cannot reprimand this White man without first reprimanding Black men, it’s ok for them to say it but not him? I don’t get it, all of it that is said is meant to harm the esteem of black women, yet its acceptable for a person of color to say it to another person of color… In the words of Laurence Fishburne A.K.A. Dap from ‘School Daze’: “WAKE UP!!!”
Erin Says: April 12th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
No we all do not buy into hidden racism on a daily basis . If you strip away all the frills and understand racism for what it is , then perhaps one will not buy into hidden racism .
Imus for those young rutgers girls is an authority figure , someone who has been around for a long time, respected in his field / can reach a lot of people . He was around during and even before the civil rights movement . Even though they do not listen to him , It’s pretty horrible for authority figure to slam you with racist comments, that will travel with them for the rest of thier lives !
I do not think that a credible black journalist would have said a general term talking about the whole team . so it’s a hypothetical situation it has not happened , because there is no black journalist out there like imus . Even listening to wendy williams she is attacking guests on her show not gunning for innocent young women ( world class athletes) who are playing basketball possibly from a scholarship , and are attending college for the american dream .. Where is the American Dream for African americans , if u cannot even attend school without an authority figure making racist remarks .. Imus has been in the industry for a while he is a authority figure in his world , he has mentored a lot of public journalist we see today .
No i do not buy into propoganda, i like to travel and see the world myself, i like to immerse myself in finding out the truth, not just talking the talk . I do not want spend my time thinking about hypothetical situations that have not happened. It’s a waste of time .
I still stand by those rappers in this situation , even though i know a lot of people will not agree with me.. They are rapping about what they know and the label heads are pushing them to give more , and telling them what sells. Some rappers are educated and some are not. Yes and wasn’t it always the way to divide and conquer afroamericans by pitting them against each other .
Come on how could R kelly do a song talking about rain on them hoes, is this a refference to peeing on women ? Isn’t he going to court . Whose bright idea was this , but more importantly who is greenlighting and putting the money into these projects.
In regards to the korean hair suppliers , i was not refferring specifically to you as i do not know you . But to clarify the koreans have taken control of the distribution of black products , and most black hair products are not even produced by black manufacturers.
Afrobella ,
How many people quit a five figure deal , along with notoriety which comes with it ?? how many of those rappers really have invested their money ? Once one gets the fame bug , can they live without it? I admit it is honorable to do so , but most of us ( human race ) would not do it, as most of us are followers, and right now everybody wants their 15 minutes.
afrobella
I do appreciate your blog !! Its beautiful , i come here almost everyday , to check up on your beauty tips , although i rarely comment … But I love commenting on political posts thanks for the dialogue.
HA! CBS has given Imus the boot too…
But I hope this incident really opens our eyes as a community that we can no idly longer stand by & let these types of negative stereotypes set the standard for how we’re regarded by mainstream America…
Someone has sent the team hate email. They are not to blame for Imus’s firing and I personally think these young women have carried themselves very well throughout this ordeal.
I don’t feel like Imus was fired for his comments…he was fired for the fallout of his comments causing the loss of money to CBS and NBC Universal.
The Palestinian remark is making me fume (!!!!), especially. I am so mad that he could be allowed to say that. I wonder if whoever he was talking to had the audacity to laugh nervously and change the subject–I would’ve walked off the set. And the “cleaning lady” comment?! Why did it take so long–till MAY–to kick him off the show????!!!
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