Using Black People, To Attack Black People. Updated

Whenever the Right Wing perceives that Black People have made some advance, or gain, they attack.  Now, unable to attack using their tried and true, Racist strategies, they pay Black surrogates and use the very "Inner City," Ghetto conditions created, fostered, and maintained, by Corporate America, to once again attack the Black community:

Dear Mr. Jason Whitlock, your Uncle Tom shtick is going to be opposed as effectively as the campaign against, Racism and Sexism, because it’s the same thing.

Hello!  Your Rapper, Hit-Piece, does not pass the smell test.  

No matter how hard you try, your appearance today, was just another attack on the Black community.  You can get as many Black people on 360 to cover your ass as you want and it still amounts to a diversion for Imus's, Racism, and Sexism.   You made even the "Conservative," guest, look like a paragon of intellect and reason.

Your script would have made Michele Malkin, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, or Karl Rove, proud.  You wanna help the Black Community, fire Glenn Beck, and the rest of those fuckers too.  And, while you’re at, submit your own resignation.

So, you segue into your Rapper, Hit-Piece, by quoting Imus’ contention that "Those words came from the Black community."  And then you use the lie to launch into your attack on Rappers, under the guise that they are as bad as Imus.

Ho is slang for whore and it originated over 500 years ago.  Was Rap around then? Look it up!  

Nappy, is another White racist slur that Black people re-appropriated and de-powered in the 60’s.  Look up the origin and historical usage of that word!

How many Rappers use Nappy to denigrate women?  Find me one!  

Don’t tell America again, Nappy originated in the Black community.  Don’t tell America again, Ho originated in the Black community.  How dare you use Imus contention, he was only doing what Rappers do.  

Imus and McGuirk, titillated by "Rap Slang," used it as cover.  If caught, they always planned to use it.  Why didn’t Mr. Imus explain where his usage of Jigaboo came from?  Oh, I forgot, that’s Spike Lee’s, Al Sharpton’s and Jesse Jackson’s fault.  

Jason Whitlock, here’s another point.  Mr. Imus, used the regulated public airwaves to slur ten innocent teenage girls and young women, five coaches, and the institution of Rutgers University.  When you have visible and innocent victims of defamation, there are consequences.  When you defame a powerful institution and cause them to protect their product, there are consequences.

Imus not only violated the public trust, and made immediate and powerful, enemies, he also ran afoul of his employers, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, and FCC, policies and regulations.  The consequences of violating those regulations and policies were enforced, and none too soon I might add.  Mr. Cooper, Mr Whitlock,  you are aware that there are broadcast standards, regulations, and enforcement – Correct?

So, all rap music is Racist and/or Misogynist and uses offensive and  gratuitous language, in your estimation?  Even if that were so, you never heard it over the public airwaves.  Try as you might, 360, couldn’t even broadcast audio or video examples of your central thesis.  

The irony never hit you, or Mr. Cooper, that the Rap video and audio you aired could have been straight from the Sopranos, or virtually any variety of main stream entertainment.  And, of course, there’s no relationship between Gangster TV, Gangster movies, and a Gangster society, on the lives of Black people – Right?

Rap music with objectionable or "Adult" content, never even gets on public airwaves. Music, that passes the censors and makes it to the public airwaves via radio, consists of "Radio Versions," is censored, and/or bleeped.  You’re not aware of that?

If you are aware of objectionable Rap lyrics, it’s because you’ve voluntarily purchased the music or been in the presence of someone who has.  What does that have to do with Imus?  

Public Airwaves belong to People of Color and Women too, and have been regulated for "decency," since its inception.  The level of toxicity and abuse of Blacks, Gays, and Women, over the public airwaves, must end.  Regulations need to be enforced, which by the way we must force the FTC to take up, none too soon, in the Imus case.  

Every time your sleazy, slimy, mercenary ass, appears, oozing your seething inferiority on my screen, I turn the channel.  I can’t bear to look at you.  Using Black people to attack Black people is your raison d’etre.

There must be a Grand Wizard robe in your closet.  Or, is it something else that makes you so fearful and self righteous?

Imus Slurs Young Women and You go after Rap Music.  You should be ashamed and careful.  We will hold you accountable.  

Did you get your talking points from Michele Malkin or Rush Limbaugh?  Enough already!

Malkin

Limbaugh

Update: Anderson Cooper 360, Jason Whitlock, transcript
Please scroll down the page to find the interview.

•  Tip Jar

  Rap is bad.  Imus is good.

  by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:17:59 AM PDT

•  Nothing Makes Me Want to Spit

  more than seeing those Uncle-Toms on Foxnews, who are only brought onto Hannity-the-Fucking-Racist's show to denigrate and slander our own people, and defend the actions and words of racists against us.

  I hate these motherfuckers with a passion that I imagine patriotic Frenchmen hated the Vichy swine during WWII...

  Hate is a strong word, but I hate these motherfuckers...self-hating pieces of shit...

  But I'm being too kind...

  by TheManWithNoPoint on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:21:10 AM PDT

  •  I don’t like hate either.

    So, How About, "We Are So Tired Of The Right Wing Noise Machine."

    by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:23:19 AM PDT

    •  You're Right...As Always..n/t

      by TheManWithNoPoint on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:28:57 AM PDT

      •  Cue In The Blushing! :)

        by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:49:12 AM PDT

•  I have been wondering myself for sometime

  why the black community accepts the words in Rapp.  Pointing out the lyrics is apples and oranges for Imus, as far as I am concerned.  It doesn't excuse him for what he did.  But don't blame big Corporate America for everything either.  That is another excuse for ignoring what the lyrics are like in Rap. Everytime a white person brings up Rap and tries to object, I feel like we are told to mind our own business and that black people have a right to treat each other and call each other names however they want to.  Apparently now, black people are not able to object to degredation of their own women either, according to you.  

  There are women who hate other women, too, we all know the examples of that.  Whether the loathing is subtle or not.  But that does not give women the right to degredate other women.  No group should be expected to go along with that, just because they are a member of the group.  Imus can't get away with degrading women, and neither should people do that in rap music.  The excuse that it is mainstream, the Sapranos do it, everybody does it, Corportate America does it, and blah blah blah, isn't an excuse and it won't fly.

  by hopscotch1997 on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:29:31 AM PDT

  •  Music with “Adult” content is

    regulated and voluntarily purchased.  You and I may not like the music, but people choose to purchase it; otherwise I agree with your basic thoughts.

    by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:39:26 AM PDT

    •  In adult content music or adult content anything,

      why is it women who are the primary focus in  degradation?  It might be purchased by adults, but it is heard by children, little brothers and sisters, neighbors, and many others who know nothing else but to accept the insinuations, and the culture and eventually believe that that is really how black people, women, and people in general should view others and themselves.  It is very subtle and children and adults don't necessarily buy it consciously, but the slow drip is there into the subconscious.

      by hopscotch1997 on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:44:15 AM PDT

      •  You Do Realize that it's White America

        who overwhelming purchases the music of these self-hating clowns...I hope...

        It's the modern-day minstrel show, and I tell my children that everyday...

        by TheManWithNoPoint on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:46:09 AM PDT

        •  Yes, I know.

          But it is young white people mostly, high school and college age who also are buying into the image they are hearing of black people and their culture, and also many white women are viewed the way women are depicted in the music.  I think that is why everyone should be involved in pointing it out, and I don't blame black people who object to it.  

          I was talking with my nephew over the weekend.  He bought a house within the last year and he and his wife are expecting a baby.  The house is a street over from a college and he can hear the music when there is an outdoor party or a big gathering.  He can hear the words plainly and was worrying that his child will be able to understand what the music says.  He didn't talk about whether the people playing the music were black or not.  that isn't the issue.  The issue is what kind of a world his baby will learn about or think is out there from listening to the words in a few years.

          by hopscotch1997 on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:53:01 AM PDT

          •  It's Disgusting...and you know what?

            I have never heard any black people I know personally listening to that "Dirty South" excrement...hip-hop and R&B, sure, but I don't know any black people who buy into that garbage...but it's all over the airwaves...to the point I have abandoned most of all of it and have turned to the Canadian Punk Rock scene...now, that's some good stuff...

            There are no niggers in my house, so no "nigger-this" and "nigger-that" music, thank you very much...

            by TheManWithNoPoint on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:58:20 AM PDT

          •  Well young white males especially

            aren't that bright to begin with. They'll pretty much copy anything if they're told it's cool and hip.

            by Wes Opinion on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:51:27 AM PDT

            •  what's that suppose to mean

              I'm black and I have white male friends, real friends, please don't offend them either

              by Cat4everrr on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:56:37 AM PDT

              •  I include myself in that statement

                being a white male. I still to this day don't understand why I wore platform shoes and bellbottoms in the late 70's.

                by Wes Opinion on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:00:59 AM PDT

                •  lol

                  by Cat4everrr on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:12:30 AM PDT

      •  Yup

        Kids are in the car often times when it's being played

        by Cat4everrr on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:50:11 AM PDT

      •  That's a good question (about why women)

        Sadly, we can look a lot more places than rap music to see the same phenomena at work. Can we talk about the movies for a minute? How many movies are mostly about sexualized violence towards women? Let's just put it this way - I personally refuse to watch them, and it severely limits my viewing options. Or video games? That's where I've seen some of the most appalling stuff. Or fashion advertising. Or the fact the number one show in America was Law and Order Special Victims Unit. That's not to excuse it in rap music - but I think we should talk about it as an American cultural issue (since it's everywhere) and not just try to pin it on rappers.

        by brklyngrl on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:54:01 AM PDT

        •  We can also talk about the porn sites on the

          internet.  The majority of them target women, and many are violent with actually torture of women, and physical abuse, rape, driving nails through their nipples, sewing shut their vaginas, etc.  I see little else comparable about men.  The female domination of men sites are almost laughable.  And mostly it is white women being tortured in porn, from what I have seen.

          by hopscotch1997 on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:58:54 AM PDT

          •  I completely agree - and the sex trade, btw

            That's my point. There are way-too-numerous examples of misogyny in American culture to focus on rap music in isolation. This is a BIG problem - way bigger than rap music. It shows up everywhere else, so why not there, you know. I think part of the problem is that when the Black community does try to address misogyny in rap and hip hop, it gets basically zero coverage in the mainstream media. But there's tons of criticism in the mainstream media as if rap music were uniquely bad. So people get a little defensive.

            by brklyngrl on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:10:22 AM PDT

            •  But at the same time, to give any segment

              a pass because it is wide spread in the whole culture is not right.  If the opportunity presents itself, then maybe it should be grasped before it escapes.  It may be unfair, but it is an opportunity to make inroads, none the less.  We can only hope that more unexpected chances will come in other areas.

              by hopscotch1997 on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:14:42 AM PDT

              •  No of course not.

                Believe me, I'm not advocating giving a pass to rap music. It just seems a little odd to me - Don Imus (white radio host) says something incredibly sexist and it's an opportunity to talk about rap music? To me, it seems the perfect opportunity to talk about hate radio and the vicious misogyny that spews out of talk radio hosts mouths all the time. We can stand up and say what people like Rush say is a bunch of sexist garbage. We could have a real discussion about Howard Stern. The only discussion I ever hear about misogyny in the culture focuses on rappers. Why start with that?

                by brklyngrl on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:23:52 AM PDT

                •  Doesn't Sexism Pervade The White Community Too?

                  by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:27:05 AM PDT

                  •  Absolutely!!! (See Below) n/t

                    by serrano on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:29:05 AM PDT

                  •  YES! Of course it does.

                    Sexism is a big problem in the white community. I was reluctant to digress too much for fear of hijacking your whole diary, but now that you're in on it too... I'm trying and failing to think of something articulate to say about how big a problem it is, but just to stay on entertainment, how about that billboard they finally had to take down that showed Elisha Cuthbert being tortured and killed? How about the wage gap - can't blame that on Black people.

                    by brklyngrl on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:33:38 AM PDT

          •  Without getting into the psychology of it...

            of which there is plenty, domination of men generally deals more with humiliation and removal of power, whereas with women it's more about physical ordeal.

            Like most things, it has all different levels, from spanking to hardcore scarification.  If anything, power exchange is just a more blatant and outward expression of the power plays that go on in any relationship.

            Ultimately, it's up to the participants to figure out how far they want to go.

            by Canatheist on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:28:49 AM PDT

            •  The sites always have disclaimers

              that the women involved are doing this entirely voluntarily, but I don't buy that in the extreme ones that they are doing it voluntarily.  What psychologically well person or financially secure person willingly becomes involved in vaginal sewing, beatings, and activity that could be permanently damaging to their bodies? That is fine that men like to be humiliated, but it is culturally women who are expected to be tortured happily and accept the outright hatred expressed in those sites. Some fetishish are fine, yes, but the extent reached on many sights and far past what is a rational or emotional choice to satisfy doms or whoever. This mysogny spills out into society or is outright parallel to hatred expressed right before our faces, subconsciously, if not blatently, and expresses itself in repression of women intellectually, and emotionally if not in life threatening ways like domestic abuse.  I don't see humiliation of men in this society as an overriding issue, at least one that they are complaining about.  And yes, men are battered too, but the disparity in the numbers does not have to be pointed out.

              by hopscotch1997 on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:39:54 AM PDT

              •  Some people like pain.

                Believe it or not, having your skin pierced by a needle is far less painful than, say, foot caning (bastinado) or even a hard flogging.  It's mostly psychological.

                People who do kink porn in the US (and I've met some of them) are very, very careful to make things look far worse than they actually are.  Some of us in the kinky community actually laugh at the overacting when we see something we know isn't painful being played up as being excruciating.

                Your reaction is typical of folks outside of the community, unfortunately, which is why most fetish folks don't talk about it outside of it.  The vast majority of people I know inside of it are rational, thinking people who are into sensation play and not into injuring their partners.  Some are rather extreme, but if everyone consents, I fail to see the harm.  It's done behind closed doors, between consenting adults, and no one is forced to do anything, even if it may look like that from the outside.  In fact, I've been at clubs where something has gone wrong, and the offender was immediately booted from the venue butt first.

                If you're really interested in learning what's behind all this, there's a good collection of articles written by insiders here.

                by Canatheist on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:54:16 AM PDT

        •  On the White Side....

          just why is it, please tell me, that with so many terrific, bright, accomplished women, of all hues, in this country, that we are constantly bombarded with images of Ana Nicole, Britney, Paris, Jessica, etc.???!!!

          Here's a far-out idea, which has emanated from this whole affair--how about handing the microphone to women who just might ADD to the public discourse instead of degrading and cheapening it???!!!

          One of the positives, I think, is that Fathers, like Steve Capus, like Al Roker, like Barack Obama have said, "Wait a minute--my wonderful daughters, after all we've fought for, deserve much better than this!!!!!"

          by serrano on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:28:34 AM PDT

          •  And Anna Was Never Called A Ho, Even Though

            it’s taken this long to establish paternity.  

            by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:36:59 AM PDT

      •  These kids have parents, right?

        Most of the money made by rap music is made by the same people denouncing rap with other subsidiaries of their corporate empire.  Why is "black rap" bad and must be denounced with vigor by African Americans while no expectation of equivalent denunciation is held for Whites for the glorification of consumerism to an unhealthy degree?

        Many people believe in a free market only to modify it to use against certain segments of society when convenient.  Just sayin'.

        by Pithy Cherub on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:00:26 AM PDT

  •  Not all black people, R Kelly

    is dispised in my community.  I can tell you the majority of the parents who attend my church, a black church, do not let their children listen to rap.

    by Cat4everrr on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:52:04 AM PDT

  •  also wondering

    I have been wondering myself for sometime why the black community accepts the words in Rapp.

    I have been  wondering myself for some time why the white community accepts the words in rap. Not only accepts it, but keeps it in business. Somehow, all us anti-misogynistic white folks can't seem to keep all those white kids from buying the stuff.

    For that matter, I have been wondering myself for some time why the white community accepts the words of Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, et al.

    by Seonachan on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:52:42 AM PDT

  •  Do your remember Tipper Gore and PMRC

    who was upset when she heard her 12 daughter playing the song "Darling Nikki by Prince and decided to do something about it. Well this included rap songs and heavy metal songs that was supposedly telling kids to commit suicide. They were accused of censorship! And yes Corporate America is to blame also because the bottom line is how much money can they make. Its not just blacks degrading women, Eminem had several songs on one of his albums dedicated to killing his wife who happens to be the mother of his children.

    by mistletoe on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:53:16 AM PDT

  •  We all have a part to play in saying...

    ...that these lyrics and the behavior that goes with them are unacceptable, but based on what I keep hearing in the media, around 70% of those who are buying rap are young white men. Are we as blacks supposed to deal with unacceptable rap lyrics in our own community and the white community too? There's enough work for everyone to do. If you see me beating up a little kid in a park, are you going to go out and do the same thing?  Don't you know that it's wrong?  Does my doing it give you a free pass to just act out and do whatever you feel like doing?

    Also, I recall an incident regarding Nelly's desire to hold a charitable bone marrow drive at Spelman and  students organizing a protest of his misogynistic lyrics and videos.  Whatever you may want to say about Al Sharpton, he recently led a protest protest egarding G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo’s alleged assault of a 14-year-old boy. While there is a long way still to go, I can't help wondering where the press coverage is for incidents like this. It's way too easy for people to throw up their hands and say that "no one is doing anything about this."

    by DemInCville on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:19:16 AM PDT

    •  Young Blacks feel alienated from Jesse and Al

      because of this very topic.  

      by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:23:14 AM PDT

  •  Beyond Beats and Rhymes

    Is a short (one hour) documentary by Byron Hurt that addresses a lot of the issues we've been discussing in this thread, including misogyny, homophobia, and the record industry's role in promoting certain types of hip hop artists. Here's a link to a description and a short clip. He interviews a lot of famous people in hip hop (Mos Def, Talib Kwali, Busta Rhymes, Russell Simmons) as well as Black academics like Michael Eric Dyson and Kevin Powell. Obviously, it's not the ultimate look at all this - it is only an hour - but I found it very interesting to hear what people had to say. It seems like you are really interested in these issues, so I think you would find it interesting.

    by brklyngrl on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:54:43 AM PDT

    •  I missed it on PBS when it aired

      Any idea of where I can see it now?

      by DemInCville on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:10:43 AM PDT

      •  Thanks! I loved it.

        But I tend to love everything Byron Hurt does. The movie is still on the documentary tour scene. Right now he's taking it around to all the Historically Black Colleges to show/talk about. And other places, so it might come to a place near you.

        But I believe you can also buy it on his website.

        by brklyngrl on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:28:12 AM PDT

        •  I thought of it because

          he interviews women at Spelman about the very incident you posted about above.

          by brklyngrl on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:31:15 AM PDT

    •  Wow, I Wish Everyone Could See That - Thanks.

      by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:21:06 AM PDT

•  For the slightly less informed in the room

  Ahem, me. What happened exactly? I don't know who Jason Whitlock is. (blushing). I agree that it's pretty ridiculous to blame Imus on black people, no matter who does the blaming.  

  by brklyngrl on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:29:43 AM PDT

  •  Sorry, for the innocuous Jason Whitlock reference

    This was a letter sent to CNN and the Kansas City Star.  Mr. Whitlock is a reporter, with quite a reputation in the sports world.

    by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:34:05 AM PDT

    •  Sigh. Thanks. I just read it.

      It's almost mind-blowing how many people want to talk about rap music instead of Don Imus. Clearly, some people are a little more comfortable criticizing unnamed rappers than talking about the matter at hand. Changing the subject is the last resort of those who have no point. And victim blaming is practically an American institution. Excellent diary, btw.  

      by brklyngrl on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:47:16 AM PDT

      •  I think it's fair game, I don't care what color

        you may be.  Should R Kelly be rewarded with sale after sale after what he did?

        by Cat4everrr on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:54:22 AM PDT

        •  I think it's fair game too.

          I just wonder about the timing. It seems like right now  with the Don Imus thing would be a good time to talk about racism in the white community.  

          by brklyngrl on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:57:18 AM PDT

      •  to be fair to Jason

        this is not a new cause for him, I don't agree with the assertion that he is an "uncle tom". I have listened to his radio show off and on when they were on the air in the KC area and this article is no different than what he has been saying and writing for years.

        What is wrong with not allowing some idiot (Imus) take your personal power?

        by jezlin on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:42:12 AM PDT

        •  Maybe You Should Read The Transcript-It's Up Now.

          by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 09:49:23 AM PDT

•  Turning America's citizenry against each other...

  ...is something that the power elite in America (and other countries) have done for a long, long time, with unfortunate success. They've done it for far too long, within different races as well as political ideologies (witness how divided this country is over left vs. right alone).

  The sooner we can stop turning against each other and instead turn our anger toward those who continually exploit the middle and lower classes--and minorities of all backgrounds--for their own gain, the sooner we can take back the power from the self-appointed elite.

  by boofdah on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:29:54 AM PDT

  •  This is about the message, not the words

    • What Imus said is defamatory. It was directed at real flesh and blood people. They have names. Rappers make social commentary as part of their art.
    • Imus spoke a boldfaced LIE. These beautiful talented women are not 'ugly black whores'. Rappers, for the most part, speak the truth. More truth needs to be spoken even if the words sometimes shock some people.
    • Imus spoke, for the most part, spoke to his own clan (older white men) about another group (African American women). Rappers, for the most part, sing about their own experiences to people they understand.

    Here's the smell test; would Imus host a radio show at Rutgers University and issue those same words. NEVER!!!! NEVER!!!! He is a lying coward.

    The rappers perform and speak the truth about the very people they sing about.

    by Brass Tacks on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:03:38 AM PDT

•  Excellent diary

  nothing I can add.
  Thanks

  by stevej on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:30:23 AM PDT

•  Thank You!

  by mistletoe on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:31:58 AM PDT

•  Picture of the the current events

  

  by vyllyn on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:36:25 AM PDT

•  Amen, Amen and Well-Said!!!

  But Jesse and Al have, IMHO, become counterproductive in the discussion.  To me, it's time to recognize that we have surpassed the point where one or two self-appointed spokesmen are necessary or useful.  

  I find Rev. DeSoaries, for example, to be tremendously refreshing in his candor, and he appears weary of 'ambulance-chasers'.  The women of Rutgers have demonstrated to all the world that they are fully capable of speaking for themselves, to powerful effect.  And people such as Gwen Ifill, Rehema Ellis, Barack Obama, Steve Capus, Contessa Brewer, Keith Olbermann, Al Roker, and many others have had the opportunity to give voice to their thoughts and opinions and become part of this larger discussion.  

  We must keep the ball rolling, and not just with sound bites and talking points, but, hopefully, with genuine, thoughtful dialogue.  That just may take  us to a higher ground...

  by serrano on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:36:59 AM PDT

  •  Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson the Right Wing's

    favorite Black People.  The Rutgers women are standing behind Al’s assistance however. Please view the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team press conference for documentation

    by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:44:16 AM PDT

  •  Not necessary or useful?

    Tell that to Sean Bell's family.

    by dwhite10701 on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:28:32 AM PDT

    •  People Need Champions, No Doubt....

      I'm just sayin' that others can step forward, as Rev. DeSoaries has in this case, and demonstrate that they, too, are capable of leading, and without the agendas and baggage that make THEM the topic, and not the real issue at hand....

      by serrano on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:35:26 AM PDT

•  I agree excellent diary

  I'm just sorry I'm not awake enough to think of anything to contribute

  by Wes Opinion on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:42:28 AM PDT

•  I listened to Juan Williams on NPR this morning..

  and heard about the same thing.  In fact, it sounded like he was trying to sound like he wasn't just reading talking points--but not convincingly.

  Juan Williams wrote a book about a year ago "lecturing" the black community on some of this stuff (black people talking "trash" talk)--but peddled the book on mostly white-audience mainstream talk shows.  I lost a lot of respect for him at that point.

  by Naniboujou on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:42:55 AM PDT

  •  I meant Juan Williams sounded an awful lot like

    Mr. Jason Whitlock..not the author of this diary!  

    I agree with the diarist!!   :>}

    by Naniboujou on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:45:11 AM PDT

•  Market Based Solution

  The right-wing wants the market to solve everything - until it effects them.

  Imus, by and large, was fired because his advertisers abandoned him.  A pure market-based solution.  Were the advertisers influenced by the black community?  In some cases, I'm sure.  It's still a market-based decision.

  Rap music - while recorded and sold by CBS is not supported by Staples, Proctor and Gamble, etc.  The business model for talk radio is advertiser driven. No advertisers - no show.  To bring rap music into the discussion is a straw-man at worst.

  Talk show hosts "serve at the pleasure of the advertisers" (to borrow some right-wing terminology). This isn't a free-speech issue.  Talk show hosts can say anything they want within the bounds of the FCC and what the advertisers will support. Imus found out that he crossed that line. End of story.
   

  by Shawshank on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:43:58 AM PDT

•  The Fox News Minstrel Show Hour n/t

  If someone else wants to riff on this, go for it

  by bernardpliers on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:51:54 AM PDT

•  Just to be a bit of a contrarian

  First off, let me say that...

  1. What Don Imus said was the racist blatherings of a doddering old douchebag who's ignominious exit from the airwaves has been too long coming.

  2. There is ABSOLUTELY a problem in this country in terms of racial inequities in wealth and opportunity.

  That said, it's difficult to deny that many (not all) popular black hip-hop artists use language that is sexist, misogynist, violent, and (spoken by anyone of any other race) racist.  Witness the casual use of the word "nigga," just as an example.  Beyond specific words, there is the general tenor of much (again, not all) rap music, which seems to glorify a life of excess and violence.

  If words are bad, then they're bad.  Responsible leaders of any race should decry hate-speech and negative stereotyping in every venue.

  by Jon Stafford on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:53:33 AM PDT

  •  Yes

    No one should assume that black people are going to defend some, not all, of the filth that comes from those songs, merely because the artist is black.  I have to think about my children first.

    by Cat4everrr on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:57:18 AM PDT

  •  Specificity ...

    Rap songs don't call specific people out and call them "nigga" - at least not in the derogatory sense.  And, yes - in the black community there is a difference.

    Imus was specific about who he used his language against - the Rutger's team.  I believe that if any rap artist or comedian did the same - that is, use some form of derogatory language specifically at someone, they'd suffer a similar fate.

    My guess is that if a white radio show host uses the term "nigger" - but is not specific about who it is aimed at, they get reprimanded but not fired. It's when the invective get specific (and therefore personal) that the line is officially crossed.

    by Shawshank on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:10:14 AM PDT

    •  Huh?

      Speaking as a college student, who actually sometimes listens to hip hop music (although it usually is the good stuff like A Tribe Called Quest), you are completely wrong about the usage of the n-word in rap. If you ever have listened to Tupac, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, and countless others, they always refer to people that have wronged them as "punk ass n*ggas" and many other derogatory terms. I don't see a way that they do this in a show of brotherhood.

      Second, I hate Don Imus and I flipped the channel as fast as possible when he was on, but I'm getting a bit sick of the attitude that he directed his comments "specifically" at the Rutgers team or black women in general. It was a textbook slip of the tongue without forethought for its consequences. The act was wrong, and he was probably right to be fired, but I think people on this site should take a step back and look at the incident for what it was: an old, former drug addict, mentally unbalanced shock jock who made a racist comment. This wasn't Michael Richards-like, people.  

      by riche77 on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:00:33 AM PDT

      •  Just curious

        What do you mean by Michael Richards-like?  What's the difference in your mind?

        by DemInCville on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:34:32 AM PDT

      •  OK .. since you asked, I'll try again

        Are you denying that black people never use the word "nigger" in a non-derogatory sense?  I'm a white-guy who lived in a near all-black neighborhood in Norfolk, VA for a couple of years. I was friendly with many of the kids on the block and they used that term all the time. Do they use it in a derogatory way too? - I'm sure they do.  I don't see it as mutually exclusive.  Many words can be used to hurt or heal.

        That being said, I 'll reiterate the point of my comment.  Use of any derogatory language (to take this outside the context of black/white relations) is bad enough, but it is always far worse when aimed at someone specific.  That being said, it's exactly like the Michael Richards situation.  The group of guys he called "niggers" were right there in the audience.  If Michael Richards does that show that night and uses the word "nigger" but aims it at no one in particular (much less someone in the room) - no one ever hears about it. It was a story because of the specific and personal nature of the comments.  

        Calling Imus some "old, former drug addict, mentally unbalanced shock jock" gives him some kind of easy excuse he doesn't deserve.  He knew what exactly what he was saying - his side kick had called the Tennessee girls "cute" earlier in the conversation.  He was purposely drawing the contrast between the teams.  

        by Shawshank on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 09:35:57 AM PDT

    •  Well, at the risk of inciting a shitstorm...

      Al Sharpton has made anti-semitic comments about specific people, particularly during the Crown Heights incident.  Yet he's on the radio.

      For that matter, Rush Limbaugh very specifically denigrated Michael J. Fox, and he's still on the radio.

      I won't even start on Howard Stern.

      I don't mean this as a defense of Don Imus.  I think his show was A) not funny, and B) just an excuse to air a bunch of commercials back to back.  So I'm not sorry to see him gone.  I think he's a crusty old jerk for the most part.  On the other hand, he's done a lot of good charity work.  So I don't know -- did the punishment fit the crime?  Is there a double standard?  If Al Sharpton or Alan Keyes called a mostly white women's basketball team a bunch of "bleach blond bimbos" would they have been fired?  And is that the same thing?  I don't know.

      by Jon Stafford on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 10:13:29 AM PDT

•  I've never heard of the Jason guy until yesterday

  when he first appeared on Tucker Carlson, then I saw him on CNN throughout the evening--from Lou Dobbs to Cooper Anderson.

  He seems to be popping up everywhere now. He was on the Today show this morning as well.

  It was great to see Tavis Smiley and Cornel West appear after him to rebut some of his points. But then I became saddened by the fact that we didn't see Tavis Smiley appear on the Today show or any other program when he was trying to promote his book "The Covenant with Black America" even after the book had hit the NY Times Bestseller list.

  I was also saddened by the fact that we mostly have had AA men speak for these women. When are the producers of these network and cable shows going to have AA women speak up on this topic?

  Jason seems pretty dismissive of these women, but if what Rev. Desoaries said in an interview on the Today show this morning is true (and I don't doubt that it is) that the Rutgers basketball team members are now receiving death threats and hate mail, then Jason needs to sit down and shut up about these women not being victimized by this situation. Imus' words might have put these ladies' personal safety into jeopardy....

  by ademption on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:56:14 AM PDT

  •  The Ruthless, Relentless Right Wing Smear

    machine goes everywhere.  Mr. Imus is a prime example.  They do not care about the personal safety of these women, or Black people.

    by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:58:54 AM PDT

  •  Africaqn American men speaking up for the girls

    that is PRECISELY what needed to be done, and in that manner.  

    Society has convinced itself that ALL African American men are dead-beat "baby daddies", that all African American mothers are unmarried whores who played russian roulette with their vaginas, that no AfricanAmerican child knows his or her father, OR that he is incarcerated or drugged out.  Well, they needed to see there are real fathers, that Daddy loves his girls, and he will kick your arse over his little Princess.

    Intelligent, successful, family-oriented AfricanAmerican men are what bigoted white males fear most.

    diane
    happy i'm nappy
    but no, I'm no ho

    by Chgosatrap on Sat Apr 14, 2007 at 07:10:07 PM PDT

•  Add a link

  to shore up your points. I think this Whitlock character was on David Gregory's show this morning, the one that subbed for Imus' show. He was insufferable. "No white man can control how I feel about myself." Really? Was that true in 1865? In 1965? Since no white man can control how a black man feels about themselves, whites can just go back to freely shouting "N****r" all the livelong day! How enlightened!

  by mrblifil on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 06:57:09 AM PDT

•  Thanks, I searched for the transcript,

  it is not up yet.

  by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:02:43 AM PDT

•  If they actually do their research, they'd see

  it's deeper than just "rap music." As a poster (Preston_P) on Media Matters put it (warning; this is long):

  Great post, Iwarrior. We have to remember that the media has a long history in this country to swift all the blame on the music and movie industry rather than attacking the real institutional problems that gives us such nihilism in society. When Elvis took Rhythm and Blues into mainstream, they said the same thing about him, "He’s corrupting our children and destroying our country with his jiggaboo music!" Then when Heavy Metal and Puck Rock dominated the airwaves, it was their fault for the social decay and why white kids roamed the school halls in their trench coats and Goth make-up, killing everyone in their sight because of their low-self esteem. Now it’s Hip Hop’s turn, and since the music is dominated by blacks, that makes it even more attackable and easy to paint as a scapegoat to blame for the anti-social attitudes and violence in this country. Violence, rebellion, anti-heroism, sexism, homophobia, machismo,  etc., has been in novels, music, movies, and television for decades now—way before Hip Hop—but let’s swift all the blame on Hip Hop which is the birth of this.

  The late film critic Pauline Kael once said in her praised review of "Bonnie and Clyde" that once oppressed subcultures are introduced to the masses, these aesthetics will never belong to the private possessions of the minority group again. And these minorities (whether their women, gays, blacks, etc.) are stimulated to where their behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought are conveyed so loudly and accurately, it is not simply something to behold, but is something to be proud of. "Bonnie and Clyde" spoke to the 60s generation on multiple levels because despite the social setting, it had a contemporary mood to it at the time. It was trashed when initially released, too. Much like the James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson and Paul Muni romanticized gangster movies of the thirties exposing the Great Depression immigrant experience, or Elvis’ urban sashaying and popularization of Rock N Roll in the fifties (perhaps the first of a recalcitrant Southerner popularizing an underground movement labeled as "jungle music"), in today’s prevalent consuetude of anti-heroism—now being packaged and sold to the masses as a product—Hip Hop has given the misunderstood counterculture something to embrace and revere. Due to commercialization, Hip Hop has created a formality of hipsternism. Hip Hop is so out of control it’s unstoppable, and I can pretty much say that the only reason all the news stations are focusing so much attention on the genre is that it not only is embraced by black America, but strongly by white America (80 % of the buyers of Hip Hop are white, male suburbanites). Had Hip Hop not drastically changed America so rapidly—in the way folks dress, talk and dance—being revered by many rich white kids, these pundits wouldn’t bring up Hip Hop at all. This has more to do with stopping Hip Hop from effecting white America than it does black America. Thus, the constant reminder that Imus picked it up from urban black America, so it’s not really his fault, but their fault. (Which is the equivalent of me saying I picked up "guinea" from "Goodfellas," so it’s their fault if I say it hateful to an Italian, not mine.)

  Then you have hacks like Joe Scarborough who explains that "black men have been degrading their women for decades and making money off of it," while totally skipping the point that women have been degraded—by all men of various racial and ethnic backgrounds—not only for decades, but hell, centuries! Snoop Dogg no more degrades women than Larry Flint in his smut publications. And if I recall gangster movies have been degrading women for decades, too, and making money from it. Hell, you had James Cagney in one film where he aggressively grabbed his moll by the hair and kicked her in the behind, literally, to get out of his hotel room—and this was the thirties! Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Fiddy Cent, Ja-Rule, etc., have made countless references to "Scarface," "The Godfather," "Goodfellas," "Casino," "Mean Streets," Taxi Driver," "Pulp Fiction," etc., in their music and videos; but these pundits will have you believe that it’s Hip Hop where violence, homophobia, machismo and sexism lies—not other formats.

  by Omen on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:03:49 AM PDT

  •  Wow, Please Diary On This!

    by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:07:04 AM PDT

    •  maybe...I'm still kinda worn out

      from talking about how some people just don't get it yesterday.

      by Omen on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:14:08 AM PDT

•  WRONG...Jason whitlock is an overgrown idiot

  who doesn't know the first thing about
  black america. I live in kc and half of what
  he says is pure crap.  He is not a sport
  "authority"...his paper only uses his  columns
  to spike readers (just like cbs used imus)
  and his knowledge of sports in nil.  His columns
  usually are wrong...he's never been on the right
  side of an issue ever...he couldn't pick the
  winner in a one horse race... even for us african americans
  in this town, we really don't like him.
  However, his article several days ago had
  some excellent points. And he's not the only
  african american in this nation who feels the
  way he does.  My last diary openly qouted some
  of jason's beliefs which I agreed with.  Now
  that Imus is gone, poverty, crime, lack of skills,
  unwed pregnancies, gangs, violence, murder, drugs
  etc. don't just disapper.  They are still here long
  after imus is off the air.  Now what do we do?
  Now how do we uplift our communities?  Now someone
  give me some ways to solve our problems.
  Imus is gone...yet the huge problems still remain.
  I invite any of you to come see
  what's going on in black america to come with me
  and drive thru my town.  We are failing in
  helping this young generation to rise above
  all the problems.  Send out an SOS...it will
  affect allof america!

  by liteofday on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:10:47 AM PDT

  •  trolling

    for mojo.

    by taylormattd on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 01:13:37 PM PDT

    •  Hmm, Glad He Played Nice - Thanks.

      by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 02:16:12 PM PDT

    •  omg

      Is this guy still here?

      by Warren Terrer on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 04:52:15 PM PDT

      •  The autobans

        are difficult things . . .

        by taylormattd on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:31:39 PM PDT

•  Rap much more damaging than Imus

  Imus's remark was indefensible, mean and stupid, period.  But no honest, objective person of any race can make a compelling argument that rap music hasny had a far more harmful effect on the black the community as a whole than some nasty remarks.  What positive ideals has rap insipired? A culture of bling and misogony?  Glorifying drinking, partying, clubs and smoking weed? Getting rich quick with a mic and some clever lyrics?  Hate and mistrust of authority and institutions? Endorsing the pimping of women?

  You seem to suggest that any black person who disagrees with the Al Sharpton/Jesse Jackson/Malik Shabaz school of race baiting politics is a an Uncle Tom corporate sellout?  That is as misguided as the current liberal notion of diversity defined as lots of people who look different, but all think the same.  There is a pronounced DOUBLE standard at work here that allows black comedians, rappers and rabble rousers, like those identified above, to say or do almost anything without consequence. Why? because they are members fo the historically oppressed group so their racial intolerance is justified and forgiveable? To that I say BS.

  Imus was in essence a radio comic.  I like comedy and alot of comedy involves making fun of people. And I have no problem when Dave Chappelle or Chris Rock or Damon Wayas portray white people using negative stereotypes which are almost always funny and sometimes even true. Even edgier is Lisa Lampinelli whose entire act is based on evry racial and ethnic stereotype using EVERY offensive racial term known to man. I think she's hystercal. If people are offended by her act, they don't have to watch it. But the current sensibility would seem to suggest acts like hers go to far and should be halted to which I say, BS!

  To attack a reporter as a Black surrogate simply because he points out how offensive and denigrating, particulary to black women, rap music is, while refusing to even acknowledge that the term ho, regardless of its origin, is part of the modern lexicon solely due to rap is disingenous.

  by NYCModerate on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:24:46 AM PDT

  •  Saying You Like Chappelle, Rock, Lampinelli,

    etc, some of Hip Hop’s greatest promoters, then criticizing people who like Rap, works for you?

    by leonard145b on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:42:54 AM PDT

  •  I'm with you

    I am not going to choose to be in a state of denial just because I'm black and most of them are black.  That's no different then giving them a license to poison our kids.  The sad thing is, it's possible to put out good rap music with out being vulgar.  There use to be a lot of it.  Now a days there's no meaning or message behind the words.  Creativity has been taken out of rap.  Everyone sounds the same and are only talking about what they have and the worst thing they can do to a women.  I want my old hip hop back.

    by Cat4everrr on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:03:46 AM PDT

•  Jason Whitlock's been Tomming for a long time

  So this is nothing new.

  by dwhite10701 on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 07:27:10 AM PDT

•  Jesse Jackson

  I'm also not going to use this occasion to bash Jesse Jackson.  That man took bricks to the head so that people like me don't have to sit on the back of the bus.  How soon we forget.  I guess Americans really do have short memories

  by Cat4everrr on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:07:50 AM PDT

•  BURN IN HELL

  all Uncle Tom Negro types.  Everytime I see these silly negroes pandering to the right wing i get sick in my stomach.  These people are opportunists seeking personal wealth and political "comeuppance" so to speak.  

  Any Black person supporting the republican party is a damned fool and should be beaten with an old civil war whip to remind them of what the party of Lincoln has become.  

  Republicans do not believe in any of the causes that would help Black America progress and become stronger as a community.  Only the selfish greedy and silly negroes need apply to the republican party for jobs/appointments.

  Black Republicans would be the sell out slaves of the past that would reveal a plot to revolt or run away to the slave masters.  Burn 'em all.

  by MasterHurrikane on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:18:34 AM PDT

•  Rap Music

  remember that rap music is produced by corporations with the sole intent to make money.  Today's hip hop is a mass produced product meant to generate wealth for music industry execs - plain and simple.

  Hip hop used to have balance but that was before it became a moneymaking force.  To blame hip hop for the problems of America is just stupid.  

  People love trying to blame the larger problems of America on stupid shit like music. LOL.....that is just plain dumb.  

  Black People didn't create racism or mysogeny or homophobia.  LOL....that is just scapegoating to the extreme.

  by MasterHurrikane on Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 08:25:10 AM PDT