Summary
Now [Don Imus]' enablers over the years-the politicians like Joe lieberman, the media voices like Tim Russert and Frank Rich, must explain, at least in the mirror, why they embraced Imus for so many years. Rich writes he thought Imus an "authentic conversationalist," while admitting his books could "always use the publicity." He "gave Imus a pass" because the insults were "almost always" aimed at people in the public eye....with the forums to defend themselves."
Now of course the reaction will set in against those who upset the established order. The Washington Post coughs up two commentators to attack those of us who challenged Imus' bigotry. Joe Hicks calls Imus' insult of the young women "a bad idea," then bizarrely prates that removing Imus did nothing to solve the "plight of Black urban communities." Sure, but alas, neither did passing the Voting Rights Act, or opening up public accommodations. At some point you just get tired of being insulted. Challenging racism in the media won't help poor children make it to college. But it just might make them less likely to be race baited when they get there.Look in the mirror, says Jonetta Rose Barras, "it was Black rap artists" who opened the door to denigrating Black women, erasing three centuries of loaded racial prejudices. Rich similarly, scorns those who assail Imus, suggesting that if we want to have a "conversation" about race that it better include" hip hop lyrics, Borat, South Park and maybe Larry David." Any list of names should also include Mick Jagger and "Brown Sugar" and "Some Girls"-scornful descriptions of Black women that pre-date rap.See the full content of this document
Extract
Imus: A Message Worth Delivering
Don Imus has been taken down. His foul insult of the Rutgers women's basketball team was finally the last straw for his employers. Hopefully his fall will make other entertainers and the corporations that profit from peddling hateful insults take a good look at themselves-from Ann Coulter with her foul mouthed homopho...
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