Many commentators--and many responders on this blog--have correctly noted that rap music contains far more offensive material than anything Don Imus has ever said. My outrage, however, is not confined to the oafish rappers. It is also directed at the critics and intellectuals who promote and celebrate the excesses of hip-hop when they clearly should know better.
A case in point is Henry Louis Gates, who is chairman of the African American Studies department at Harvard University. Several years ago Gates offered a highbrow apologia for the rap lyrics of the group 2 Live Crew. Gates' article was called "2 Live Crew Decoded" and it appeared in the New York Times.
At first glance, the group's music might seem difficult to defend. The songs hail the pleasures of forced intercourse. "I'll break you down and dick you long. "So we try real hard just to break the walls." "I'll busy your pussy, then break your backbone." And so on. Much of the content is simply grotesque: "Suck my dick, bitch, and make it puke/ Lick my ass up and down/ Lick it till your tongue turn doo-doo brown."
Gates argued that 2 Live Crew's music was "brilliant...astonishing and refreshing...exuberant hyperbole." For Gates, the group's "so-called obscenity" was comparable to Shakespeare's lyrics. "Many of the greatest classics of Western literature contain quote-unquote lewd words," Gates declared, adding that 2 Live Frew's lyrics were "part of a venerable Western tradition."
So will Gates overlook Imus' so-called obscenities and recognizing the I-man's place in the great Western tradition, offer him a position at his venerable institution? Don Imus, professor of African American Studies at Harvard. It would be a fitting denouement to this strange episode in American cultural life.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. I cannot belive what I am reading terrible dirt !! regarding I-man Is this what he stands for?? no wonder he is in trouble Harvard?? no way
louise feak at 11:02AM on Apr 16th 2007
2. Geesh. I am sick of whites talking about some double standard when the Imus mess is brought up. What about the double Standard in the court room? What about the double standard in the prison justice system and banking?
It is so easy for whites to sit there and moan and complain. I wanna see one show in America where a black man sits on televison and says all day long "Ya know those are somre trailer trash white girls" "Ya know those are some po white Meth addict trash white hos"-and see how qucik people are to talk about free speech.
Mikhal G at 11:05AM on Apr 16th 2007
3. I often listened to Imus in the mornings. When people compare Imus's remarks to rapper's lyrics, I am mildly amused. Amused because rapper's cd's can be compared to movies. I do not condone rapper's foul language narrow view of life. Imus's supporters are clutching at straws in a drowning sea when they excuse his arrogance and indifference based on the behaviour of others. If I get caught speeding can I plead to be let off,because the officer let the person caught just before me off with just a warning.
Samuel Jones at 11:26AM on Apr 16th 2007
4. I think both Imus' brand of low-brow humor, and the awful, ignorant Rap lyrics we routinely hear are signs that as a society, we are losing something important.
It would be better if instead of saying that someone says things worse than what Imus said, that we acknoledge Imus' ignorant talk was wrong, AND that every single black person who parades his or her ignorance via this sort of low brow talk is also very wrong.
There was a day when people did not swear (or at least they sowre very infrequently) on Tv, radio, or even on records. Frankly there is enough ignorance and violence in this world, and there is very little reason for base, crude, or profane language in entertainment or the musical arts.
If someone cannot think of anything better to say than this sort of crude talk, they would probably do better to simply remain quiet. I had a school teacher in South Dakota who used to say; "Sometimes it is better to keep you mouth shut and remain thought a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt."; good advice.
Ken Berg at 11:30AM on Apr 16th 2007
5. Let's be candid a moment. To be sure their are those people that excuse Imus, and some that may even agree with his remarks. But they should keep their rancid opinions and remarks in the gutter where they belong. No decent and God-fearing person is about to tolerate these type remarks no matter who they come from. Imus is not really talented at all. How many of us felt we could do his job as well as him or better? Imus went to far, got fired, good day.
Samuel Jones at 11:34AM on Apr 16th 2007
6. Shakespeare compared to 2 Live Crew? Umm, no. Please, someone tell this guy that "intelligent" and "pretentious" aren't the same thing.
Future K at 12:18PM on Apr 16th 2007
7. Imus might get a job with a University of liberal pseudo intellectuals; however, Apostle Paul writes of the people who “did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient, being filled with all unrighteousness, . . . “ Results in listening audience popularity of insulting comments from radio mouthpiece - Imus . “wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God”
Rev. Al Sharpton retain God in you knowledge, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
Alan Klaus at 12:48PM on Apr 16th 2007
8. LET HE WHO HAS NOT SINNED CAST THE FIRST STONE!! IF IMUS MUST APOLOGIZE AND GET FIRED THEN SO SHOULD SHARPTON AND JACKSON FOR MAKING THIS DIVIDE BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES EVEN WIDER.
I DONT AGREE WITH WHAT IMUS SAID BUT HE DID APOLOGIZE MORE THAN ONCE. THAT IN ITSELF SHOULD HAVE SUFFICED. THIS MAN HAS BEEN ON THE AIR MAKING THOSE COMMENTS FOR MANY MANY YEARS AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN ITS A "BIG" DEAL?
WHO IS GOING TO APOLOGIZE TO THE DUKE PLAYERS FOR SOME "STRIPPER" FALSELY ACCUSING THOSE BOYS OF RAPE! THEY WILL HAVE A BIGGER SCAR ON THEIR FOREHEADS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES THAN THAT "POOR LITTLE" RUTGER PLAYER CAN EVEN IMAGINE... THEY WILL FOREVER HAVE THE STIGMA OF BEING A RAPIST EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT DO IT. AND THAT GIRL HAS CONVENIENTLY DISAPPEARED.... THE RAPPERS CAN PREACH VIOLNCE AND CALL EACH OTHER HO'S, AL SHARPTON CAN CALL FOR THE BLACKS TO "KILL" THE COPS THAT SUPPOSEDLY RAPED TAWNY.. WHO ONCE AGAIN LIED AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A FALSE ACCUSATION BUT IMUS WHO HAS BEEN ON THE AIRWAVES FOR LONGER THAN SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ALIVE IS CRUCIFIED... ANYONE REMEMBER THIS?.....STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES BUT NAMES WILL "NEVER, NEVER, NEVER" HURT ME RUTGER NEEDS TO "GET OVER IT"
FIREALSHARPTON&JESSEJACKSON at 1:30PM on Apr 16th 2007
9. The stripper, a full time college student and mother who made the Dean's list before those Lacrosse monsters got a hold of her, did not "lie!!" The lacrosse demons did. Stripping is stupid and terribly wrong, but RAPE is evil, horrific, AND ILLEGAL! Those lacrosse monsters were CAUGHT in another lie by the POLICE in ANOTHER assault case in D.C. for which one of them was CONVICTED, as well. Finnerty, anyone? A male employee at one strip club said the lacrosse caller SPECIFICALLY asked for BLACK dancers. The caller also LIED to the club employee by saying they themselves were "a few TRACK athletes and baseball players." They knew the evil in their own hearts and what they planned to do to whatever black women showed up that night, and it made that caller lying, sneaky, and circumspect from the very BEGINNING! They drugged their drinks, but that slightly backfired, since only ONE of the dancers, the alleged VICTIM drank any of it!! She began stumbling because of it, a fact which startled the other dancers who said she wondered what was wrong! The evil lacrosse "boys'" own videotape shows the victim PRONE on the GROUND at one point! My husband and I don't drink at all but even WE know it takes more than one or two drinks to turn someone into a falling down DRUNK! And why weren't the prophylactics in the trash can in that demonic house EVER tested for DNA?! From TEENAGED black slave Sally Hemings (Thomas Jefferson) to TEENAGED Carrie Butler (Strom Thurmond) to TEENAGED Tawanna Brawley (policemen) to Anita Hill (powerful white men's conservative token, Clarence Thomas) to the victim in the Duke case, crazy, racist white people have called the HONEST black females LIARS. Do they really expect black people and normal whites to really think THEY didn't believe ANY of them? This is what sensible people think: It's not that the racists didn't believe EVERY black woman, regardless of age and/or reputation who EVER came down the PIKE in accusing powerful men of sexual impropriety. It's that racist whites don't CARE! So they just PRETEND not to believe any of the women/GIRLS!!
Nobody owes those drunken sot, rabidly racist, violent, lying, lust-crazed lacrosse demons an "apology!" They deserve a BOOT up the BEHIND and a jail term!
Verily
verily at 11:19PM on Apr 16th 2007
10. We love Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Tony Dungy, and Barack Obama! Thank you for chivalrously standing up for black women! God bless you!
Verily
verily at 3:46PM on Apr 16th 2007
11. Those drunken sot, lying, thieving, violent, rabidly-racist, RAPIST lacrosse demons don't deserve an "apology." They need a boot up the behind and JAIL TIME!
Verily
verily at 3:51PM on Apr 16th 2007
12. Those drunken sot, violent, lying, rabidly-racist, thieving, RAPIST lacrosse demons don't deserve an "apology!" They deserve a BOOT up the BEHIND and JAIL TIME!
Verily
verily at 3:52PM on Apr 16th 2007
13. Lets not lose sight of the fact that this has all come about because of al sharpton's hate mongering of whites. Many think that this so called Rev. (really a preacher of hate) has no job. This is untrue, He is employed by black racism. He cannot afford to stop spewing his filth or he would be in the welfare lines also. I would not mind paying an extra dollar in welfare taxes if it would just make him go away. I have been reading all of the postings about IMUS the last few days. Thousands of us are tired of the reverse racism going on. We need to do more than just lipservice on here. There is enough of us to make a change. Everyone tired of this crap has a duty to e-mail; sharptons supporters and demand that they stop supporting this hate platform. Let them worry about losing dollars like msnbc did with IMUS. Some of the main ones are Walmart, McDonalds and P&G. If you really believe like most everyone posting seems to, take 10 min. of your time to send e-mails to sharptons sponsors.
DM at 3:58PM on Apr 16th 2007
14. A Broader View? Ignore the Milktoast.
Imus would do well at University teaching; kids today desperately need to be inspired TO THINK and, if nothing else, the sometimes barbaric, brutal, ignorant and ridiculous rantings of Imus will accomplish this.
No one has asked "WHY?" Why have the networks reacted so extremely?... and "Why NOW?" (Did they have plans to dump Imus? Was this incident merely the most convenient path for their imminent plans? You must admit, something is definitely "rotten in Denmark.")
Imus is a ridiculous specimen of vulgarity, yes. But, THIS is exactly why he was hired, why he's famous: he attracts viewers with his "shock appeal." He has said far worse things about EVERYONE on the planet (black, white, yellow, brown, green, orange) throughout his career: Hey, THIS is his job, the antics for which he was hired.
"Nappy headed Hos." Let's take a look at this: Have you ever seen or touched the "nappy" little neck of a black 4 year old? It's wonderful... it's beautiful... so much so that a litany of poems could not do its description justice. It's soft, fluffy, dewy, whispy, fragile & most delicate, like what the hair of an ANGEL might be. The term "nappy headed" conjures up warm, fuzzy, ever so sweet, angelic images for me... I think it's precious and delightful, when viewed in the true sense of the term; I LOVE IT beyond anything I can express! (love it in Stevey Wonder's songs too, about which neither Sharpton nor Jackson have complained.) I've never liked the term "Ho," but recognize that it is in the vernacular, having heard it thousands of times on MTV & in comedy acts. Thus, I've accepted the term and, on occasion, can even find it appropriate or funny, when presented in a certain context... perhaps in the context of rap poetry, which at its best is sublime and comparable with the work great poets. (I said "at its best" and this is very few and VERY far between... since most rap is disgusting, insulting to women, base, written by unintelligent, ILLITERATE low-life trying to make a fast buck off of an amoral fat, white, dishonest, insincere system that will cater to any fad so long as it lines pockets.)
I once heard Margaret Thatcher referred to as a "Ho" on radio... the Queen of England too. I cracked up laughing... thought it was REALLY FUNNY (laughed and laughed... and LAUGHED!), given the ridiculousness of the statement. It was the kind of thing where you think back to what you'd heard ten minutes earlier and again crack up laughting aloud. We must take things in context. Imus is an inimportant, little vulgarian, trying to make people laugh.)
"Nappy headed" is an adorable, SWEET, COMPLIMENTARY term. "Ho" is slang and so overused in our society that it is almost devoid of any specific meaning; "bitch," "jerk," "VAMP," "SIREN," would do as well, since "Ho" doesn't seem to carry the true meaning of "whore" (whatever that means) anymore due to its repugnant over-usage. So, when Imus referred to these intelligent, well-educated, beautiful young women athletes as "nappy headed hos," did he REALLY mean "delicate, precious, angelic-haired whores?" I think not. And, I can't imagine that his comment would ever make an audience wonder: "are these angelic-haired women whores?" Of course not; it's preposterous and unthinkable; and THAT, ladies and gents, is exactly why it's funny. It's ABSURD. Unfortunately this sublime absurdity has escaped many.
Imus's job is to SHOCK. He's on the air daily for what?... 20? 25 years? (God, sadly, he's been around all of my adult life!) There's just so much shock-value that a human being can deliver, day in and day out... yet the public AND THE NETWORKS expect it! The statement was a quick, silly, careless one that was said at a moment when Imus was stuck, needing an instant infusion of "shock value" before the next commercial. Nothing more. Get over it, folks.
Though I do not always agree with Sharpton & Jackson's tactics, as a liberal white woman, I feel they are VITAL to the development of our all too white, all too narrow, all too bigotted/racist society. Unfortunately, in this case both took the easy, cheap road to "ratings" by jumping on the all too convenient bandwagon of "racism." Hey, maybe they haven't received enough "press" lately... who knows? These highly intelligent, thought-provoking staples of American history should be ashamed of themselves.
The fact of the matter is that no one is more to blame than THE NETWORKS... the networks that have all too happily to rake in the BILLIONS of Dollars that Imus and Howard Stern have made for them; the networks that have ENCOURAGED both of these men to behave as they do by employing them and paying them record-breaking salaries; the networks that have now responded typically of SCARED, FAT, WHITE, SPIRITUALLY-DEVOID corporate leaders. (Par for the course.) It's OK to rake in the billions but when "push comes to shove" fat, white, corporate lackies show their color. Though they be "milk-toast," even of them I would expect more.
America, get over it... it was literally NOTHING. Blame who is to blame: the wimps that run the networks!
Yeah... Professor Imus! ;-)
renaisanc9 at 3:59PM on Apr 16th 2007
15. Don Imus, like Howard Stern is a "shock jock." We know the term. They are being paid to shock us. Seems simple enough. Until they do shock us. One might think that is part of their job, hence the title. But no. When they fulfill that part of their duties, all hell breaks loose. If they can't offend, how are they shocking us? And without touching nerves, how are they doing their job? I'm not sure if it's a paradox or a vicious circle but whatever it is, it's a perplexing set up.
For the rest of Scott Cooper's opinion on the topic, go to www.orato.com/node/2172
emily at 6:47PM on Apr 16th 2007