If you read blogs daily as much as I do then you no doubt read about “shock jock” Don Imus’ recent comments about Rutgers women’s basketball team.
If you missed this display of racism, let me fill you in. Taken from he commentary of Don Imus & Bernard McGuirk during a NCAA women’s championship game last Tuesday:
Imus – “That’s some rough girls from Rutgers.”
McGuirk – “Man, they got tattoos!”
McGuirk – “Some hardcore hoes!”
Imus – “That’s some nappy headed hoes there, I’m going to tell you that.”
There are so many things wrong in this dialogue, that I am not even going to trip & analyze but it broke down starting with calling them girls.
As it stands the initial dialogue was bad enough but then they started to call the Rutgers team Jigaboos & the Tennessee team Wannabees (a throw back to School Daze).
Over the past few months, this type of racist activity is hardly shocking & goes to show that racism is alive and well.
So Imus apologized the other day (a day late & a dollar short) but after months of these types of apologies, I now realize that they mean nothing.
“I apologize for an insensitive and ill-conceived remark we made the other morning referring to the Rutgers women’s basketball team.”
“It was completely inappropriate, and we can understand why people were offended. Our characterization was thoughtless and stupid, and we are sorry.”
What good is an apology if you really stand behind what you said or did but got caught looking like a fool in a public audience. Not only should this bastard lose his job, he needs to enter rehab for racist but I think the best punishment will be if one of the nappy headed hoes from Rutgers showed his ass what a nappy headed hoe can really do as she beat the white ff of his ass.
To be devil’s advocate, Black men in particular rappers call Black women hoes & bitches all the time, where is the community outrage on this. Instead of being pissed of for being respected, woman buy the very music that degrades & objectifies them. Why come???
Moving along on a related topic, when I 1st heard this hot mess of a story, the one thing that ran through my mind was, Imus’ sentiments are why we (Negroes) have such a negative self-image. Specifically referring to how the majority of our women wear their hair, how many Black women around the world use bleaching creams to lighten their skin & I can go on & on but I think you get where I am coming from.
Last weekend a woman complemented me on my locks & asked me how I got them & how long I had them etc. She then said that she thought about getting them herself but was not sure. I then told her that the 1st step was rejecting & getting rid of her European beauty addition & start to embrace what Oshun blessed her with. After I put her on front, she shook her head like it was going to fall of saying I don’t know if I can do that.
As I walked away, I was like, what a poor lost soul.
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FYI:
Oshun is the Yoruban (Nigerian) goddess of love, sexuality, beauty and diplomacy.
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The Update:
Today, MSNBC publicly announced that they will suspend their Imus simulcast show for a period of 2 weeks starting April 16th.
Imus has called for a meeting with the Rutgers team, parents & school officials. The meeting is on hold while Rutgers considers possible options against Imus & the show.
Oh & yeah, Imus sis get his ass chewed out by Al Sharpton today. While shooting the shit Imus kept referring to himself as a good person and the claimed:
“Here’s what I’ve learned: that you can’t make fun of everybody, because some people don’t deserve it,” he said on his nationally syndicated radio show Monday morning. “And because the climate on this program has been what it’s been for 30 years doesn’t mean that it has to be that way for the next five years or whatever because that has to change, and I understand that.”
He pointed to his involvement with the Imus Ranch, a working cattle ranch for children with cancer and blood disorders in New Mexico. Ten percent of the children who come to the ranch are black, he added.”I’m not a white man who doesn’t know any African-Americans,”
I think he just fell short of saying that some of his best friends were Black & that they come to his house all of the time.
Lastly, his apologies still don’t mean shit, no matter how many he makes!
Cluizel / April 9, 2007
I knew you would blog about this! Every NY radio station (well…the ones I listen too) were talking about this.
These apologies are meaningless. You said how you really felt, but now it looks bad…you apologized…and? So now you will just not say it on the air anymore…its not like that’s not how you really feel.
Michelle W. / April 9, 2007
Oh my Word. I have to say I was shocked and amazed. I don’t know why but I am continually shocked and stunned by some of the things that people (both black and white) allow to come out of their mouths. It’s just ridiculous. One thing I do know is that we (Black People) need to realize that racism will never be gone. The same people that wanted us to remain separate but equal, segregated, and down trodden have raised kids and their kids have raised kids with the same beliefs. Now it’s just becoming taboo to be openly racist. That is why these comments shock me so. I know that they are thinking it and honestly I have my times when I am thinking some things that people would think were racist. It just amazes me that some actually have the audacity to verbalize it.
Michelle W. / April 9, 2007
Oh and one more thing….Great shot out to Oshun. Thanks for educating those out there that don’t know about the Kings and Queens of African decent.
PEACE
IAMNOTANIGGA
Stephen Bess / April 9, 2007
I wasn’t surprise. They are more and more honest about their feelings. We have to do all we can to equip our young people for what they are up against. They have to ready. Thanks for this piece. Peace~
Shai / April 9, 2007
I am that woman. I have not relaxed my hair since July 2004. I have not worn it in its natural state. I have worn braids, pressed, wigs and hairpieces.
My hair in its natural state is just too much work. I cannot afford the natural hairstylist right now.
Locks are so permanent and I am not ready to get “locked” into it yet.
S.K. / April 10, 2007
I like the fact that you pointed out how our own black men refer to black women as bitches and hoes in rap music and women just eat it up. Kanye west even referred to bi-racial/multi-racial women that appear in rap videos as mutts and I did not hear anyone get upset. And isn’t his girlfriend or whatever of mixed heritage…I wonder how she feels about being called a mutt. The self-hate and their hatred for us is so subconscious they don’t even recognize it sometimes and hasn’t this Imus fool been in trouble before for saying something nasty about the Williams (Serena & Venus)sisters….something about them being apes?
Lester / April 10, 2007
every identifiable group takes more crap from within it than they do from without. that’s why black men can get away with the things some of them say to other black women, compared to their white counterparts.
Tasha / April 10, 2007
Damn shame about Imus’ comments, but I’m hardly surprised. It’s sad, but when we allow our own to talk like that, everyone thinks its acceptable.
Bliss / April 10, 2007
Grace and Peace
I just read about this today, before I made my way to your blog. As the time goes by, the more people voice how they really feel. We wear the mask, however- they do too.
Bliss
Bygbaby / April 10, 2007
Cluziel – I wanted to do it last week but the topic was too hot & I wanted to see what some of the fall out would be. I know what you mean about radio stations. There are 2 in Detroit that I listen to, other than that, I rock my iPod in the care & work.
Michelle – You are right, racism will never be gone but we gotta be on standby to defend ourselves & empower ourselves from bastards like Imus.
Stephen – My wife & I work with our girls all the time about being on guard & having the self esteem to with this type of bull.
Shai – You have me cracking up! Ain’t nuthin’ to it but to do it & you can do it boo.
S.K. – I had to call us out, I would be a fool not to call us out. I am waiting for the day Black Men in the hip-hop/entertainment industry will recognize that we need to build each other up instead of verbally destroying the women that raise our kids. Kanye is a muth fuckin fool & so is his girl for being with his ass but chances are, she is the type that just cares about who she is with & nothing more. I did a post on this Kanye & his mutt comment a while back, here is a link http://tinyurl.com/2y4gq3
Lester – I fell you big time so I must quote Gil Scott Heron “Home is where the hatred is, home is filled with pain.” We need to get the hate & disrespect out of our HOME (community) starting with our homes. This is much easier said that done, so to start I suggest we find a way to take BET of the airways.
Tasha – as always you are on the money & great minds think alike. Your sentiments echo S.K., Lester & Myself. What will it take for us to wake up.?!
Bliss – Some of my favorite Afrospeheric peeps are all over this one. One reason I enjoy blogging is having the ability to spread & read information that would otherwise go by the wayside of “mainstream” media.
Peace all & I am enjoying all of your genuine thoughts.
Bygbaby
plez... / April 10, 2007
BygBaby,
I’m with you on this one… an apology to Al Sharpton is virtually useless. Imus needs to sit down in front of the Rutgers University womens basketball team and their parents, and offer an apology and a heartfelt explanation for his evil words & deeds.
AND i want to be a FATHER in the room when imus explains why he felt it was ok to refer to my daughter as a “nappy-headed ho” … and i pity the fool who dares to try to pry my fingers from around his crawny neck!
Oh yeah, thanks for dropping by plezWorld and leaving your mark about this pitiful episode!
daez / April 10, 2007
Hey Tafari!
Lawd…I knew I shouldn’t have come over to visit…Bro you keep me on my toes even when I TRY to go into hiding…
Plez…I’m with you Bro…I wanna see Imus sit down with the Father’s of those young women and explain his evil comments…
I’ve never denied my racists thoughts…hell you can’t be Black in American and NOT have them, no matter how how hard you try…the best you can do is not judge whole races by the actions of some…and try to respect HUMANITY enough to try and keep your thoughts to yourself and deal with them on an as needed basis…otherwise you’d spend 24/7 finding blatant racism EVERYWHERE you look, from the way photos are posed in magazines to the way commercials are made!!…
Michelle..the problem is it WAS taboo to be openly racist… nowadays, all you have to do is say what you REALLY feel, wait a second, and then apologize…LOL! And you are sooo correct, racism will never go away..it’s getting stronger and more powerful in this country everyday!!… I also agree that the rappers have made it so easy for other races to call Black people/women out of our names because it has made them icons… if it makes you millions and it ain’t broke, why fix it??…
It’s not gonna get any better, the racism, the spewing of hatred, until Black people stop doing it to each other…and that’s not gonna happen as long as young folk keep paying for and loving the music, the lifestyle, the whole attitude…
I really got a rude awakening when the whole Seinfield thing happenend, and on message boards white people were constantly commenting why should we be offended when Black people call each other the N word all the time…and it’s TRUE!!…It pisses me off, but dammit…it’s giving them the feeling if WE care so little why the heck should they… Great post Byg, as usual…great comments..(((HUGS)))…
….just me…daez
CapCity / April 10, 2007
As I stated over at the LoZone: STONE HIM!!
I don’t understand how so many people are so shocked – has everyone really gotten THAT comfy? Bush is in the White House thanx to the good ol’ boy network – not very much has changed…
CapCity / April 10, 2007
P.S. – i don’t think we can wait on our entertainers to “make a statement” & STAND for us…how do we know if they’re on Imus & his crews payroll???
Does PC stand for politically correct or payee collects??? (raised brow & smirk!)
Keith / April 10, 2007
bygbaby,
So where does one begin? Just thinking about all this crap makes me tired. Most of what I could say has probably been said befoe (although that doesn’t mean I won’t post ’cause I still need to vent), but…man, I dunno. It just doesn’t stop.
We shall overcome? Screw that. We’re not the ones who need to overcome. And to be honest, I’m not real big on the loving mine wayward enemy and forgiveness tip either. Folks like Imus just need to get knocked aside (some head trauma might actually induce sanity) so the rest of us can move on and try to live life.
Or something. I just don’t know..
Shai / April 10, 2007
@Bygbaby, it may be funny to you. It is serious for me. SMH.
cheleskilove / April 10, 2007
i must say that i cried when i heard what IMMUS said. but then again, i’m having an emotional week. anywho, it felt horrible, embarrassing-but then again-like you said – my thugged out brothers think no more of me with my nappy headed-ho head as well, so what’s the woman at the bottom of the totem poll to do?
they might as well go back to roots and call us nappy headed comely wenches. let it all out. it just makes my curl stand up even more to defy the ignorance and cruelty of it all.
my nappy head is my statement of me turning my frustration into determination
daez / April 10, 2007
Cheles…I teared up several times today watching those beautiful young women from Rutgers on stage…it’s the first time I’d seen them, and I felt their pain as the young forward spoke about that Butthole stealing their moment of glory…
Shai…don’t trip sis…locs really ARE permanent, and if you don’t want them, don’t get em! It’s YOUR hair…don’t explain yourself to NO ONE! That’s what’s wrong with this world….we can’t get it together on ANY level!! Loc’d heads, loose naptural hair, braid, weave, wig, relaxer…when other races look at us all they see is B L A C K…
See, instead of folks with different hairdos tripping, we need to be organizing as a RACE… does anybody feel me or am I just tripping?…(((HUGS)))
….just me…daez
Bygbaby / April 10, 2007
Keith – We begin @ home with our kids & move outward into our communities & proliferate nationally under a platform of intolerance of intra or extra hatred & blatant disrespect. Secondly, we need to cut of BET which was sent to us by the devil.
Shai – it’s all good & I am/was not intending to discount statements, Maybe I got lost in translation. Im ignit so sometime you gotta give me the benefit of the doubt.
Cheleskilove – you mos def sound like a sista ready for revolution!
Daez – as always, you eloquent thoughts speak the truth.
Bygbaby
Anonymous / April 11, 2007
I’m sorry, but what you told that woman was re-tard-ed! Oshun? WTF? You should have told the woman: We’re in America now (thank God), and that she is smart for looking like a professional woman, who can advance in the mainstream of American culture, instead of looking like a wild, unkempt ghetto creature, whose main responsibility is picking up her welfare check each month. And then encourage her to go to a real church, instead of worshiping some crazy, back-ass-wards Nigerian god.
Please. I care as much about Africa as my roommate of Korean ancestry does about Korea: none, except to be damn glad that I don’t live there. Also, to help enlighten you: My boyfriend of 4 years, who is white, has 2 sisters with very curly hair. And, guess what they do? That’s right, they straighten it. Neither of them like to go around with frizzy manes, and the eldest one has been told by employers that it looks unpolished.
So, if one is trying to make something of oneself in the world, which I am, one doesn’t have time to waste on some silly notions of the “politics of racial identity”, or some other such feel-good mumbo-jumbo. Black men especially: quit filling your heads with self-pitying B.S. and get to work- in the real world!
Bygbaby / April 11, 2007
fuck you Anonymous. I was going to delete your comment because it is sooo stupid but I think I will leave it be because your statement goes to show that we have some lost as people out there.
I will stop here because there is no point in arguing with a damn fool.
Black, Nappy & a proud Descendant
Bygab
Cluizel / April 11, 2007
Wow…glad you didn’t delete it.
For a second I thought that comment was a joke. Wow…
Shai / April 11, 2007
@Bygbaby, seriously how was any part of my comment funny? I was sincere in my struggle. Stop by my blog and read my post, Whats Peeving Me. For some women the hair issue is not funny at all.
We cool.
Cluizel / April 11, 2007
“I think he just fell short of saying that some of his best friends were Black & that they come to his house all of the time.”
lmao…Sorry, I just read the update
cheleskilove / April 11, 2007
you’re on point homie…BETis not welcomed in my home.And to think it recruits the naive teenagers of our community that will be leading us one day. jeez.
the irony of all of this is: we look stupid and def. hypocritical. why in the world would we give license to our brothren to dis’ us but get livid when ‘da man’ does it.
it needs to wake us all up and …organize…as Just Daez says. do somethin’ bc we aint doing nothin’ but setting up our lil boyz to be in jail and our women to be hoes- YEH I SAID IT. if i see another booty or tat tat up in my face while a credit card is slid b/t her behind, selling out for nothing more than the camera imma do it old school 60’s style and call on the troops to make some people dissappear. old schoolers…do ya feel me.
just a corporate sista’ tired of the bs………
Bygbaby / April 13, 2007
Shit, these last few days have been intense here on the Mindspill & in real life on this subject. Its been hard keeping up with all of the comments, I have never has so many but I am loving it!!!
Bygbaby
aulelia / April 13, 2007
anonymous, you are exactly the type of close-minded person that typifies the pathetic lost black person (if you even are black because I know some non-black people get off on posting like this)
People like Bygbaby are proud of their roots and bear in mind, this is HIS blog and he can post about whatever he wants. He was enlightening people about a Nigerian god who was important to some and it is important to him as well. I don’t want to tell you what you should believe…actually I will: our roots have been criss crossed all over the place because of what happened in history. If slavery or actually colonisation didnt happen, do you think you would be living in America? Who knows where you would be but dont be so fucking close minded to think that America or Europe is better than Africa or that Africa is a piece of shit.
Africa is the most diverse continent in the world where the MOST LANGUAGES IN THE WORLD ARE SPOKEN. In my country alone, there are over 20 tribal dialects, oh yeah not including Swahili and English, the latter colonial language spoken perfectly by the majority of the nation. And that is just Tanzania, lets not forget the other African nations such as Ghana and South Africa who had kingdoms before your family bloodline existed.
Sit down and force feed yourself excrement. That’s all you deserve.
anonymous said ”My boyfriend of 4 years, who is white, has 2 sisters with very curly hair” — we dont care…
Tafari, this parasite pissed me off but as usual, your posts are brilliant and diasporic in nature. Dont let this trolls tunnel vision change that.
–Aulelia
Ms. Jenkins / April 14, 2007
I am convinced that Anonymous is a white bitch, not a hot one either. A real lonely bitch. A bitch with a house full of cats whose man left her for a black women. That is no excuse for such a public display of hate and ignorance.
Bygbaby / April 16, 2007
Auleli & Ms Jenkins – Thanks for the fire!!! Your comments helped my weekend get off to a good laughing start. BTW, thx for checking me out Ms. Jenkins.
Shai, It just dawned on me that you indicated that you were the woman that I had the conversation with in terms of her hair. Please no that this conversation occurred on my bus trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
I hope this clears things up.
Bygbaby
Anonymous / April 20, 2007
Isn’t saying “white bitch” as racist and unacceptable as saying “nappy headed hoes”?
Anonymous / April 20, 2007
To Ms. Jenkins who said:
“That is no excuse for such a public display of hate and ignorance.”
Yeah, like what do you call what you wrote?
Anonymous / April 20, 2007
And to Aulelia, who said:
“lets not forget the other African nations…who had kingdoms before your family bloodline existed.”
Amen to that.
Uh, like sorry to disappoint all the white bitches and nappy headed hoes out there, but we ALL descended from Africa.
Like, uh, don’t we all want to be proud of that?
I know I am.
Bygbaby / April 20, 2007
Anonymous – Baby, you need a damn hobby! You rlast comment reveals that a) you are white & that’s OK & b) you have so much to learn. I suggest you start at a Pan African book store.
Bygbaby
Ms Jenkins / April 21, 2007
Anonymous,
Please go back into your hole and don’t come out. You are ridiculous and foolish. Never mind what the hell I wrote, it wasn’t for your ass. Get to steppin fool. Find somethng else to do, get yourself a man, get your GED, get a fresh weave, etc.
Anonymous / April 23, 2007
That’s cool, but you not right.
No, I ain’t white, Brother. I just not racist.
While YOU browsing at the Pan African bookstore, stop at McGraw Hill and pick up a book or too on DNA and how they traced ALL races back to Africa.
Now understand that they sayin’ the ENTIRE human race came from the black race. Damn, that give me black pride.
Like how do the KKK respond to that one, huh?
And pleze try to understand my hart behind my words, not juwst my words.
Anonymous / April 23, 2007
“…go back into your hole…”
NOT NICE. YOU RUDE!
“Get to steppin fool. Find somethng else to do, get yourself a man, get your GED, get a fresh weave, etc.”
You right, you nobodies fool.I need to make sum changes in my life. Thanx fore that. Yu shuld be a damn career advisor since u no so much about watt people need.
Anonymous / April 24, 2007
Hey Ms Jenkins, since you such a good career advisor, maybe you can find a new job for Imus. HAHAHA
Bygbaby / April 24, 2007
This topic is officially closed to an y future personal attacks. Let’s move on.
Anon, I try to feel everybody but… Well let’s just end it here. Are you coming to the concert on Saturday?
Bygbaby
Anonymous / April 24, 2007
Would anyone care to compare and contrast the Imus situation with how the Amil Baraka incident was handled?
Anonymous / April 24, 2007
Bygbaby, thank you fo that. And I apologise to all.
I am in new Jersey and dont no where the concert is you talkin about.
I also dont no of any Pan African bookstore in Newark area but I’ll check. I did see A Great and Mighty Walk on chan 13 tho. Man oh man!
Also, I remember the Baraka thing -he got fired, not suspended, if I remember rite. And for a lot less than Imus sed.
Bygbaby / April 25, 2007
Anon – If you are referring to Amiri Baraka & the controversy surround his poem “Somebody Blew Up American”; I thought the was fucked up, but it did not send me over the edge. He had a fluffy position anyway. But the fact f the matter is that he was speaking the truth & the truth hurts especially when it is an oppressors truth.
If you are interested, why not write up your POV on the 2 issues & I will feature your item.
Yes, this is a challenge!
Talk to me,
Bygbaby
Anonymous / July 30, 2007
All Black Women (According to Rappers) are either Hoes or Nappy headed. They are put down all the time. 3 words do not condemn a Man for life. And in 6 weeks or less the Don Imus I have loved for almost 35 years will tell you like it is.
Take a break and tell your Brotha’s to stop their rant. They are currently either being arrested or ignored. But Don Imus will not be. Mark my words.
Bruce from Florida
Bygbaby / July 30, 2007
Brice, thanks for chiming in! The issues are deep & I do agree that there needs to be some house cleaning from within our community, no doubt. Since this event occurred months ago, I do believe that consumers are a little more vigilant & less responsive to the negative lyrics.
Time will truly tell.
Bygbaby
minime / August 11, 2007
i think this is off topic but i feel as tho men should not refer women as hoes or bitches or sluts becuz women cal each other sluts and bitches makes it seem okay for men to use it in context or n song n im tired of it we are women n we do a lot for men on this earth n i dont think we should treated this way lil wayne is cool but he describes us as being bitches and hoes n im tired n e body else tired