The travails of Don Imus

I thought maybe I'd avoid this subject, but it just won't die and there isn't really anything better to talk about. Unless you've been living in Montana for the last week or so, you've probably heard that radio host Don Imus is in hot water with prominent black leaders for comments he made about the Rutgers women's basketball team. In relevant portion, Imus called the RU players "nappy headed hos" and "rough girls." Of course, it didn't take long for Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to jump on the case and call for Imus' firing.

We're used to that type of response from Jackson and Sharpton. However, around these parts we're also used to Jason Whitlock jumping into situations to fan the flames, but he actually took a different road this morning in the KC Star. Basically he took a few cheap shots at Imus (calling him "washed up" and a "hack") and saying what he said wasn't very nice, but his ultimate point is that Jackson and Sharpton are fighting the wrong battles. I agree, Jackson and Sharpton would rather sit around and wait until someone offends them and then jump on that than actually fix other problems on their own.

I also heard an interesting stat on the radio today (although I don't have any indpendent verification for it). The DJ said 80% of hip-hop albums are bought by white consumers. The point was that because of this, hip-hop records are the portrayal whites get of "black culture."

From all this, I take away a few points. First of all, hip-hop and rap records don't paint an accurate picture of black culture, but there are plenty of people who think they do. Sure there are some black people who are covered in tattoos, drug dealers, violent, and deadbeat dads. There are also plenty of white people who share these exact same characteristics. This portrayal does a disservice to hardworking black people, because they get painted as either "not black" or "acting white." It's a shame that getting an education is considered "acting white" these days. I know plenty of black people who are completing their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

So on to point number two. What Imus said was idiotic and insulting. But if he was black, what he said probably wouldn't have been taken as an insult, especially if he was a black rapper. Let's observe a random sampling of some popular rap songs these days.

"Doin' a hundred while I puff on the blunt, and rollin' another one up, we livin' like we ain't givin' a fuck." Chamillionaire, "Ridin'"

"Catch me on the block, every other day another bitch another drop." MIMS, "This is why I'm hot"

And of course, in case anybody forgot:
"You's a ho (ho!)" Ludacris, "Ho"

So if a black rapper calls a woman a bitch or a ho, it's all good, but if a dumbass white shock jock does, it's not? Look, I'm not saying Don Imus should have said what he did, but where's the outrage at the lyrics of rappers who say the same damn thing? Oh yeah, just like Whitlock said, there's not way for Jackson and Sharpton to win that fight.

If Jackson and Sharpton want to get mad about this and organize their minions to protest what Imus said, that's fine with me. But it's ultimately Imus' boss's call if he should be fired or not. And if you really are that offended by something, I have some advice for you...change the damn radio dial. We still support free speech here (I think), and last time I checked we only have about 500 radio stations to choose from.

***

The Sherron Collins Internet rumor has been put to rest. The only player beak fans still need to worry about is Brandon Rush. I have a hunch he may come back (grudgingly) because this is going to be a pretty deep draft. Of course, if he comes back he has to go to class for at least another semester, which doesn't seem to be his favorite thing (he doesn't like balancing "basketball, girls, practice and tutoring.").

Go Royals.