Why won’t the nappy headed hos leave him alone?

What I just did there was illustrate a point. I do not consider the Rutgers Women’s basketball team to be what Don Imus referred to them as. I am just trying to make a joke off of his joke. Tragedy + time = comedy. Hopefully there has been enough time. Besides I thought Imus was talking about Joachim Noah on Florida at first.

I have never been a fan of Don Imus, but I am familiar with his style. For instance when members of his station team would call the New York Knicks “Carjackers in shorts” there was no outcry. Why? Because like any “shock jock” Imus said things to get a rise out of people and to phrase things in intentionally abrasive ways. And people knew what to expect. I am not saying that he may not have prejudices and problems, but this is by no means a Michael Richards incident. I honestly don’t know why such a big deal has been made of this.

And another thing – last time I checked, Rosa Parks was not playing point guard for the Rutgers Women’s basketball team. So can we stop making them out to be the next great pioneers in civil rights history? Good for them – they accomplished a lot and are handling this with some class, but so what?

Also, I am not a Sharpton hater like many people, but Al – give me a break. This really doesn’t concern you. The Sean Bell incident I understand. The Abner Louima incident I understand. This? I don’t understand.

I will actually admit when I read the quote for the first time I laughed. Maybe Imus meant it as a searing insult to the women on the team and as a larger affront to black women (who have had it rough in America, second only to gay Native Americans as the most down trodden of America’s people). Black women have had it rough and still do in many respects, but Don Imus’ intentional joke will do a lot less harm than Hollywood and the music industry at creating a bad impression of black women. I respect the need and urgency to protect the image and dignity of black women, especially in light of this country’s history both recent and not so recent, but isn’t creating or helping to create a culture of acceptance of women as sex objects, as is so prevalent on music videos and subways much more of a threat. The typical 16 year old black man and black woman are watching MTV and BET, not listening to Don Imus.

But at the same time I have seen men like Al Sharpton critical of the hip hop culture, but those articles generally get much lighter coverage than incidents like this because this is easier. “White man calls black women Ho” is an easy headline and will sell more papers. So the media is just as much to blame for giving this the huge coverage that it has received. And then we buy it and debate and make it into an issue of importance (and write comedic blogs about it) instead of wondering about more important issues, like Anna Nicole’s baby daddy.

Don Imus should just go on Oprah and be done with it. I would also probably die of laughter if he had the balls to call her a nappy headed ho. Once is a mistake or bad judgment. Twice is balls and hilarious.