Reluctantly joining the fray

I had no intention of posting about the Don Imus debacle.  I don't like Imus. I'm tired of hearing about him.  But after reading a couple of posts about it, including excellent ones by Drew McLellan, Bob Glaza and Eric Frenchman writing at MPDailyFix, I just had to add my 2 cents.

Imus has been in the New York market for a long time -- way before Howard Stern, I think.  I remember when he first came on New York radio.  He was being touted as the best thing to happen to radio since, well, Jack Benny.  He was on the station I normally listened to in those days, so I gave him a try.  I didn't like his humor, his sarcasm or his nastiness.  And for a guy on radio, he slurred and mumbled a lot.  I tuned him out and that was that.

What he said about the Rutgers women was insensitive and offensive.  It wasn't even close to funny.  I know he's said stupid and offensive things before, targeting Jews, gays, Catholics and many others.  But that's his job -- or was his job -- to say things that shock and provoke.  That what brings brought listeners and, in turn, the advertisers wanting to reach those listeners.  The audience and the advertisers have, over the years, enabled him.

I think it was timing that did Imus in.  This time his stupidity caught the attention of master media-manipulator Al Sharpton, who did a good job of using the media to make a national issue of Imus' poor attempt at humor.  Possibly it was the media's conscience -- or perhaps guilt -- that caused them to jump on this and make it Page One news for more than a week.

Should Imus have been fired?  I don't know.  I despise the idea of censorship, but I do think there should be some boundaries of good taste and respect. 

Were advertisers right to jump ship?  They all knew Imus has crossed the line before, so his latest offense couldn't have come as a surprise.  But they had to do something in response to the public outrage that's been brewing, and the easiest thing was to bail out.  Had I been a marketing exec at P&G, I probably would have done the same.

What impact does this episode have on our society? For one, it's elevated race, gender and other bias back into the national spotlight.  It's good that these things are discussed openly.  I believe discussion (in this age of conversation) will, over time, help bring people together and promote understanding and respect.

I also hope it brings back into the public eye a disturbing underlying factor.  Such offensive and demeaning language seems to be common and accepted amoung many young people in the black community.  They routinely call each other names that my mother would still wash my mouth out with soap were I to utter them, which I wouldn't.  I think Imus, whether he is a racist or not, was trying to be cool by using terminology that's out there on the street in the black community.

Hopefully this event will put more pressure on leaders in the black community to work toward changing how young people talk about themselves.  I know many black leaders have called for civility in language long before Imus uttered those dumb words.  Athletes and recording artists should be setting a positive example instead of encouraging young people to demean each other in such a nasty way.

It's got to change, from within the community.  If it does, self-respect will eventually spread outward and it won't be "cool" for anyone -- black or white -- to use such demeaning words.

Comments

[mvellandi]

Such insults should never be made or condoned, in any community as you point out. When these words are accepted into the common tongue, it encourages classification and prejudice. We can decide not to deal with someone we don't like - but we should still treat them with respect as a human being.

[Bambe Levine]

Said like a gentleman, which you are. I never listened to Imus but one can't stop listening to Sharpton or Jesse Jackson as both have taken on the role of judge and jury and their holier than thou position as so-called "leaders" of the black community. Bot a scant look at both these "leaders" will hardly convince that they are not exactly up there on the moral compass. Sharpton never admitted to th hoax of Twanna Brawley which was a complete shame and a joke. Jessee Jackson, "Mr. Haime Town" goes on the "minister Clinton on having lost the way," until it was found out that he fathered a child outside of his marriage." Both these men love the spotlight and stir the pot rather than ease "fix." Look who is calling the kettle black.

[Valeria Maltoni]

It is an issue of language: words are really powerful. And leadership is about bringing attention to the issue in public discourse so that we, together, can shape the conversation for a positive outcome that can benefit people as a whole.

I too have been thinking about how traditional media and new media mesh -- ultimately, we should all hold ourselves accountable for how we talk and the greater the platform, the greater the accountability.

[Drew McLellan]

David,

Well said and as usual, right on the money. The issue has little to do with Imus. He was just the wrong guy in the wrong place. Not because he wasn't wrong. But because he is hardly the only one wrong.

Interesting times ahead, my friend!

Drew

[David Reich]

Thank you all for your comments.

[Bob Glaza]

I agree on this escapade presenting the "chance" to dialogue on race and gender. Elevating it is pretty hopeful - I say its pretty much forgotten in 60-90 days. I could be wrong. I'm torn on Black leaders responsibility though, David - I feel its leaders responsibility - period. And sadly most of today's leaders are concerned about positioning. Racism and gender inequity are so deeply entrenched in our US.