Don Imus Done In Radio, But Can I Rap With Jay-Z About His Hos?
It would appear the end of the line has come for “shock-jock” Don Imus. Now with CBS firing him, the embattled radio host can’t seem to catch a break. And the nation is divided over whether he should be given a break or not. Even in my house there is division.
I think while what Imus said about the Rutger’s basketball team was grotesquely inappropriate and totally out of context, he should be given the opportunity to apologize. And perhaps instead of being removed from his position, we could this situation and his ignorance to continue the dialogue of race in this country. All we’ve really done is punish one man for using an inappropriate term, but it doesn’t teach him anything about his own bigotry and ignorance. I imagine a frank discussion with the women of Rutger’s would have gone a long way to do that as well but what incentive is there now for a man like Imus to search his soul?
We are not yet a nation of equals, but what good does putting a *pc* face on a person who may or may not harbor bigoted ideas do to bridge the divide? People, all people, regardless of their race, have feelings about other groups and races. This should not mean we unilaterally decide we aren’t allowed to express our true feelings, because this will only force people to go about expressing them in a more deceptive ways. I’d rather know where a person stands–and perhaps show them they are erroneous in judgment - than have a government and society tell me what I am or am not allowed to express.
That doesn’t make what Imus said right, in fact it was wrong for the very reasons I have already stated. But I would like to have the right reserved that if I think an individual is behaving in a manner that is best described in a colloquial term, that I can use the term that best fits. I want that right and if I offend someone, then the consquences are mine to bear, and apparently Imus’.
Which leads me to an issue I had recently while listening to a Nelly cd. I like a fair amount of rap music and I want to be able to listen to it without worrying that I am offending African-Americans. Lately, it has become evident that white people aren’t allowed to use phrases that Afro-Americans use. But I am still allowed to buy their CD’s, in fact, I am probably encouraged to do so, because in rap music it’s all about the Benjamins.
So my question is, if I am singing a Nelly, Jay-Z, or 50-Cent song, am I allowed to sing the parts where they are talking about their “n*ggas” or their “hos” or their “bitches” without being considered a racist or a sexist? What about if my daughter’s in the car and we hear a song come on and they are using those terms (and trust me, if you listen to the rap stations, this is an issue) what if she uses those phrases? Am I just not supposed to enjoy the music I like because I am white and can’t appreciate the subtle nuances of an Afro-centric culture because I was born a different color? Don’t get me wrong, I have no rhythm and I can’t dance, but I like me some “black” music, including the kind whose culture is somewhat foreign to me as a suburban white person.
I am not trying to cause a problem or suggest that people be allowed to use hate speech. Quite the opposite. But how fair, and I mean fair as in equal, is it to have a subculture in our society that speaks at least for a segment of the black population that uses these terms (and certainly “nappy-headed ho” is a term that’s Afro-centric) but then complain when non-blacks use it. Again, not talking about Don Imus saying stupid crap about Rutger’s athletes, I’m talking about our society as a whole being infilitrated with lingo and references that are used primarily by African-Americans about African-Americans. How are we supposed to know what’s okay and what’s not? And no, it’s not black or white, it’s gray.
I know there are a billion stories about the double standards of rap and Don Imus’s flare-up. But that’s not my issue or my question, my question is may I sing about my “n*iggas” and my “ho’s.” Because I like to sing. Loud. And sometimes I drive by people who aren’t white. Does this mean I am a racist?
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Kayne West told Rolling Stone that he hates the N-word but I cannot count the number of times he uses it in his album. I still like like his music and when I am humming along I replace the N-word with “brother”
i.e. “If ya feelin’ like a pimp, brother, come brush your shoulders off”
I don’t really know how I feel about this. I understand using the word to “reclaim” the word, but at the same time, why do I laugh when Dave Chappelle calls White people Crackers?
Well..I’m not sure.
But I sure do like my share of hip hop including Mos Def, The Roots, Talib Kweli, De la Soul, etc.
Comment by Jason Meltzer Patterson — April 12, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
I am glad you got my point Jason. I like a lot of soulful music as well, and I would like to expose my daughter to the joys of good music, even today’s rap, but dayum, if I don’t know how I am supposed to do that with out causing all kinds of confusion.
Just recently I discussed the idea of not describing someone by their color, but to my daughter it was the most innocent thing. Her phrase: “you know mom, the kid in my class with the dark skin.” She was so embarrassed that I said this, but then how else is she supposed to describe a person.
It’s very confusing.
Comment by dmdo1016 — April 12, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
No, you man not use any terms that may indicate that you a racist, precisely because you are not a member of that race group.
Has that helped to resolve your confusion.
John
Comment by John White — April 13, 2007 @ 6:22 am
Well, that was an answer, but not a very good one.
Maybe white people should just stop participating in black culture and then that would solve all our problems.
Yeah, that’s the answer.
Comment by dmdo1016 — April 13, 2007 @ 9:28 am
excellent and thorny point Dawn, I don’t know the answer - it’s very much a subjective/cultural thing, though, not a matter of logic
Comment by EricOlsen — April 13, 2007 @ 9:57 am
I’m not sure if you heard Jay-Z’s last album, but he makes it a point not to refer to women as bitches and hos on it. He said he grew as an artist. Let’s remember that the Beastie Boys also used to degrade women & gays in their music and apologized years later when they found Buddhism.
Comment by Fan — April 14, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
the “n” word has been used and abused by white people since slavery, personally I think white people should be tired of using it by now. because of the abuse of the word for so many years, i don’t believe that you have the right to question the black, white or gray areas, most people always use the words they want to use when they are by themselves or in a group where they feel comfortable, why ask permission now? the moral to the story is that anyone asking permission already uses the word - just don’t try it in mixed company.
Comment by jrenee — April 15, 2007 @ 6:49 am
You are wrong jrenee, you couldn’t find one person one this earth who has heard me utter in public or private the n-word, not one.
But I still want to know how am I supposed to listen to song I like that do use words I find inappropriate or that society find distasteful.
Double-standard. How about NONE of us use them is the real point of the story and then no one will be confused.
Some people are really stubborn, full of it and dense.
Comment by dmdo1016 — April 15, 2007 @ 9:14 am
It is not just hip hop.
Buckcherry has a hit song called Crazy Bitch, but no one brings that up. Or Smack My Bitch up by prodigy..
Imus didn’t say what he said because of hip-hop, but because he is an idiot, plain and simple. Hip-hop didn’t create racism or sexism.
If white people are upset that black folks use the n-word and feel they should be able to say it, too, my response is: ‘Why do you want to say it?
Comment by Bryen — April 27, 2007 @ 10:04 am