2008 Woodie Awards
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Don Imus' Slur Versus Hip Hop and the H-Word
Carla Thomas
4/13/07
Life & Style
Life & Style
- Page 1 of 1
After a heated national debate about race, language and television, MSNBC has dropped its simulcast of the “Imus in the Morning” radio program and CBS has followed suit responding to growing outrage over Don Imus’ racial slur against the Rutgers women’s basketball team.
Imus said he thought it was acceptable to call the Rutgers team “nappy-headed hoes” because the word is widely used in the hip-hop culture.
On Wednesday, Bruce Gordon, former president of the NAACP and a director of CBS, said he hoped the broadcasting company would “make the smart decision” by firing Imus.
“He’s crossed the line. He’s violated our community,” Gordon said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. “He needs to face the consequence of that violation.”
Many people are relieved that Imus lost his job for his disrespectful comments, and as Gordon also said in his interview, the violation of the black community.
According to www.billboard.com which releases weekly ratings of the most popular songs, six of this week’s top 10 rap songs refers to women in derogatory terms. Rapper Mims, has the No. 1 rap song in the country with his hit single, “This is Why I’m Hot.” According to the rapper, he is the hottest rapper around because he has an assortment of women on daily basis. He explains it differently, he raps: “This is why I’m hot, catch me on the block. Every other day, another [explicit], another drop.”
The self-proclaimed king of R&B, R. Kelly, sings in his song, “I’m A Flirt:” “I don’t be slippin,’ when it come down to these hoes.” “I’m A Flirt” is currently number two on the top 10 rap tracks on Billboard.
“In da club, you see a bad bitch point her out,” is an excerpt from “Go-Getter” by rapper Young Jeezy featuring R. Kelly, the third hottest single on the rap charts. “There’s hoes in the parking,” “Bitch holla back” and “An undercover ho,” are all lyrics that come from the top 10 Rap songs in the country.
“Every time you turn on the radio you hear a song that disrespects women. I don’t listen to hip-hop anymore,” says Milahn Hull, a black 23 year-old, Temple University alumna Hull not only does not listen to hip-hop but has not watched BET in three years.
“There just isn’t any content on BET, I don’t want to see barely clothed women dancing. They look like hoes to me. Aren’t they called video hoes,” Hull said.
A woman who stars in video is often referred to as a “video vixen” or “video honey.”
Joyce Morley-Ball, Ph.D., author of “Seeds for the Harvest of A Lifetime: increasing Self-Awareness, Self-Esteem, and Improving Relationships,” motivating speaker and relationship expert said the exact belief of the BET producer is why BET degrades black women.
Ball believes BET is only trying to reach a small sector of the black community. The network according to Ball is “only trying to enrich pockets and not minds.”
“If a record label is willing to give a rapper millions, the rapper is going to take the money in exchange for his beliefs,” Ball said.
“Black people are looking for fame and [want to know to] how to get rich. In addition, the women who are in these music videos are looking for acceptance,” Ball said. “They are dancing in the music videos looking to be recognized, accepted, validated and approved.”
Ball also said, “If black men are calling black women [explicit] and hoes, white men think they can call us bitches and hoes as well. Don Imus saw nothing wrong in what he said,” Ball said.
After the uproar over Imus’ racist remarks, many people are calling on rappers to be held accountable for their lyrics and impact on people outside of their fan base.
http://cdn.channel.aol.com photo credit
Imus said he thought it was acceptable to call the Rutgers team “nappy-headed hoes” because the word is widely used in the hip-hop culture.
On Wednesday, Bruce Gordon, former president of the NAACP and a director of CBS, said he hoped the broadcasting company would “make the smart decision” by firing Imus.
“He’s crossed the line. He’s violated our community,” Gordon said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. “He needs to face the consequence of that violation.”
Many people are relieved that Imus lost his job for his disrespectful comments, and as Gordon also said in his interview, the violation of the black community.
According to www.billboard.com which releases weekly ratings of the most popular songs, six of this week’s top 10 rap songs refers to women in derogatory terms. Rapper Mims, has the No. 1 rap song in the country with his hit single, “This is Why I’m Hot.” According to the rapper, he is the hottest rapper around because he has an assortment of women on daily basis. He explains it differently, he raps: “This is why I’m hot, catch me on the block. Every other day, another [explicit], another drop.”
The self-proclaimed king of R&B, R. Kelly, sings in his song, “I’m A Flirt:” “I don’t be slippin,’ when it come down to these hoes.” “I’m A Flirt” is currently number two on the top 10 rap tracks on Billboard.
“In da club, you see a bad bitch point her out,” is an excerpt from “Go-Getter” by rapper Young Jeezy featuring R. Kelly, the third hottest single on the rap charts. “There’s hoes in the parking,” “Bitch holla back” and “An undercover ho,” are all lyrics that come from the top 10 Rap songs in the country.
“Every time you turn on the radio you hear a song that disrespects women. I don’t listen to hip-hop anymore,” says Milahn Hull, a black 23 year-old, Temple University alumna Hull not only does not listen to hip-hop but has not watched BET in three years.
“There just isn’t any content on BET, I don’t want to see barely clothed women dancing. They look like hoes to me. Aren’t they called video hoes,” Hull said.
A woman who stars in video is often referred to as a “video vixen” or “video honey.”
Joyce Morley-Ball, Ph.D., author of “Seeds for the Harvest of A Lifetime: increasing Self-Awareness, Self-Esteem, and Improving Relationships,” motivating speaker and relationship expert said the exact belief of the BET producer is why BET degrades black women.
Ball believes BET is only trying to reach a small sector of the black community. The network according to Ball is “only trying to enrich pockets and not minds.”
“If a record label is willing to give a rapper millions, the rapper is going to take the money in exchange for his beliefs,” Ball said.
“Black people are looking for fame and [want to know to] how to get rich. In addition, the women who are in these music videos are looking for acceptance,” Ball said. “They are dancing in the music videos looking to be recognized, accepted, validated and approved.”
Ball also said, “If black men are calling black women [explicit] and hoes, white men think they can call us bitches and hoes as well. Don Imus saw nothing wrong in what he said,” Ball said.
After the uproar over Imus’ racist remarks, many people are calling on rappers to be held accountable for their lyrics and impact on people outside of their fan base.
http://cdn.channel.aol.com photo credit
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Jill Eisner
posted 4/13/07 @ 2:06 PM EST
Before Imus called these black women "hoes," the only people who refered to black women as "hoes," and "bitches" were black rappers.
Now, at last, the problem is solved. (Continued…)
valorietribbett
posted 4/13/07 @ 4:30 PM EST
scapegoat is the correct description of that european-american ---- in my humble opinion ----rappers will never be required to cease and desist----too much $$$$$ involved for the bling to be purchased so that all will recognize their so-called musical talent. (Continued…)
Lhwesley
posted 4/15/07 @ 2:06 PM EST
Hummm..... Don Imus did deserve to be fired he should have been fired a long time ago. No recalls how he referred to Venus and Serena Williams when they appeared on the cover of Sports illustrated and on the times square bill boards. (Continued…)
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