The radio show host says he’d be “insane” to make a fresh racist remark

Don Imus says that people are taking his latest controversial remarks out of context, but the Rev. Al Sharpton didn’t sound like he was buying it. “It has been reported to me that statements were made by Mr. Imus this morning, and [the] National Action Network has monitored his show since his return,” Sharpton said in a statement. “I find the inference of his remark disturbing because it plays into stereotypes. Any use of stereotypes is always counterproductive. We will determine in the next day or so whether or not his remark warrants direct action on our part as we did in April of last year.” Imus, who was suddenly a well-known name in Black households after his infamous “nappy-headed hos” comment last year, says he definitely wasn’t dissing Dallas Cowboys D-back Adam “Packman” Jones when he asked “what color is he” after hearing that the baller repeatedly had been in trouble. Here’s the exchange that followed:

“He’s African-American,” anchor Warner Wolf replied.

“Well, there you go,” Imus said. “Now we know.”

In fact, Imus says he was making a “sarcastic point” about racial injustice. “What people should be outraged about is that they arrest Blacks for no reason,” Imus told The Associated Press Tuesday. “I mean, there’s no reason to arrest this kid six times. Maybe he did something once, but everyone does something once.” Another racial controversy is the last thing that Imus can afford after his nine-month suspension for slamming the women on the Rutger’s Women’s Basketball Team in April 2007 with the nappy-headed hos remark. Many people, including Sharpton, initially called for Imus’ firing. The civil rights leader later said that Imus, who promised future sensitivity, had a right to be forgiven. Six months ago, Imus returned to the airwaves. On Tuesday, Imus said he’d be crazy to be guilty of what he’s being accused of. “How insane would I have to be? What would I be thinking?” Imus said. Jones told The Dallas Morning News in Tuesday editions that he’s upset by Imus’ comments and plans to pray for the radio host. What do you think of Imus’ explanation and how should Imus’ station handle the controversey?

• Fire the man. He should have learned that dissing the Black community comes with a price.
• Leave him alone. After all, he’s paid to shock his audiences, not to provide a religious experience for his listeners.
• I don’t know.

Comment below on which action, if any, should be taken.

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