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Should Imus Be Disciplined For His Latest Comments?
June 24th, 2008The 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.
Come on be serious- how old is Imus? Da. He was taught racism by his family. The man is a racist pure and simple. I hope the blacks that work for him are not afaird to “speak up when he speaks out”, just imagine what he thinks of them? I would never work for someone I know is racist. I would never trust this man. He could not pay me enough money to be on his payroll……
No he’s just an old racist idiot, but dont relize
he’s racist,but he just dont discriminate agaisnt black folks he discriminate agaisnt everyone women,jews,gays other non whites…….
We as Black people are so quick to call other’s racist because they make comments about our race when we do it all the time. Let it go. I see exactly where he is coming from. My father in heaven. We are always yelping for reparations and things of that nature, this man is a commentator, and for him to say well now we know in reference to was he African-American shows no racism to me. If you want it, hell, its the TRUTH!
Why is this a surprise? We know what the man is made of. He should not have been allowed to return to that position in the first place.
We have not heard the last of this “IDIOT”.
people need to leave that man alone, and stop jumping on the racist bandwagon. Hes trying to make a living and would not purposely jeopardize his new job.
This is America Don so keep on speaking your speak. Get over it people.
i think he should b fired and never work in the talk show industry again. he is just a racist pig that the bottom line no matter how he try to sugar coat his comments
Don Imus is an old man. Soon his bosses will figure out that he is too old and will give him the boot. Don Imus does not dictate how I feel about myself and his comments do no affect me in the least. As an African American I don’t care what he says or thinks. No one can take away my self esteem. This should not be important. Why do we give people like this any attention at all? Leave him alone. He will talk himself out of his job (again).
It’s o.k., he’s white1!!! He’ll get a slap on the wrist.
I did not find what Imus said to be racist,he was just stating his own opinion.
YEP, this is what will get SHAQ into trouble, a white boy..he said the wrong word! It ain’t about dissing KOBE, its about dissing the white boy. When you say something that regards a whole race of people and not that individual, well you should pay. Imus is in the public, whether Blacks are targeted or not, this is not for him to say simply because he doesn’t know all Blacks. Man some people just need to be quiet, if you have anything to say just say, ” Imma pray for him.”