Don Imus

Racism is still present in America, how should we deal with it?

To some extent, I believe it will always be present. Not everyone is or will be a well-adjusted,educated person who can accept people different from them in appearance and culture as an equal. Rather, there will likely always be some element of society that views those of a different race as inherently "worse" than themselves and the cultural group they themselves belong to. By doing so, these people will have both a scapegoat and built in "feel good" factor (i.e. - no matter how crappy things are at least I'm not a half-puerto rican/half indian mutt).

How do we deal with continued rascism? Time. I firmly believe that eventually, in maybe 4-5 generations, racism will be looked on as an anachronism. I think that, in general, it IS being dealt with. Continued condemnation of overt racism creates an atmosphere where children are exposed, at least publicly, to the notion that racism is wrong and that all people are entitled to respect. Generations of ingrained racism are not going to change in 20 or 30 years. The strides we, as a country, have made since the 1960's are significant. Overt racism is simply not permitted in public settings or by any governmental or other public institution.

Perhaps Imus should have lost his job, but he lost it for all the wrong reasons. He lost it because of money and image, rather than people consciously trying to deal with the issue..

To say he lost it b/c of money and image is similar to saying that the Civil War was about "states' rights" and not slavery. Yes - sponsers dropped out and cost his employers money and the sponsers dropped out b/c they did not want to be associated with the "image" Imus now carried b/c that would cost them money. BUT underlying the sponser's actions was the understanding that the public would not want to purchase products from companies that condoned the racist remarks.

Make no mistake about it - the ultimate reason for Imus cancellation was the public recognition that racism is wrong.

Obviously quite a bit of Americans are uneducated and do not have resources to understand the issues, so I personally think we need to do more to educate people all over the US, so there will be less "bigots". To me the alarming thing is people who are racist but have money and are educated. You would think going through education people will not develop racist views, but that isn't true.

Many of the "educated" people who are running our board rooms and businesses spent there first 20 or so years (say pre-1965ish) in a country that not only permitted racism but in a country where racism was the law of the land. Sure, they had to adapt to changing times, but on a very basic level some of these people were insulated from the popular tide that recognized the inherent unfairness and ultimate wrongness of racism.

In my opinion, it was only in the later 1980's and 90's that overt racism became truly unacceptable in the public forum. As the grandchildren and great grand children of these boomers grow up, fewer and fewer will be taught that racism, in any form is acceptable.

As for people who suggest that the Rutgers team should not be so sensitive, I say this:
Racial comments are not the same as other insults. If somebody calls me a jackass, or a douche bag, it does not imply that I am sub-human. However, in my opinion, racial slurs are meant to degrade a person to the point of being sub-human.

I understand that point of view and agree that the use of racial comments are intended to degrade. My response to that, as to the Rutgers team, is not that they are being oversensitive but, rather, that they some of them appear to be claiming injury beyond the actual harm caused.

The original remarks were degrading. Yet, they have been universally condemned (I know I keep coming back to this point, but I think it is significant). It would be one thing if there was even some debate as to whether the remarks were permissible but there isn't. Everyone has turned to these Rutgers players and said "Imus is an ass, ignore him - We don't agree with him AND we think his remarks are hateful and ignorant. We believe you are talented athletes deserving of respect."

In light of the public response to the remarks, one of reassurance and affirmation to the Rutgers players, I cannot see how irreparable harm can have occurred by the remarks.

I'm pretty optimistic about race relations. We've still got a long way to go before things are perfect, but they're pretty damn good when compared to just a few decades ago or other countries. People focus so much on the negative that they can't see the forest through the trees. Let me put things in perspective:

(1) Not that long ago, blacks couldn't sit in the front of a bus, drink out of certain water fountains, were expressly prohibited from eating at certain establishments, etc.

(2) Just a decade or so ago, an interracial couple wouldn't be able to date openly in many "progressive" areas of the country (let alone the "other" areas) without facing ridicule or worse. I'm in an interracial relationship and I don't ever feel any hostile attitude (okay, save when I visit South Carolina or certain areas of NOLA).

(3) Not that long ago, pop culture was divided between "black pop culture" and "white pop culture." Moreover, there was no mainstream Latino pop culture. Now, it's impossible to separate most aspects of pop culture along racial lines.

(4) For those of you who think racism is bad in America, I suggest you travel. Go to Afghanistan, where you may be beheaded for converting to Christianity. Go to Iraq, where they are not exactly tolerant of outsiders, or even insiders who belong to the wrong "set." Go to the former Yugoslavian republics.....ask them what they think of their neighbors who look just like them. Oh, if you think Western Europe is different, go to just about any place and see how much they love the Turks, Algerians, etc. Or, take a detour to Ireland, where white guys are killing other white guys because some worship a guy in a funny hat and others don't. Or go to Asia, where the Chinese hate the Japanese, the Koreans hate the Chinese and the Japanese, the Malaysians hate the Chinese (their anti-Chinese laws make Jim Crow sound like fun), etc.

So, while we've got a long way to go, we've also come a long way.

By the way, when did wolfeskins even say he was White?

He didnt have to...........but I bet his any other race but Black, so, to make a statement that, it doesnt matter cause he's just an ass hole is ignorant, why do you think, ( and as a moderator you should be more senstive) its ok for anyone that is the majority to insult a person of color when this very country was builded off the back of Africans, are serious, I mean its insentive for anyone on here, to say that this was pointed at the whole team and not just black women......bullshit and your full of shit if you support that.......if a blackman or women, said when white people get wet the smell like a funky dog? is that an attack on a race, is that someone just being (an asshole), and if that statement was true, we dont have a right to insult anyone, thats racist bullshit, and I dont care how many times you or anyone try to cover for this biget, Im sure he wouldnt say that shit in front of a blackman, or he'll get his muthaF****** ass whooped, and I still think someone should knock his punks ass out!!!!!! Chew on that for awhile

To some extent, I believe it will always be present. Not everyone is or will be a well-adjusted,educated person who can accept people different from them in appearance and culture as an equal. Rather, there will likely always be some element of society that views those of a different race as inherently "worse" than themselves and the cultural group they themselves belong to. By doing so, these people will have both a scapegoat and built in "feel good" factor (i.e. - no matter how crappy things are at least I'm not a half-puerto rican/half indian mutt).

How do we deal with continued rascism? Time. I firmly believe that eventually, in maybe 4-5 generations, racism will be looked on as an anachronism. I think that, in general, it IS being dealt with. Continued condemnation of overt racism creates an atmosphere where children are exposed, at least publicly, to the notion that racism is wrong and that all people are entitled to respect. Generations of ingrained racism are not going to change in 20 or 30 years. The strides we, as a country, have made since the 1960's are significant. Overt racism is simply not permitted in public settings or by any governmental or other public institution.



To say he lost it b/c of money and image is similar to saying that the Civil War was about "states' rights" and not slavery. Yes - sponsers dropped out and cost his employers money and the sponsers dropped out b/c they did not want to be associated with the "image" Imus now carried b/c that would cost them money. BUT underlying the sponser's actions was the understanding that the public would not want to purchase products from companies that condoned the racist remarks.

Make no mistake about it - the ultimate reason for Imus cancellation was the public recognition that racism is wrong.



Many of the "educated" people who are running our board rooms and businesses spent there first 20 or so years (say pre-1965ish) in a country that not only permitted racism but in a country where racism was the law of the land. Sure, they had to adapt to changing times, but on a very basic level some of these people were insulated from the popular tide that recognized the inherent unfairness and ultimate wrongness of racism.

In my opinion, it was only in the later 1980's and 90's that overt racism became truly unacceptable in the public forum. As the grandchildren and great grand children of these boomers grow up, fewer and fewer will be taught that racism, in any form is acceptable. Let me say this and I'm be done with this stupid ass subject, if anyone of a different race make a comment around me or my wife or kids, I will stomp the **** out of them, and wouldnt think twice about doing............NO BLACK PERSON SHOULD HAVE TO HEAR ANY OF THAT RACIST BULLSHIT FROM ANYONE, and if they do, they deserve an ass whoppin, but I tell you what, I'll PAY ANYONE TO SAY THAT SHIT IN MY FACE, THAT WHY IMUS, PUNK ASS TALKS BEHIND A RADIO, LIKE I SEE MOST PEOPLE TALK BIG SHIT BEHIND THERE COMPUTER,........but that gotdam stateman was not related to (white girls) and if you think so............your no better that that biget

I take it you've never been called "nigger" out of the blues or had someone tell you "f*ck you, get me a white person." I can go on and on. Shit adds up after a while you know. Emotionally, not everyone is like you. No one should have to put up with that sort of thing.

As for rap it's mostly consumed by white people. People will make whatever sells and white kids sure are buying.

p.s. I just noticed the forum language filter filters out f*ck but not nigger. Nice.

A ****ING MAN......LIKE ALOT OF YOU SAY WHEN THE MODERATORS HAVE A POINT................ WELL SAID

Needless to say 100%, I'm submitting your name to the other mods for a ban. I understand the issue is very sensitive and important, but physical threats are inexcusable. I tried reasoning with you and being polite, but apparently that's not enough. And, before you accuse the mods of being a**holes or racist, I thought I'd let you know that the mod board is very diverse in its racial and politcal makeup.

You could have made your points much more effectively (Saden-style), by debating the matter intelligently and civilly. There's simply no place on this board for threats against other members, whether the person making the threat is black, white, Latino, Asian, etc.

He didnt have to...........but I bet his any other race but Black, so, to make a statement that, it doesnt matter cause he's just an ass hole is ignorant, why do you think, ( and as a moderator you should be more senstive) its ok for anyone that is the majority to insult a person of color when this very country was builded off the back of Africans, are serious, I mean its insentive for anyone on here, to say that this was pointed at the whole team and not just black women......bullshit and your full of shit if you support that.......if a blackman or women, said when white people get wet the smell like a funky dog? is that an attack on a race, is that someone just being (an asshole), and if that statement was true, we dont have a right to insult anyone, thats racist bullshit, and I dont care how many times you or anyone try to cover for this biget, Im sure he wouldnt say that shit in front of a blackman, or he'll get his muthaF****** ass whooped, and I still think someone should knock his punks ass out!!!!!! Chew on that for awhile

So to be clear, what you're saying is that the idiotic and indefensible statements Imus and his EP made were directed specifically at the Black women on the team, and was not meant to include the White women on the team? Furthermore, Wolfeskins is as ignorant bigot and I'm an insensitive something or the other?

AOL's Jason Whitlock- Time for Jackson, Sharpton to Step Down - AOL Sports (http://sports.aol.com/whitlock/_a/time-for-jackson-sharpton-to-step-down/20070411111509990001)

Here's a good read about how this whole thing got blown out of proportion.
And check out Jason Whitlock's, the writer of the article, picture at the top if you want to say that he has no frame of reference on this subject.

Let me say this and I'm be done with this stupid ass subject, if anyone of a different race make a comment around me or my wife or kids, I will stomp the **** out of them, and wouldnt think twice about doing............NO BLACK PERSON SHOULD HAVE TO HEAR ANY OF THAT RACIST BULLSHIT FROM ANYONE, and if they do, they deserve an ass whoppin, but I tell you what, I'll PAY ANYONE TO SAY THAT SHIT IN MY FACE, THAT WHY IMUS, PUNK ASS TALKS BEHIND A RADIO, LIKE I SEE MOST PEOPLE TALK BIG SHIT BEHIND THERE COMPUTER,........but that gotdam stateman was not related to (white girls) and if you think so............your no better that that biget

I have absolutely no clue as to what your point is and how it relates to the post you quoted. Are you disagreeing with me and asserting racism will eventually vanish? Are you agreeing with me that overt racism is not tolerated in public and governmental settings? At what point did I assert the remark in question was anything other than a racist/sexist remark? Are you saying I'm a bigot?