Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities

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TexasMaam -> Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 12:59:00 PM)
I remember sitting transfixed in front of the TV watching the performance of 'It's hard out heah for a pimp' during the Oscars, shaking my head in WONDER at what passed for 'musical artistry'. I thought at the time that if I went around singing the refrain over and over in public I'd get flayed alive as a bigot, rather than end up being admired as an avant guarde music afficionado, and I laughed out loud to myself at the time. For weeks after the Oscar performance of that song from the movie 'Hustle and Flow', I heard jokes made dozens of times a day: 'It's Hahd out Heah fo a Piump'; "It's Hahd out Heah fo a Piump', absolutely everywhere I went: work, dinner; shopping. Seemed it would never end. And the media commentaries on the reaction to the performance, good lord they never ended, either. It was alright for us to have to be exposed to 'It's Hahd Out Heah fo a Piump' and have it be hailed as a socially artistic milestone in the black experience, but now that Imus has mimed the 'nappy headed hoe's' hip hop line into eternity, he's fired. Imus will just end up irritating us again on Satellite radio like other shock jocks, (and goodness knows I never listen to his ilk anyway), but what does it say about our society when a cultural segment of the populace can cram ebonics across the airwaves as art, but beware the utterance of a cultural or racial joke? I live a short drive from Texas A&M University, and I have to tell you, Aggie Jokes are some of the funniest, and around here we have a lot of Polock Jokes, Jewish Jokes, Hispanic Jokes, Black Jokes, Prison Jokes, Law Enforcement Jokes, Politician Jokes, Texas is awash with politically incorrect jokesters. I personally feel that 'nappy headed hoes' and 'its hahd out heah fo a piump' are tired, worn epithets that just need to die the natural death of outdated slang as language develops over time, I believe that dinosaurs like Imus and Limbaugh just need to die out, but I do believe there IS a strong double standard on being politically correct. As I heard this morning on Sunday Morning, those phrases 'just aren't funny any more', but do they really need to be prohibited from our vernacular, too? Not too many years ago, I got a perm in my hair. Every black friend I had looked at me, burst out laughing and blurted out: "Sayyyy Mizz Suzie, you lookin' pretty nappy headed, aint choo?" Alright for them to use the term to insult someone else, but I'd better not say anything like it, hunh? I don't care that Imus lost his job, seems kind of stupid to Me, throwing away a multimillion dollar salary because he counted on always making a living by being a jerk, but come on, can't we learn to grow up and get past racial slurs? Just throwing it out there for debate. Texas Maam

FatDomDaddy -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 1:20:33 PM)
On they day that Imus was canned I am sure there were many high fives and black slaps going on in numberous civil rights *industry* offices hailing it as a victory for black people. That same afternoon three black kids minding their own business were gunned down in broad daylight on a Baltimore bus stop, victims of black gang violence. I doubt the gunman had seen MSNBC much less even known who Don Imus was To date, Jesse, Al et al have not come here to protest. But hey... They got Imus fired and have forever stopped *non black* comedians and recording artists from using Nappy Headed Ho's. They got Imus. Now... When are they going after Sony/BMG?

windchymes -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 2:03:23 PM)
You have to consider the possibility that being let go of his contract and given the opportunity to move into a multi-million dollar deal at satellite radio exactly what Imus maybe have wanted all along. I'm not disputing the fact that inconsistencies in political correctness exist, they do. But I honestly don't feel any sympathy for Imus at all. He's made a career out of doing what he does and he'll continue to do so in another venue. And, he just got a heck of a lot of free publicity out of the whole thing. A lot like Janet Jackson did when flashing her boobie at the Super Bowl right before she released her new cd. Imus just had a "vocabulary malfunction" instead.

KatyLied -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 2:19:17 PM)
quote: can't we learn to grow up and get past racial slurs? I think that as long as there is a double-standard regarding who is allowed to use racial slurs, they'll always be with us. I think they should not be tolerated. But I think it's worse that it is okay for some groups to use them and others not.

mons -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 3:07:17 PM)
greeting texas does anyone who is white in you culture say thing that are off handed? like that white joker he say things such as ( you know you a red neck if you niece is you daughter) things like that. now but when blacks do the same thing we are made to be seen as the worse ones. i think it is something to see so many whites do the same thing. so what is the big deal. now for the most part 90 % of whites and even more chinses are on welfare then any blackes oh yes it is true. so what we make jokes but i would not go outside and i live in a 90% white area i would not ever say something racist to anyone nor do i get mad at oh yes he name is jeff foxworhty he say some of the crazy and funn things and so what i do not care i just laugh. but when someon black says pimp it is time to shut down the place and fast. it is the old time of the fear of black man. birth of a nation type of thing. i find it so funny how it works. i never did what i should had with my son. and that is prepare him for how the real world is he when through life seeing how people were he had a wondeful time in elemarty school and junior high but when he came to high school it was like a nightmare wake up call the teacher were so rasict and horrible he was stunned. one teacher told him " you know black people will not go nto the sun, just ask your mother"? it was so bad my son is a gifted and the test him he was the only black in all of his school to have this test and the label of gifted. i should had warned him but i thought things had changed there was not racist or hatered of blacks i was so wrong. he is okay now but the shock was like a slap in the head at least i taught him to like all kinds of music. even coutnrty too take care texas good post mons

sambamanslilgirl -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 3:14:51 PM)
be glad you don't live in Chicago - this was the hot button topic of the week at the many Black radio stations. yeah there were many who agreed that Imus should have been fired for using racial slurs (blindly joining the Jackson-Sharpton bandwagon like the sheeple that they were) and a few of us who feel its wrong to have the double standard anyway (nothing like being called a cracker-lover on air). i'm sure Jesse said something about this during his weekly PUSH meeting yesterday. i for one feel this wouldn't have the grand media attention if the Imus was Black and the basketball players were White..

TantricOne -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 3:21:36 PM)
So what. It's about time that blacks in this country both took responsibilty for themselves, stop pulling the race card, and wake up to the fact that their very own culture perpetuates "racist" slang, maybe if they stopped shooting each other and calling each other "nigger", then they'd have the right to complain on the basis of racism

TheDiva -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 3:54:23 PM)
I don't think there was anything reported about the Rutgers team calling each other niggers and shooting each other. It was an offensive comment, people picked up on it, sponsors withdrew, and obviously Imus can't be profitable without corporations being willing to pay for advertising on his show. Personally I think it's interesting that no comment was made about them being called "rough looking ho's" but the "nappy headed" comment seems to have made all the difference. Imus is the same person who made the following comment regarding an African-American White House correspondent: "Isn't the Times wonderful? It lets the cleaning lady cover the White House." (http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1609490-4,00.html) He's no stranger to making deprecating comments about people based on race. Apparently he was known for being controversial and edgy, but this time his comments resulted in unforeseen consequences. But it's not shocking. Why expect to reap the benefits of being afforded a platform on a mainstream station when you are making such questionable statements? I believe that should apply to everyone across the board, whether you're a Black man referring to an entire city as "Hymietown" (Jesse Jackson) or a Caucasian referring to an entire team as "nappy-headed ho's"/"rough-looking ho's". Why look at the lowest common denominator to determine what is an acceptable standard of behavior? It was inappropriate, and sponsors had the right to pull their ads--just as CD buyers and radio listeners have the right not to support those in the music industry who lace every song with a liberal dose of the n-word.

Gauge -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 4:09:07 PM)
The double standard will always exist as long as people perpetuate the differences rather than the similarities within themselves. One thing that raises my ire is when black people refer to themselves as "niggers." I find it highly offensive that while they fight for "racial equality" they denigrate themselves by keeping alive the racist mentality. It really shows a genuine disrespect for those black people that fought for Civil Rights and in a few instances, lost their lives as a result of that fight. Reverse racism is now becoming a predominant problem within local schools. It appears that anyone that wishes to call a white person a cracker or white boy is able to get away with it, but place that shoe on the other foot and have the white kid call a black kid a racial slur and watch all hell break loose. I am going to go out on a limb right now and I am sure that I will get lambasted for it but people of all races should stop playing the victim. Slavery was wrong... it's over. Move on. Stop integrating racial slurs into everyday language and perhaps... just perhaps people might forget about the "n" word or "nappy headed ho's" etc. It is time to take responsibility for our own lack of acceptance of other races be it white, black, yellow, brown or whatever. The only way to affect change is to show some common decency toward each other. Victims always stay victims until they decide to end that cycle. Sure it isn't that easy because people will be people and some can't see past the color of one's skin. Shame on those that keep the racist torch lit.

minnetar -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 4:39:44 PM)
the n word used in the songs is "nigga" not the other word. minnetar

TantricOne -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 4:53:08 PM)
maybe if the black community doesn't like the use of racist remarks it should first stop the uses within it on each other......

TheDiva -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 5:01:09 PM)
It is not a custom across the board for Black people to call one another "niggers" or "niggas". Don Imus is not the entire Caucasian community, and the Black people you might hear use those words have not been appointed the representatives of the entire Black community. Hearing someone else use a pejorative term doesn't make it right, even if some people use or accept it. If I see five people walk up to a co-worker and greet her by saying "hey, dirty slut" I will still continue to address her by name. Edited to add: I agree with Gauge...is it that difficult to show some common decency?

popeye1250 -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 5:04:51 PM)
I still don't know what "nappy headed" means.

luckydog1 -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 5:12:59 PM)
Sure Imus is a fool, I never could listen to his rambling drunk sounding speech for more than a few minutes at a time, so won't miss him one bit. But in the sports commentary world isn't refering to a team as thugs that beat that crap out the opponents a good thing? Myself, I like to ski and hike, actually do sport, not watch it or listen to commentary about it, but it is clearly very popular. I was under the impresssion that Hos were the female equivilant of gangstas. I think he was just telling a 'Tough City Girls from Jersy beat the Rural Prissy Girls from Tennessee into submission' narrative and used a word that is in common parlance. Who really cares, I know there are a lot more important things to deal with in the world, and I assume in the Black community. Plus Imus was anti-Bush so its a good thing he is off the air<evil grin, manical laughter>.

sambamanslilgirl -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 5:55:04 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: popeye1250 I still don't know what "nappy headed" means. knappy-headed: an old slang in reference to the tangles (knaps) in a Black woman's hair.

Gauge -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 5:56:14 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: minnetar the n word used in the songs is "nigga" not the other word. minnetar Yes. I see now. There is a huge difference between the two. The origin of the slang "nigga" was what exactly?

minnetar -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 5:59:43 PM)
i feel the n word you used was used by whites in a derogatory reference whereas the "nigga" word was used by a black to other blacks originally. i would have to research it to give you any further info. minnetar

BBBTBW -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 6:43:29 PM)
this is to no one in particular. There are cultural differences everywhere. Different cultures use different greetings and salutationsetc...to identify their connections. This does not give everyone the right to use that same greeting or salutation if they are not emersed in that culture. That being said, as a Black person, I don't identify with anyone that uses the slang term "nigga" to greet me or anyone else. I don't use it and I wish others didn't...but I can't make others do what I desire of them unless they are serving me. I don't think D. Imus should have gotten fired. Taken to task yes..but not fired. I don't believe he is a racist, I believe he used an antiquated racist term to describe some upstanding young women and he needs to atone for that mistake. Has anyone paid attention to the Rutgers team and listened to what they said. They forgave him....should we not all follow suit and let the dead dog lay dead?

darchChylde -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/15/2007 7:52:56 PM)
Foamy says it all http://www.illwillpress.com/topical.html

N4SDChastity -> RE: Imus and American Slang/Black American sensibilities (4/16/2007 2:22:14 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: KatyLied quote: can't we learn to grow up and get past racial slurs? I think that as long as there is a double-standard regarding who is allowed to use racial slurs, they'll always be with us. I think they should not be tolerated. But I think it's worse that it is okay for some groups to use them and others not. I'm not sure that a double-standard about USAGE is what's keeping them around... For me, they were an integral part of the lexicon that I grew up with/around. FWIW, I stopped using it as a common term about 20 years ago. Although, truth be told, when I see some of "us" acting as such, I do still THINK it. I still have prejudices, but they center on BEHAVIOR, not skin color. During my Military days, on into today, there are MANY, or many different skin tones and colors, socio-economic backgrounds and countries of origin I would GLADLY share a foxhole with. Even a few self-professed rednecks (their characterization, not mine) I know would trust their life to mine, and I to them. Personally, I saw nothing wrong with DI's comment. It was humor. What was different than anything Chris Rock, or any of any number of current comedians say on TV, radio, CD's, et-al? I wish I knew...

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