Hate Imus? Blame Rappers! That's what people might as well say especially the people who are associating Imus' sexist and racist remarks with the misogynistic lyrics that many African American rappers use in their rhymes. But Imus and rappers are not cut from the same cloth. An old white man who has spent a bazillion years in radio knows how inflammatory racially and sexually insensitive comments can be. His social irresponsibility is the reason his firing was justified.
But justifying Imus' comments because of the ignorant babbles of several rappers who by no means are representing the best or brightest in the African American community? That's just a sham. In no other community in America are a group of uneducated persons chosen to speak for the entire race. If you want to know how black people feel about black women, ask Dr. Michael Eric Dyson or Dr. Cornel West. Ask Dr. William Julius Wilson, a black professor at Harvard. Ask somebody who knows something about gender politics, cultural relations, family and the like. Ask somebody who knows something about women beyond his immediate family.
It continues to insult the intelligence of black people everywhere when it is assumed that rappers and professional athletes can speak on how "black people" on a whole feel about anything. Athletes and rappers may be the most famous of the race and perhaps, the richest, but they are not the most informed on culture, trends, opinions, or the status of the everyday African American. When the media references rap music as an indicator of how black people feel about women, it allows 30 or so rappers to speak for more than 12 million African American people. By every scientific standard, that is a stretch.
Furthermore, where in America are people who are without high school diplomas or college degrees asked to dictate the dialogue of their entire race? Some of the most famous rappers are high school drop-outs and never took one college course on The Black Family, Gender Studies, or Human Sexuality for that matter. Historically, educators, researchers, doctors, and well-trained professionals weigh in on the dialogue of any particular race. If you want to know what is affecting white America, you consult PhD's on the level of race, politics, and wealth. You discover what they feel the trends are. You talk to practitioners in the field that are dealing with youth, schools, living conditions and the like. You don't assume the front man for Blink 182 has a grasp on all white folks issues. If you want to know what is affecting latinos in America, you consult educators, professionals, politics on the issues of race, politics, and wealth. You don't assume J.Lo. has a handle on the hispanic population's issues simply because she is a famous, rich latino.
Media people, and Americans period, need to give rappers a break. Many of them are as ignorant as they say they are. They make some good music, and even do some great things, but that doesn't mean that they're leading the black race anywhere. Not only that, they don't want the role or title of being a messiah to the people. For the most part, they just trying to get paid. Let's stop lumping the shortcomings of African Americans on the shoulders of rappers who are largely uneducated and uninformed on the historical issues of gender, race, politics and wealth.
And one more thing, Imus shoulda got fired.
But justifying Imus' comments because of the ignorant babbles of several rappers who by no means are representing the best or brightest in the African American community? That's just a sham. In no other community in America are a group of uneducated persons chosen to speak for the entire race. If you want to know how black people feel about black women, ask Dr. Michael Eric Dyson or Dr. Cornel West. Ask Dr. William Julius Wilson, a black professor at Harvard. Ask somebody who knows something about gender politics, cultural relations, family and the like. Ask somebody who knows something about women beyond his immediate family.
It continues to insult the intelligence of black people everywhere when it is assumed that rappers and professional athletes can speak on how "black people" on a whole feel about anything. Athletes and rappers may be the most famous of the race and perhaps, the richest, but they are not the most informed on culture, trends, opinions, or the status of the everyday African American. When the media references rap music as an indicator of how black people feel about women, it allows 30 or so rappers to speak for more than 12 million African American people. By every scientific standard, that is a stretch.
Furthermore, where in America are people who are without high school diplomas or college degrees asked to dictate the dialogue of their entire race? Some of the most famous rappers are high school drop-outs and never took one college course on The Black Family, Gender Studies, or Human Sexuality for that matter. Historically, educators, researchers, doctors, and well-trained professionals weigh in on the dialogue of any particular race. If you want to know what is affecting white America, you consult PhD's on the level of race, politics, and wealth. You discover what they feel the trends are. You talk to practitioners in the field that are dealing with youth, schools, living conditions and the like. You don't assume the front man for Blink 182 has a grasp on all white folks issues. If you want to know what is affecting latinos in America, you consult educators, professionals, politics on the issues of race, politics, and wealth. You don't assume J.Lo. has a handle on the hispanic population's issues simply because she is a famous, rich latino.
Media people, and Americans period, need to give rappers a break. Many of them are as ignorant as they say they are. They make some good music, and even do some great things, but that doesn't mean that they're leading the black race anywhere. Not only that, they don't want the role or title of being a messiah to the people. For the most part, they just trying to get paid. Let's stop lumping the shortcomings of African Americans on the shoulders of rappers who are largely uneducated and uninformed on the historical issues of gender, race, politics and wealth.
And one more thing, Imus shoulda got fired.
1 comment:
I totally agree with this article, and Imus should have been fired. Particularly because it was not his first incident, and they never mentioned any fines that he has paid as punishment for being socially irresponsible and insensitive. Futhermore, he tried to use rappers as a scapegoat, dry snitchin (i.e. Kobe rape case, implementing Shaq Diesel)thats a no no Mr. Imus Keep My Ignorant Thoughts To Myself. And can I say one more thing......Why must we dig up old bones every opportunity a black person gets a chance to speak? Spelman girls and Nelly, or Snoop's business affairs. When none of these so-called women activists are posted up at the concerts and clubs were their hooker looking, low self esteem sistas are fueling the songs some of us choose to listen to.
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