Don Imus was Right!! WRONG!

[The Big PINK One♥]

What is this, Jump on the bandwagon day?

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{Source}

A recent poll conducted by SOHH.com reveals that almost 50% of people surveyed believe the portrayal of African-Americans in rap music and videos offers an "accurate" or "somewhat accurate" depiction of young black men and women.

The survey, which was carried out during the controversy caused by radio personality Don Imus, included feedback from hip-hop consumers between the ages of 12 and 35. As SOHH previously reported, Imus was fired by CBS on Friday (April 13) for referring to the predominantly black Rutgers University Women's Basketball team as "nappy-headed hoes."

After Imus went on The Today Show and said, "that phrase didn't originate in the white community, that phrase originated in the black community," other media outlets began to connect Imus' remarks with the use of misogynistic lyrics in the hip-hop community.

The aforementioned survey also showed that 54% of the people polled believe Don Imus should have been fired and 58% believe hip-hop is responsible for racist and degrading language in our community.

68% of respondents believe the artists are responsible for the content of their lyrics while only 27% believe it's up to the record labels to change the type of music being released to the public.

"What was most disturbing about the poll results is that more than half of respondents believe the images presented in rap music and videos are a 'somewhat accurate' to 'accurate' representation of young black men and women overall," said SOHH CEO and co-founder Felicia Palmer. "This means that, regardless of the fact that hip-hop is entertainment, many people are referring to hip-hop to shape their opinions about blacks in America - subconsciously or not."

[writergirl]

You know, i was looking through old posts and came upon this one and i find it interesting. Now before you all freak out on me, hear me out.

I think pretty much everyone will agree that racism is overdone. Small things are made into huge ordeals because it can be. Should he have said it? No. But I was watching the news and I saw where a black comedian, said something like "they might not be hoes but they are some ugly nappy headed women." I looked for the exact quote and i oculdn't find it. But what i dont' get, is why is it okay for black people to spout off racial comments but if a white person does it it's the end of the world? Sounds like racism to me. Racism back 200 years ago was unfair, yes i know and it was horrible. But there are not slaves in america, black people, hispanic people...all have the same opportunities to achieve success as white people. So i think that the "pity" card gets played too much. It's time to move on and stop living in the past. Now i'm not defending his actions, but i do want to call attention to the hypocrisy of the black community that got up in arms about this. I was in the store the other day and heard to black guys calling each other n*****s. Yet when Dog (the bounty hunter) said it, he lost his career. I think that the black community needs to come together and stand up against, the rap videos that portray them as the "gangsters" and say it's not right. If you want people to see you differently then you have to be portrayed differently. I dont' want to come off racist, so please dont' see it that way. I just want to bring attention the the other side of the story.

[The Big PINK One♥]

writergirl said:

You know, i was looking through old posts and came upon this one and i find it interesting. Now before you all freak out on me, hear me out.

I think pretty much everyone will agree that racism is overdone. Small things are made into huge ordeals because it can be. Should he have said it? No. But I was watching the news and I saw where a black comedian, said something like "they might not be hoes but they are some ugly nappy headed women." I looked for the exact quote and i oculdn't find it. But what i dont' get, is why is it okay for black people to spout off racial comments but if a white person does it it's the end of the world? Sounds like racism to me. Racism back 200 years ago was unfair, yes i know and it was horrible. But there are not slaves in america, black people, hispanic people...all have the same opportunities to achieve success as white people. So i think that the "pity" card gets played too much. It's time to move on and stop living in the past. Now i'm not defending his actions, but i do want to call attention to the hypocrisy of the black community that got up in arms about this. I was in the store the other day and heard to black guys calling each other n*****s. Yet when Dog (the bounty hunter) said it, he lost his career. I think that the black community needs to come together and stand up against, the rap videos that portray them as the "gangsters" and say it's not right. If you want people to see you differently then you have to be portrayed differently. I dont' want to come off racist, so please dont' see it that way. I just want to bring attention the the other side of the story.

Alot of people are against the lyrics of rappers and people in the public light because of their lyrics and such. I agree, black or different, you shouldn't use the "N" word. BUT its almost 2008, when will that word lose its buzz? I was reading a book or a magazine once and a lady said that a white male collegue of hers told her to "Go back to Africa you nigger" now, she could've gotten upset and threw a fit and try to scratch his eyes out but she didn't. She kept her cool and told him "With all due respect, I understand that you have no better way to articulate your anger than call me a nigger. Thats the fault of people that are no longer here. But thanks for the suggestion of going back to where people originated from. I certainly will." With that she turned around, left the office with the co-worker's jaw on the ground. She filed a lawsuit that seriously damaged the place of her former employement, they never recovered from that. (if anyone has heard of this story, please tell me where it came from, I dont remember. I honestly think it was a book)

She didn't let his racism consume her and dictate who she was. Most black people dont allow for that word or any typical, random spew of racism to dictate who they are. I know I dont. So when things like that are said from people who are not of African American descent, the malicious intent is apparent and is very offensive. Its clear that its said to be used as a way to set you back another 500 years... mentally. Yes if one black person calls another the "N" word, its no better, its actually worse, but its not coming from a place of generational hatred either.

So no, I dont exscuse, but because I do fit the "qualifications" of being called the "N" word (I have twice. Im only 22-- neither by someone of African American descent) I see CLEARLY why that is so offensive. I think to say "If they can do it, then why can't we" is short of an excuse to be public with direct hatred. Because I'll tell you this, it wont come from a place of love. I've heard white kids hanging in the company of blacks call each other the "N" word and was appalled. Like do they not realize where that word came from?

So thats my OPINION on why it is what it is.

[writergirl]

The thing is, no one will ever stop saying the word, especially when all of the rappers use it. If they can, i can mentality will always be there.

As for your story, you know i think sueing was unncessesary, she was a better person than him, and stood her ground, but yet again, she got soemthing from it. When people get called a bitch, they don't sue. So to me it seems hypocrticial. I wish there were people like you on tv honestly. Because it's going to take the black public figures (rappers, tv stars) realizing that the only way to get respect and abolish hate words is to stop using them.

[The Big PINK One♥]

The point I was trying to make was, black people were not the originators of this term. Yes blacks should stop using it, but what about those who use it in private? Thats the point of this whole thing. The word is never going to go away because you cant strip it from someone from saying. As a child, you are told never to use cuss words, you personally may not, but others do. Because you aren't supposed to use such language doesn't mean that you haven't uttered it to yourself once in your life. Get where Im going? Its a word, you cannot ABOLISH it. You cannot strip it from the mouths of people who use it because once its out there you cannot take it back & get rid of it. Its too late.

Lets say all of the rappers do stop using it in their music. That's still not going to change the fact that someone who lacks the intellect (or who does but will use it because they're ignorance allows them to be so blatantly offensive) to know why that word is offensive to many, will use it. Rappers are not the only people who use this word. So why should they be the ones to be responsible for "abolishing" the use of it? Its a universal thing. People in other parts of the world recognize blacks as "NIGGERS", so why should it just be BLACKS??? This is absurd and quite redundant. It has nothing to do with blacks, per se, but the fact that hatred & ignorance is UNIVERSAL. It will NEVER DIE as long as there are persons who believe in disdain for another person because of their race.

[writergirl]

Just forget it. I didn't want it to turn into a huge rant.

[The Big PINK One♥]

I find it refreshing actually. Thanks for the debate... ;-D