On Racism In America

Yes racism does exist in America and it has for a very long time. The recent condemnation of radio "shock jock" Don Imus was justly deserved in my opinion. He has done similar things previously and his firing was appropriate. He has to live with the consequences of his words and actions. That being said, I hear little, if any, condemnation of Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan and Malik Shabazz (head of the new Black Panther Party) for their blatantly racists comments. You need only to review their past statements to find numerous racist diatribes . The fourth estate generally gives the afore - mentioned gentlemen a pass, as well as foul - mouthed sexist and racist rappers. This is the epitome of hypocrisy. Racism is wrong period and just because a person is Black is not a sufficient reason for uttering racist comments ! I wonder how the young women at Rutgers feel about being called what Imus called them by people in their own community and it does happen. Do they let it go ? The words "nigga" and "ho" are heard frequently in Black America. They have become ingrained in African-American culture and any honest person can not help but admit it. Yet people continue to turn their heads to Blacks who spew such epithets and attack someone like Imus. If you want to address racism and eradicate it, you have to address the hypocrisy associated with it or else nothing will change !

Comments

[Paula]

Good points there. What we might say about Imus is: "Good start! Now, who's next?"

Nice blog. :)

[Vera]

There seems to be some popular thought that all blacks, while denouncing what Imus has said, are just merrily listening to the awful things that some rappers are saying without a peep of protest.

Not true!!

African-Americans, just like any group of human beings, are a diverse group of people with a variety of life experiences and opinions and some can be racist too.

I'm deeply annoyed that the media so otfen portrays blacks as some sort of mindless blob of hypocrites who worship at the alter of Jackson and Sharpton.

The reason why rasicm is so destructive is that it strips people of their humanity and replaces it with stereotypes, and we then react to stereotypes instead of the human beings.

I think that the media too often pushes stereotypes and strife for ratings and rarely gets down to talk to people as people. They just talk to the loudest and most controversial people who they feel will generate the most ratings. Unless,of course, the advertizers pull the buck$$$.

True, there are many blacks who don't see any problem with these lyrics,but many others are fed up with the rasicism and misoygny in them. It's just that our efforts attract very little media attention.

Essence Magazine, a leading publication for black women, has for years denouced the negativity in rap lyrics, and other publications have too.

It pains me to turn to BET and MTV and see how poorly black women are portrayed in videos, and I have many friends who feel the same way I do. My mother would have totally given us the smackdown if he had ever dared to use that kind of languaue or brought that kind of music into her house.

Perhaps one postive thing in all the that can happenen from Imus's remarks is to give more publicity to these efforts, and for others to come on board.

[maggie]

Racism is a matter of taste in today's society.

Science has proven over-and-over that we all have the same muscles, bones, and sinuous tissue and begin life as equal. It is what the child learns through their parents or peers that decide whether they acquire the taste for racism.

In simple terms those with bad taste are rascist; those with good taste are not.

[Peaches]

In my opinion it is the Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons of this world who keep racism alive and well.

[Peaches]

A quote from one of your recent posts ... "I say a pox on those who seek to deny freedom of thought and freedom of expression to me or anyone else." ...

[Peaches]

Speaking of political correctness, who can name the person first credited with using the term ...