Colors

On my drive home last night I listened to talk radio, something I have not done in several weeks. The host Scott Wilder, was taking calls and discussing the flap over radio host Don Imus' controversial (and rather ignorant) comments of the Rutgers women's basketball team. As usual, Mr Wilder brought up something that I tend to forget. Why are so many people in the black community asking for him to resign when they are willing to PAY MONEY to listen to "one of their own" say the same thing? I am speaking of course about hardcore rappers. Anyone who has heard just few verses of any hardcore rap song can attest to the level of degradation towards women present in the lyrics. Oddly enough, women as well as men seem to enjoy this music even though the content is highly offensive.

One caller who identified herself as a African-American woman stated that the beats were good and she did not care what the lyrics said and even if she did, a black man was saying it so it was okay. She likened it to calling yourself "stupid" when you do something wrong. It is okay for you to say it to yourself, but don't let someone else say it.

I say, "hogwash". If a white man records something and it calls all women who live in a trailer park "whores", I as a Christian first and then a white man, am offended. Why is it that rappers can call women "b@tches" and "ho's" and it is perceived as okay by the black community?

What Don Imus said about the Rutgers women's basketball team was wrong. No man (black or white) has any right calling any women a "ho"...it does not matter if it is during a radio broadcast or a song played on the radio, it is wrong. The rules should be the same.

Let me say something else. I do not believe that Don Imus should be fired or "suspended". I do not support his choice (his very poor choice I might add) of words, but to my knowledge, he did not break any laws. If the black community is in an uproar over what he said and demands his resignation, then should white people demand that all rap songs with offensive lyrics be pulled? No. That should only happen if a law has been broken or the rules of the FCC violated.

"But when a brother says it, it is okay...that is just street talk. Besides, it is on black radio...most whites don't listen to rap. If they don't like it, turn to a white station."

Well, Don Imus said it on "white" radio and most blacks do not listen to that. If what he said offends you, turn the station. Fair argument? No.

Don Imus did (as much as it pains me to say this) break any laws, as far as I know. If he did, then he needs to be punished for it. Rappers who say the same things are in the same situation. It may not be illegal to say things like that, but if it were, both Don Imus and the hardcore rappers need to be treated in the same manner.

JMHO / YMMV.