It was only a matter of time until something like this happened to Don Imus. It’s what happens when you put someone so old and out of touch behind a microphone every morning. Last Wednesday, the day after the Rutgers women’s basketball team lost the NCAA championship, Imus called the team a bunch of “nappy-headed hos.” Monday, CBS Radio, who carries the nationally-syndicated Imus program, and MSNBC who broadcasts the video of his show suspended the disc jockey for two weeks. I suppose this was appropriate, and Tuesday the I-Man told reporters that he believed his punishment fit the crime. What he said about the black girls on the Rutgers basketball team pretty much struck every politically correct nerve I have in my body. He went way over the line arbitrarily drawn for radio disc jockeys. However, there are two interesting aspects of this story that jump out at me. First, Imus made the remarks on his Wednesday broadcast. The media waited about 4 days before the backlash began. Why did no one care when it happened? And why did it take so long for people to jump on Imus? And second, Imus went on Al Sharpton’s radio show to, I guess, publicly apologize to the black community. Who died and made Al Sharpton the arbiter of racial justice? Don’t forget this guy called Hasidic Jews “diamond merchants” during the Tawana Brawley ordeal. Nobody should legitimize Al Sharpton by using his radio show as a platform for forgiveness. But most important, as Imus explained to Reverend Al, Imus has a comedy show. Nobody calls for Chris Rock’s head when he uses the n-word in his HBO specials or characterizes white people in a demeaning way. Imus should not be held to the same standards to which America holds its politicians or journalists. While his words were terrible, it would be crazy if Imus were fired. He went too far with a joke and should be given the same chance to redeem himself as we owe anyone else. Anyone who listens to “Imus in the Morning” knows that there exists a racial undercurrent to his show. It may not be right, but this is the show. And in the same way Americans have the choice to not pay to see George Lopez, Sarah Silverman or Dave Chappelle make racial jokes, radio listeners can always just change the dial.
Correction: In my original post, I claimed Sharpton referred to New York City as “Hymietown.” Thanks to commentator Nat for pointing out that this was Jesse Jackson and not Al Sharpton. Sharpton called the Jews “diamond merchants.” I wonder why I got these two confused. Thanks Nat.
•AP: Imus Calls Suspension ‘Appropriate’
•SF Chronicle: What Was Imus Thinking?