Imus Apology Tour: Will It Save His Job?

As I write this, radio/MSNBC curmudgeon Don Imus has spent more than an hour contritely apologizing on his show for the nasty commentary streak that led him to call the mostly-black Rutgers University basketball team "napppy headed hos" last week.

Insisting that "I'm not a bad person...I'm a good person, who said a bad thing," Imus detailed talks over the weekend with black politican Harold Ford, black evangelist DeForest B. Soaries and Rutgers' athletic director, in an effort to arrange a meeting with the team, the coach and their parents.

He had also agreed to appear on a radio show hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton at 1 p.m. today, and has extended an invite to the reverend to appear on his show Tuesday morning.

What made Imus embark on an apology tour to rival Michael Richards' post n-word trek? The I-man himself described an "explosion of newspaper articles" which criticized his words; he didn't mention the explosion of broadcast coverage that also outlined his awful words, including pieces on CNN and National Public Radio.

Full disclosure: I'm also chair of the media monitoring committee for the National Association of Black Journalists, which has aggressively criticized Imus' words, directly asked journalists scheduled to appear on the show not to lend their name to his program, called companies which advertise on the show to stop supporting him and encouraged columnists and journalists to spread the word about his awful activities.

This morning, he has talked about supporting Harold Ford Jr., playing sermons from black preachers, presenting black musicians such as the Blind Boys from Alabama on his radio show and hosting minority children at his ranch for severaly ill children, the Imus Ranch.

His primary defense: that the show makes fun of everyone, no holds barred. Imus also took note of Soaries' explanation that many black people think white peopel secretly hate them -- no mater how nice they are on the surface -- and jokes like his words about the Rutgers women only confirm that feeling.

His conclusion this morning: "Here's what I've learned: that you can't make fun of everybody, because  some people don't deserve it. Because the climate on this program has been the way it's been for 30 years, that doesn't mean it has to be that way for the next five years. That's got to change...I'm sorry I did that. I'm embarassed that I did that. I am a good person. I did a bad thing. And that will change."

What he didn't mention until later, was his program's long history of racial insults. I've covered this in a previous post; Imus now disavows many of the more racist statments attributed to him and show, including calling Gwen Ifill a "cleaning lady" when she went to cover the White House for the New York Times and saying producer Bernard McGuirk was hired to do "nigger jokes" when interviewed by 60 Minutes.

Unfortunately, there are a lot more instances of Imus' bigotry, including repeated references to black athletes as animals and simians, calling Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz a "boner-nosed Jewboy," called Patrick Ewing "the missing link," Shaquille O'Neal "a car-jacker in shorts," and the Knicks "chest-bumping pimps." NBC had to apologize in 2004 for comments on Imus' show calling Palestinians stinking animals and repeated references to "ragheads."   

So, even as Imus whines that black journalists have not covered his charitable work, he might want to consider that this history is what kept some people skeptical about his motives.

Imus has a lot of powerful friends -- as I write this, Howard Fineman of Newsweek is calling Imus courageous for taking time on his show to apologize for calling a successful basketball team a bunch of hos -- so truly calling him to account for his actions will be difficult. "Things have changed," Fineman said. "You can't do the same kind of humor you used to do years ago." No duh.

It seems obvious that Imus touched a nerve here. No matter how many black people he may help in his personal life, he has spread awful sterotypes which do much worse damage. And as sorry as he may be about what happeend last week, Imus has not fully acknowledged his show's past history and not yet directly promised to stop the race-based humor.

Far as I'm concerned, it's still not good enough.

   

Comments

[BARRY FRY]

GET OVER IT

[bob]

I have listened to Imus off and on for years and agree that many of his remarks go "over the edge". However, I think that until black journalists are as openly critical in their writings about the language of black musicians and black leaders (read Al Sharpton/ Twana Brawly) it's hard for the public to give your "selective outrage" much credit.

[BARRY FRY]

BOB'S POINT IS RIGHT ON TARGET

[Eric Deggans]

i may have a different perspective. But if you think black journalists haven't criticized black people who use similar words, then you haven't been paying attention and you're just making excuses.

Ebony and Jet, for example, two of the best-known black publications in the country now led by the president of the National Association of Black Journalists, officially banned use of the n-word from their pages in January.

in case you missed it, check out these columns by black journalists opposing use of n-word and other slurs by black people:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.kane29nov29,0,4521935.column?coll=bal-news-columnists

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/sayitloud/kane1215

http://www.hlewissmith.com/wst_page4.html

http://www.jsonline.com/blog/index.aspx?id=84&month=01&year=2007&entry=29710

[Frank]

This has really been a disappointing incident. Over the past couple years, it seemed that Imus had moved on from these childish remarks. I think the bad part of it all is that, unlike an O'Reilly or Limbaugh, who preach to a rather narrow choir, Imus reaches a broad audience. He can (and has) done a lot of good because of his broad appeal. He also has a knack for being genuine and honest in an industry of talking points. So if he truly means what he says in his apology, he needs to use the future of his career to reject its past. I don't think it would do good to fire him or have him resign because it would only solidify the distrust many people have for the "p.c. police." Instead, Imus should work for real change.

Imus is an idiot.

[dreaming]

its too bad that the recent blip in pc cultural pressure, aroused my mel gibson, michael richards, duke u, joe biden etc, has caused imus to think he cant make fun of anyone. we've got enough eggshells to avoid stepping on in the world without comedians having to be semi muzzled.

[bob]

You are correct that I was not aware of these articles (and I wasn't making an excuse). These criticisms need to be spoken more often when these and other similar terms are used by anyone in a public position. I read each of the articles and the authors are to be commended for being courageous and intellectually honest in speaking out against the use of these terms based on their use and not on who uttered them. Now, please begin taking black leaders to task when they play the race card to promote their own financial agenda rather than genuinely advancing the interest of minorities.

[Eric Deggans]

Bob, thanks for your honest reply.

But let me suggest that you are again making assumptions when you suggest black journalists should "begin taking black leaders to task" when they play the race card.

Black journalists are often just as diverse as any other group. We don't always agree on anything -- particularly the question of whether a particular black leader is sincerely protesting an issue or unethically demagoguing circumstances.

Here's a link to a well-known group of black columnists called the Trotter group. Here, you can access their column archives and see exactly what they've been writing about. I guarantee you several members have written about the excesses of black leaders.

http://www.trottergroup.org/membersOLD.htm

Also, there is a web site which tracks issues of concern regarding diversity in media. Written by my friend Richard Prince, this is also a place to go for a sense of what black journalists are saying around the country.

http://www.maynardije.org/columns/dickprince

There are times when our voices come to together on issues -- including Imus -- but there's also a range of opinion that I think is healthy and necessary.

Hope this helps!

[moto53]

He refuses to forgive Hillery & Bill for being upset when he slammed them why should anyone forgive him?

[moto53]

He refuses to forgive Hillery & Bill for being upset when he slammed them why should anyone forgive him?

[macphisto96]

I think Imus might have shown how he really felt when he spoke of the Rutgers women's basketball team. I just find it ridiculous that so many personalities can meet with the leaders of the group they insult, look contrite, and get off.

I'm all for forgiveness and I DO believe that people can change in that regard, but there seems to be a blueprint for media personalities to go through. It's essentially a get out of jail free card. Imus might be a "shock jock" of sorts, but the comments are ridiculous.

As for black journalists calling out hip-hop artists, leaders in the black community, etc, it has been done. In fact, it now appears that the market itself is turning against much of the womanizing, gangsta rap out there as sales are down. The criticisms by both white and black journalists have shown the light on this subject. I've also read several columns by black journalists criticizing leadership in the black community.

And therein lies a large part facing us in this country. Both of us, white and black, like to assault each other about our leadership or our lack of criticism or our ability to try to ignore problems in the other community because it's not "our" problem.

We're all equally Americans and we need to learn how to work together with respect and not suspicion. I understand that there's plenty of suspicion to be had because of past history, but we are much stronger when we work together than we are when we try to separate from one another. That doesn't deny the distinctiveness of different communities, but identifying with different racial and ethnic groups shouldn't separate us int he larger picture.

[Suzie Siegel]

I'd love to get rid of Don Imus for his racism. But I wish men also would pay attention to the horribly sexist DJs, comedians, actors, etc. If Imus had called a mostly-white team "sloppy sluts," for example, would there have been an outcry? Comedians rant about women all the time, calling them names, and people think they are funny. In fact, public figures can say women should be subservient and stay home, "in their place," and they keep their jobs.
With race and ethnicity, many of us recognize that some people have privilege and should not put down people who are or have been oppressed.
With gender, however, a lot of the same people think all is fair in the "battle of the sexes." Men are much more likely to have a public voice, from the pulpit to the stage to the printed page. They criticize women with impunity.

[JD]

I'll get upset about Imus' comments just as soon as every other word out of every black comedians mouth stops being "n*gger", "b*tch" and "ho". If he gets fired over this, then Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy and every other black guy who's gotten rich denegrating their own race should have to give all their money to charity.

[dreaming]

there are places in the world where people cant say certain things: places like iran, north korea, china, cuba.
this is evolving into a classic media killing frenzy, abetted by the overheated unwashed who love to pile on with their nuggets of conventionsl pc wisdom. as has been noted widely, imus has been saying outrageous things for years, yet the public arena in the past was maybe a little less prone to censorship. why not pile on howard stern? dave chappell? joe redner? the list could go on. the move toward media censorship in the us is just as disturbing as the bush administrations assault on various constitutional guarantees. as imus said, people need to relax.

[GlennS.]

What I find ironic about all of this is that back in the 90's Imus was being touted as an intellectual and the thinking person's alternative to Howard Stern. I guess the folks doing this touting were so eager to knock Stern off of his throne that they didn't realize their own Emperor had no clothes ... or at least no class.

[HH]

I think Imus has alzheimer's.

[Gypsy C. Gallardo]

Several of the comments posted so far appear to agree that until we deride black entertainers and media moguls for instances of internalized racism, we should not criticize the mainstream media for their racism. I do not agree with the premise or any similar thought pattern. When The Council on American-Islamic Relations called for Imus to apologize for racist comments directed at Palestinians, I did not witness rejoinders regarding the state of race consciousness within the Palestinian community. When women’s rights groups criticize the rap industry for sexist lyrics, I do not hear calls for the female race to cleanse itself of internalized sexism as an antecedent to their credible outcries. The suggestion that black Americans should or must clean their ideological house is a good one, but should not be referenced as a condition of the credible, crucial response of groups like the NABJ in calling for Imus’ dismissal. In fact, the premise, and the many similar expressions of that premise in American culture, is one of the most damaging manifestations of internalized racism (and the way in which the mainstream culture has adopted to it). So, let us get on with the business of calling NBC and Imus to task. To NABJ members and chapters nationwide, I say “right on!”

[stptetebound]

I don't think it's fair to compare what Imus said to what black comedians are saying b/c their making fun of their OWN race, Imus wasn't.

I'm all about freedom of speech but when you degrade another person (regardless of race) on a national syndicated show it definitely crosses the line! In my opinion, he should be fired.

[Fed Up]

I think you’re all nappy-headed hoes! When did we eliminate human nature from the picture? People say stupid things, they apologize, and we move on.

I can’t pull up to a traffic light anymore without being forced to listen to racially charged rap music spitting out far worse that what Imus said. Where was the outrage from Sharpton when our very own Buccaneer (Pitman) called his wife a “white” ho bit*h, after ramming into her car.

There is only one thing worse that a racist… and that’s someone who exploits it for personal gain. That would be you AL! I’m sick of Political Correctness being shoved down my throat just so some people don’t have to get off their ass and a job.

If you don’t like what I say, then you can kiss my big, tanned ass. Now, try to figure out who I offended with that… big people, tan people, or assholes.

[Jim]

I think Don Imus should be criticized for his comment and he should fully apologize for it. But should he be fired? No. Controversial radio personalities such as Imus often use this kind of language to get a rise out of people and to entertain. Does that make it right? No, not at all. It was a stupid remark and if he wants to be taken seriously, then he won't do it again. The black community has a right to be outraged.

[Bill Schosser]

Upon moving to Memphis from Southside St.Pete nearly 20 years one of the first difference’s I noted was the un-ashamed use of racial slurs, innuendos and stereotypes by well educated and otherwise respectable Memphians, both black and white. Harold Ford Sr. was noted for his public degradation of “the white media” and “those honkies out east” (the white-flight suburbs)
With most local media now owned by corporate conglomerates, the shock jocks have toned down their “jokes” considerably but for many Memphians Imus’s “joke” would seem fairly normal.
My parents taught me a person’s character can generally be determined by whom they associate with and what they consider humorous. The widespread acceptance of public mockery as acceptable entertainment speaks volumes about twenty-first century American society.

[Carrie]

Imus is an idiot but if he were a minority making fun of whites no one would bother to comment.

[Mid-South]

Imus has never had an array of regular black guests on his show. Harold Ford Jr. is about his only token. If Imus survives this debacle, he should reach beyond the safe, non-threatening negroes to include those with real principles.

[donnaeileen]

Want to knock a little bit of the wind out of this windbag? You can start by getting rid of Bernard McJerk...and Sid Rosenberg (who has inexplicably weasled his way back on to the Imus show after getting fired for just exactly this kind of bullsh*t...) I'm not saying that Imus isn't completely responsible for his mean remarks, but when you get Imus, McJerk, and Rosenberg together, (the latter two being vicious, hate-mongering, self-loathing bigotted racist-sexists) mob mentality is going to take over and you're going to get this kind of result. Boys will be boys, especially when there's a gang of them, all trying to one-up each other...

Eggggsaaaatly right, Carrie. The ugly truth about it all.

[Beat Visitor]

At this point it's really no long about Imus and Sidekicks, is it? It's now all about CBS (parent of WFAN-AM) and NBC (parent of MSNBC) and their absolute failure to deal with the racist and sexual comments made on their watch over cable and public airwaves.
They SHOULD be racing each other to see which is the better corporate citizen by firing Imus, shouldn't they.
They don't even acknowledge repeated attempts to register complaints through multiple channels.
Imus and friends can say whatever they want, but their voices should not be amplified by two of the three major networks. I'm going to keep on this at my Rutgers football website until Imus is gone.
And please go over the heads of NBC and CBS and contact the guardians of the airwaves, the FCC, at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

[Eric Deggans]

Aside from a very few knuckleheads, i would like to thank all of you -- even those who don't agree with me -- for keeping this conversation mostly civil. I have only had to delete one comment so far for exceedingly racist language. I'm heartened to see that,even though we're talking about a subject that is emotional with lots of viewpoints, that we can talk to each other without taking it to the gutter.

Keep it coming....

[Joleen]

Don it is time to join Howard at Sirius radio. You will be able to speak your mind without having to apologize and you will make more money that will help you to support the ranch.

I don’t see where Imus’ comment made any reference to color. If you intimate that “nappy-headed ho’s” somehow means “black”… someone better tell the thousands and thousands of “nappy-headed ho’s” known as ‘wiggas” you see all over high school these days. Maybe they want to get into this for some quan.

You know that’s what it’s all about. You may not have the guts to admit it, but you know it. If big Al makes a buck on this… his job is done.

[BM]

Ian Beckles on the radio this morning said something about blacks being better quarterbacks, running backs etc...but that whites are better golfers. Should I be pissed off that my white kids according to Ian cant be as good a QB as a black kid?? Should I write the radio station and ask for Ian to be fired? Call him a moron and bigot? Such a double standard its crazy

[BJK]

Come on, Eric! Let's get to the good stuff. Do you think they will fire Imus? Not *should* they fire Imus, do you think they *will*? And if not, should/will WFAN and/or MSNBC Executives be taken to task?

I don't watch Imus anymore for this exact reason. He's a racist bully, a reprehensible caricature of Dixie America, and I don't care how many kids with cancer he has at his ranch or how much Greening the Cleaning crap he hawks for his wife, he and his goons are still racist thugs. The A-list media types and personalities that continue to kiss the Imus ring every morning are complicit in his blatant promotion of hate-filled, divisive diatribe.

Though none of us can geniunely claim to be that surprised, can we, after they actually brought back the shockingly hate-filled Sid Rosenberg?

Finally, do you see this as an aberration or just another in an apparent epidemic of racist "shock jocks?" And what's the deal with that?

[Oscar]

Have we reached the point in America where we can never accept an apology?

Eric says that saying he is sorry is not good enough, well duh! Everyone knows you cannot unring a bell, but how about we try and allow him to atone for his mistakes? At least he came out and said it was wrong and he apologized, not railed against people for daring to question him.

Let him keep his job and do it better, that is a much better thing to do.

[Eric Deggans]

BM, are you really comparing some stupid comment by an athlete about which race does which sports best -- which I think is a totally awful comment -- to one of the most powerful radio guys in the industry calling a team of accomplished black athletes whores? Because of their race?

Dunno, my friend. I think you're comparing apples and winnebagos.

As for whether he'll be fired, I don't think he'll be fired. i think the best they can hope for is what a friend called The Bobby Knight rule -- one more offense and you're gone.

I still haven’t received an answer to my question. How did Imus make a reference to color? If it’s the “nappy-headed” comment, I hear black people call themselves that every day. If Imus cant say it because he’s white, then that is racism in reverse, and in its purist sense.

Eric, I apologize if this insults you… but you’re part of the problem. You’ve just asserted that you somehow know “Why” Imus said what he said. That kind of writing is why journalists, for the most part, have lost integrity in the eyes of the readers.

Where there any white female athletes on that team? Or was he just referring to the black females… and where in his statement did he indicate that?

[Eric Deggans]

Imus has a long history of presenting racially insensitive material as jokes. He uses code words and sidekicks to say the things he couldn't say himself without getting in deep doo doo.

When he used the coded phrase "nappy headed," I would be surprised if there were five people in his audience of 10 million who didn't know he was talking about black people.

Fans can pretend that his gossamer-thin excuses are enough. But as a critic, i'm charged with cutting through thin explanations and challenging people to face the reality of their choices.

And even Imus isn't saying that his comment wasn't aimed at the race of the mostly black team. And he's not disputing people who say the comment was racist; he's saying that HE'S not a racist.

For people who have felt the sting of racism, there's not much different between racial slur uttered by a racist and a non-racist person....

[bob]

I agree with Eric that this has been a thoughtful discussion about an issue which, judging from the remarks is troubling to many of us.
No, not just ridiculous and insensitive remarks but the willingness of jump on the PC bandwagon when someone makes a racist or religiously or gender based insensitive remark.
Eric, the point that many are making is that while it is certainly true that not all black journalists think alike or that some black journalists are willing to call black entertainers to account for their use of the n word; the only time when we hear blacks speak as one against this language is when it is spoken by non blacks. If it is wrong it is wrong whenever spoken and the black establishment (as an establishment such as the association of black journalists, NAACP,Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow Push coalition, etc) needs to be equally as vocal in condeming it when it is spoken, written or sung by ANYONE!
Why Bill Cosby garnered such attention when he spoke of the problems in the black community was that as a prominent black man it was very noteworthy when it occured. It just doesn't happen frequently and publicly enough.
Finally, I agree with many of the posts that we also need to have a sense of humor. Consider the context, If it's funny when spoken by Eddie Murphy why is it racist when spoken by Don Imus?

“When he used the coded phrase "nappy headed," I would be surprised if there were five people in his audience of 10 million who didn't know he was talking about black people.”

Where can I find the book on “Code Phrases”? Your comment exemplifies the root of the problem… assumption, presumption, and stereotypical thought patterns and assertions. Based on your comment, you believe that all but 5 of 10-million listeners are racists and recognize coded transmissions.

Justify it any way you choose, Eric. But if you’re looking for the racists, check the closest mirror. There is only one thing worse than a racist, and that is someone who feeds it for personal/professional gains.

[Bob Bear]

Imus was wrong, period.
But defending the Rutgers girls basketball team is very difficult with their team and coach's history. Approx. 4 years ago a black player scored a basket against their biggest rival, UConn, and stopped in front of the UCONN coach and taunted him, then later verbally abused him during the game. Stringer the coach of Rutgers defended her player. (?) Did she do it because the Black Coach was defending a Black player who was in the wrong? I can't say, but everyone, including Rutger's University isn't completely innocent, but these young girls didn't deserve the garbage Imus said either.
Stringer wasn't fired, and I find it racist by the black community to demand Imus to be fired! Stringer didn't appoligize as I remember as Imus has repeatedly!!!

[BM]

Yes I'm comparing what Imus said to what "some dumb athlete" said because they are both on the radio and being heard by listeners. So by your reasoning its ok if a white player from the Bucs got on the radio and said something towards black athletes. Jessie Jackson would be holding a protest in front of the building if that were the case. However, Ian Beckles can call whites "rednecks" and thats ok?? HOW???!!! I miss your point.

[Dan]

I don't listen to or watch Don Imus because I find him much like warmed up mashed potatoes, but he doesn't deserve a "career death penalty" for saying what is openly acceptable in hip hop and rap lyrics. The words are wrong, regardless of who says them. Worst of all, Sharpton should be the last person to throw any stones. His record on truth and righteousness should find him banished from the airwaves...using the same standard. Self-appointed black spokespersons might to well to apply their standards evenly.

[Live from NY]

Don Imus has apologized for his offensive comments and it is time he be forgiven. It is time we, as a public, draw a line between offensive comments and the right to free speech. It is time we turn the pointed fingers of the likes of Al Sharpton around and realize that everyone makes mistakes.

I didn't see Sharptongue resign from the clergy after the Brawley Lie and his conviction for tax evasion.

[Will]

You know what's crazy? He directed this insult at a group of highly skilled, very talented young women. Unfortunately, a microphone was on and the rest of the country heard him. The usual suspects jumped up and down crying foul before the ones directly insulted could even respond. I give a lot of credit to the women of the Rutgers basketball team for handling themselves with grace and dignity.

Sadly, Imus was fired by CBS one the day he was scheudled to meet with the team to apologize in person. To his credit he met with them anyway. The two parties had a valuable, useful discussion that lasted for three hours.

What I hope is that the team and Imus will get together one last time at the townhall meeting that is being organized at Rutgers, this time to talk about the issue from a distance.

After a week or two when the news cycles have all but caused us to forget this incident, to be together and to speak not about apologies (they have been accepted already), but healing.

Thinking about this whole thing this last week has forced me to look at myself and the 'little racism' or 'latent racism' in my life. I hope that as a society we don't hang Don Imus and pat ourselves on the backs for doing the right thing, all the while forgetting to examine ourselves.