There is no question that Don Imus is a relic from a pathetic past. There are many of those relics tainting U.S. culture — most of them reside in Washington, DC on both sides of the political aisle.
But this article is not about bashing the older generation — though they are ripe for bashing.
There is something wrong with black America when a racist comment by some over-the-hill talk show host with no real importance can result in protests and statements of outrage by Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. There is something wrong when there is nothing better to do for the appointed ‘leaders of the black community’.
It was pathetic, after Michael Richards‘ tirade, that the ‘leaders of black America’ saw fit to actually give a damn. Protests, outrage, calls for boycotts — all for Cosmo Kramer. Elevating a nobody to the status of importance by having the comedian appear with Jesse Jackson for some perverted form of atonement. It is just as pathetic now, as Sharpton and Jackson call for Imus’ firing.
It is true that Imus has a much larger platform than the obscure, one-hit wonder Richards. Imus has two hours on a 24-hour news network (albeit one barely watched by the television masses) and often has ‘important guests’ such as politicians and political pundits on his show. However, that does not change that he is essentially worthless — a shock jock who entertains his drooling masses and offers little but hot air to society.
There is no question that Imus should be fired, but that truly does not matter. Nobody should care about what Imus said, not Vivian C. Stringer, not Al Sharpton. People like Imus should be ignored — not the subject of protests, with people carrying signs and chanting slogans. Protests give people like Imus importance that they sorely do not deserve.
One might say that ignoring Imus would only enable him. And? If a racist makes racist comments, so what? There are many racists in this country, and protesting against them will not result in anything but wasted time for the protesters.
To put it simply: if a moron always does moronic things and you complain about it each time, doesn’t that make you the moron?
It is as if the ‘leaders of the black community’ expected more out of Imus, who once remarked that PBS host’ Gwen Ifill was a “cleaning lady” and that New York Times sportswriter William C. Rhoden was a “quota hire“.
When Imus remarked that the women’s college basketball team at Rutgers, a team that will unfortunately not be remembered for their surprising run to the National Championship Game, was a bunch of “nappy-headed whores”, could Sharpton, Jackson or anyone with knowledge of Don Imus’ reputation have been surprised? Even if they had no knowledge of Imus’ reputation, considering just what kind of a sewer talk radio is, with virtually no intelligent discourse and a surplus of moronic, inappropriate garbage, could they really have been shocked to hear such language on the radio?
Surprised or not, they reacted swiftly. Calls for Imus’ firing were followed up by his physical presence on Al Sharpton’s radio show. Imus and Sharpton sparred in a trainwreck interview, one that did little to help the black community in any way.
Why must these appointed leaders of the black community waste time with people like Imus and Richards? Or Trent Lott years before? Or any moron who does something moronic? When does it become a reflection on Sharpton and Jackson that comments like these still matter to them? Have they not experienced much worse?
Words are indeed dangerous. But that is assuming that those hearing the words are still able to be rehabilitated. The fact is, people who listen to Imus’ show and enjoyed the joke will not realize that it is a racist, sexist slur. They will never realize it, no matter how long and how hard Al Sharpton continues his futile yelling and protesting. They will never realize it, no matter how many African Americans waste their time walking up and down city streets, begging and pleading for morons to stop being morons.
Enough is enough. Racists are racists. Morons are morons. Nothing will ever change that. It is time for the black community to stop giving a damn.
