|
|
 |
|
|
 DON IMUS ...ghost of racists past? |
The Don Imus incident exemplifies modern racism
of TheColumnists.com
When the first black
slaves were stolen from their African homes and shipped to the
Colonies in the 1600s, racism began with a vengeance.
It has softened in 400 years, through a Civil War, an Emancipation
Proclamation, legal battles, civil rights marches and the common
decency of most Americans.
It is manifested in more subtle ways now. There are no accepted
lynchings, no poll taxes, no legal segregation in schools and
business, no public drinking fountains identified by color.
The furor caused by broadcaster Don Imus’s description of
the women’s basketball team at prestigious Rutgers University
in New Brunswick, New Jersey as “nappy-headed ho’s”
is as racist and sexist as the chains put upon blacks on slave
ships four centuries ago.
It was simply typical of his comments in the guise of humor over
four decades of broadcasting on radio and television.
While Imus interviews political leaders, show business stars
and sports personalities, he fills the rest of his air time with
alleged humor, much of it demeaning to African Americans, Jews,
Catholics, women, overweight people, bald men and foreigners.
He may raise money for kids with cancer for his New Mexico ranch
or help raise funds for a needed hospital for wounded veterans
or push the causes of a non-toxic cleaner but he has spent a
good part of his career demeaning so many.
The Rutgers women’s team finished second in the country
to Tennessee. They were made up mostly of freshmen and sophomores
and are a good threat to win it all next year in a great university
just a step below the prestigious Ivy League schools. Most of
them will graduate college with impressive credentials for later
life.
Imus was an alcoholic and drug addict until receiving treatment
in a rehab center some 20 years ago. He may not drink or take
drugs now but his nastiness, abusiveness and joy at embarrassing
others still remains.
He expresses the kind of racism on the air many people do in
private. He does not use the N word but he does make fun of the
way blacks speak, the way they comb their hair (nappy-headed),
their alleged lack of intelligence and their inability to move
forward in business.
He has had a few black guests but no blacks work for his program.
He never shuts down others heard on his show (producers, engineers,
etc.) when they make condescending remarks. That is acceptable
modern racism. Sticks and stones may break your bones but names
DO harm you.
In 1975 Frank Robinson, no relation to Jackie Robinson, was named
the playing-manager of the Cleveland Indians, the first black
to achieve that high a responsible position in the game.
Bill White, the bright, articulate St. Louis first baseman and
team leader, had always been my personal candidate to integrate
the upper echelons of the game. He later became a Yankee broadcaster
and National President but never managed.
I once asked Lee MacPhail, general manager of the Yankees, in
the early 1970s why there were no black managers in baseball.
He stumbled a bit, swallowed his words and then mumbled, “Well,
you can’t really take them to your country club to play
golf.”
It was clear that MacPhail, a lifelong baseball man, understood
there was more to managing a team than filling out the lineup
cards. He knew the manager had to make public appearances for
the club, entertain the big ticket holders at their country club
outings and dine in the city’s finest restaurants with the
wealthy owners of the team. How could a black player from an
inner city ghetto do that?
The racism of the 21st century is a lot more condescending than
the public racism of the 17th century. Chains, beatings and captivity
leave no room for doubt about the master’s plans. Inability
to join a country club, be invited to certain outings, difficulty
in acquiring desired housing and getting your kids into certain
schools if they aren’t athletes may be a cleverer form of
racism.
Michael Richards exposed his racism when he bellowed about the
blacks disrupting his comedy act. Mel Gibson showed his true
leanings when he blamed his ills on Jews. Imus revealed his inner
heart when he demeaned the players on the second best women’s
basketball team in the country. Racism, anti-Semitism and sexism
all stem from the same core of a human’s own insecurities.
Willie Randolph was named the manager of the New York Mets three
years ago, the first black to manage a New York baseball team
almost 60 years after Jackie Robinson integrated baseball with
the Brooklyn Dodgers.
“I’ll know there is true progress,” Randolph said,
“when the stories about the naming of a black manager doesn’t
include the fact that he is black.”
Give yourself the true test of racism. When your company promotes,
“Bring your son or daughter to work today” or promotes
grandparents day by suggesting the kids fix lunch for grandpa
and grandma in the school cafeteria, ask the school, office or
neighborhood for another special day.
How about bringing a black friend to your country club?
©2007 by Maury Allen. The Maury Allen
caricature is ©2001 by Jim Hummel. The illustration is an
artist's vision of the official MSNBC photo of Don Imus. This
column first posted April 16, 2007.
You
can comment on this column online. Please address your message
to either "The Editors" or Maury Allen. To send an
email, click here and don't forget to mention Maury's name: talkback@thecolumnists.com
|
|
|
Archives |
|
|