Imus Controversy Paying Dividends?
April 29, 2007, 11:12 am |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
By Andrew L. Jaffee
Perhaps Don Imus’ nasty racial slur (”nappy-headed hos”), and the ensuing controversy, has had some positive affects, as we’ve found that it wasn’t only “right-wing” Republicans who denigrate African-Americans. The fact was emphasized that African-Americans and PC politicians were denigrating African-Americans. Immediately after Imus blew a cork, the great demagogues, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, went for Imus’ jugular. But Sharpton and Jackson’s double standard was rightfully pounced on by the blogsphere, and even by some newspapers and TV shows. These two charlatans happily tolerate — probably profit from — the disgusting, misogynistic, and violent lyrics in rap music. In stepped people like Jason Whitlock, whom I’ve already written about, and now Russell Simmons, “the pioneering entrepreneur who made millions of dollars as he helped shape hip-hop culture:”
Expressing concern about the “growing public outrage” over the use of such words in rap lyrics, Simmons said the words “bitch,” “ho” and “nigger” should be considered “extreme curse words.”
Here’s some background:
It’s not a ban. And the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network isn’t calling for rappers and other artists to stop using the words. But the group has come out with a statement saying terms like the n-word, bitch and ‘ho are offensive and wants them off the airwaves.
The HSAN says while it doesn’t support a ban on the words, it is recommending that record labels and broadcast outlets voluntarily remove, bleep or delete the words from songs. The organization says those three words should be considered on a par with what it calls “extreme curse words” and treated as such by broadcasters. But it also says it doesn’t favor any government regulation or public policy that would amount to a violation of the First Amendment right to free speech.
The hip-hop community has been under pressure recently because of the controversy over statements made by radio host Don Imus about members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team. Some critics have said that if Imus lost his job for calling members of the mostly black team “nappy headed hos,” there should be a call for rappers and other entertainers to refrain from using such words in lyrics and jokes.
Guess how the “music industry” has reacted so far:
However, no music executives were associated with Monday’s announcement by Simmons’ Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.
Calls to Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Atlantic Records were not returned. The Recording Industry Association of America and Warner Music Group declined to comment.
G#d forbid the industry puts society before profits. Don’t get your hopes up… yet.
Share with others (social networking, bookmarking, find related):
Sphere It
Technorati: View blog reactions
Furl This
Fav bookmarking service not in the above list? It's definitely in this drop-down:
Categories, Tags: Political Correctness, Media/Blogsphere
Trackback: http://netwmd.com/blog/2007/04/29/1618/trackback/
Comments feed: RSS 2.0
Subscribe to netWMD:
FeedBurner