Dr. Laura's Tactics Not Smart, but Definitely Not on Par with Imus
This incident brings to mind that day in 2007 when Don Imus decided to call the members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos" on his radio talk show, Imus in the Morning. According to Fox News, Imus continued with his racial slurs by calling the black members of the team "jigaboos and wannabees." That's something I was unaware of.
Mike Bacsik Jr., the former major-league pitcher who served the pitch to Barry Bonds for his 756th career home run, was a radio talk show host and producer for KTCK in Dallas until he made some insensitive remarks on his Twitter account after the Spurs beat the Mavericks in Game 4 of their playoff series. Bacsik Tweeted a congratulations to the Mexican population after the victory, but using a popular slur for that ethnic group.
Under fire, all three personalities issued apologies the next day. Imus and Bacsik were suspended and then fired after growing public outrage, while Schlessinger remains on the air and popular. Why the difference in opinion? In the case of Imus and Bacsik, they were intentionally being insensitive in their remarks. They didn't think before they spoke, and thought it was okay to use racial slurs as a joke. They chose malicious words to describe particular groups.
Schlessinger did not. While her approach was probably not the best one she could have chosen, she was trying to make a point about how frequently the word is used by African American comedians, even though they hate hearing it from white people. She wasn't using the word as a label for anyone, or attacking anyone with the word.
Schlessinger reached out to fans via her website and show, responding to numerous e-mails she received from them regarding the incident. Many people have forgiven her poor tactic, and she will continue to be successful in her other ventures. She is not unscathed, but she will regain her popularity. Imus is still in radio with his show, but I actually had to look it up on his website to see if he still had a career. Once a well-known name, you never hear the name Imus anymore. As for Bacsik, he's still a free-agent pitcher without a team.
Published by Kimberley Maslowski
By day, Kimberley is a professional instructional designer, specializing in the design and development of eLearning materials. When she is not working in her career writing help documentation, she is also an... View profile
-
Dr. Laura Schlessinger Rants Racist "N" Word, NAACP, Black Rappers
Today I heard something truly ridiculous once again, Dr Laura apologizing for stating the truth about race and use of the "N" word.
-
Dr. Laura "N-Word" Tape: Judge for Yourself -- Did She Go Too Far? is Sh...
The Dr. Laura Schlessinger audio tape
-
African American Friend Says Dr. Laura Not Racist Despite Dropping "N-Wo...
Ironically, MPG & Associates' trade-marked business slogan is, "Because Your Reputation Means Everything." Dr. Laura Schlessinger's reputation certainly has taken a further beat...
- Could Dr. Laura Quits Radio Show Over N-Word Rant Be a Publicity Stunt? Dr. Laura Schlesslinger got in a bit of hot water over using the N-word 11 times in 5 minutes. The offensive racial rant happened during her famed radio show. Could it have all been a setup?
-
Aphrodite Vibrator by Dr. Laura Berman Featured on Oprah Show
Dr. Laura Berman's new vibrator called The Aphrodite featured on Oprah.
- Dr Laura N-Word On-Air: (AUDIO) Listen Here; Plus, Dr Laura Schlessinger Apology!
- Why is Using the "N" Word so Important? Dr. Laura Schlessinger Rants "N" Word, NAA...
- Dr. Laura Schlessinger Looks N-word and Finds an Idiot
- Dr. Laura Schlessinger Says the 'N Word,' Then Kind of Wishes She Hadn't
- Dr. Laura Schlessinger Spews the N-Word on Her Show; Why is This Woman Still Relev...
- Dr. Laura Apologizes for Using N-Word on Talk Show
- Dr. Laura Schlessinger Will Stop Doing Radio Talk Show - First Amendment Rights Th...
|
|
- 10 things you need to know today: February 11, 2012 (The Week)
- Grammy Awards preview: Top 5 reasons to watch (The Week)
- No Fun Allowed: L.A. Beaches Ban Footballs, Frisbees, and Sand Digging (ContributorNetwork)
- Good day, bad day: February 10, 2012 (The Week)
- Obama's birth control compromise: 'Still unacceptable'? (The Week)
17 Comments
Post a CommentThis writer is wrong about Imus.
I have heard this women on the radio
and television, and have always thought
of her as a prejudice narrow minded women. Her remarks are no surprise, she shouldn't have any show. Stay home
people like her ruin the world, with BS.
Because of the history of slavery and Jim Crowe days as late as the sixties when a white person uses the "N-wo" there is racial hate..it implies that black people are less than... If black friends choose to use the word to greet each other in friendship..for instance by greeting each other with "My N-Wo" It is defined as they define it and it has no racial connotation such as "you are less than me..a white person". Also, even if a black person uses the "N-wo" in a negative way towards another black person...it still does not have the racial hate or racial connotation. Yes, it is an ugly word... but there is a stark difference between a white person using it versus a black person.
It just cracks me up....how one-sided and double-standard our society is!! Such a big huge deal ALWAYS made at the word Nigger, but where in the world is the outcry and people just irate, when blacks like Jay-C for instance, call caucasians very unflattering names? Like "cracker" and even worse, when he sang at the inauguration! Gee, we whites should go out and loot stores and cause tons of civil unrest because we don't like it!!
DESPITE THE DOCTOR'S INTELLECT, SHE IS ONE IGNORANT WOMAN, SHE NEVER ANSWERED THE QUESTION. WHEN ANYONE GOES OFF LIKE THAT, THEY HAVE BEEN HARBORING THOSE FEELINGS FOR A LONG TIME. DR. LAURA NOT ONLY SOUNDED STUPID, SHE LOOKED STUPID, JUST RANTING LIKE A BIG BAT OUT OF HELL.MAYBE SHE'S ACQUIRING A MENTAL DISORDER!
Thank you Nancy Tracy!
This was an intelligent, well-written, nuanced piece. Based on this one article, you have become one of my new favorites.
I can't stand "Dr." Laura. She isn't a psychologist. She has a "PhD" in some unrelated area. She is so insulting to those who call into her program for help. God only knows why people look to her for anything. She's sickening and ugly to boot.
As an African-American I was highly offended that she used the n word at all...especially knowing the evil associated with the word. The fact that African-American comedians, etc use the word is not the point. Just as there are certain words that Hispanics use amongst each other, Jewish people use, and gays it does not mean I would have the right to say such a word if I am outside that group. Furthermore, Dr. Laura has shown no remorse for using the word and does not seem to understand why blacks would be offended even if we use the word amongst ourselves. I do not use the n-word and would prefer not to hear it from anyone. But shame on Dr. Laura for trying to make herself the victim.
It's a terrible offensive word. While not even nearly as bad, as a gay woman, I don't even like the term "lesbian", and especially "dyke". Dr. Laura can definitely get off the air. And Imus should have been shafted.