Imus Controversy: Crying Double Standard

The recent Don Imus controversy raises many questions. The biggest one on my mind is why anyone would call him an American hero- I saw the article headlines on this site, but my stomach was too weak to read beyond that point. What Imus said on the airwaves was reprehensible. It was a catalyst for much needed discussion. I would like to address the issues I have not heard yet.

I have a really hard time with people, especially white men, crying double standard. Meredith Vierra drew the double standard sword at Al Sharpton on the Today show just the other day. The fact that a great number of hip-hop lyrics might be offensive to women does not give a white male radio jockey a free pass to use insideous language against black women. How is it that the behavior of a white male radio DJ suddenly an excuse to point out the shortcomings of rap artists and hip artists? Where were these people hiding before the Don Imus remarks about the Rutgers basketball team? Why are they suddenly concerned about hip hop lyrics being offensive towards women? It is because a white male is being held accountable. How dare they use my issues to defend such behavior!

This is not to say that I especially enjoy the language that some hip hop artists use in reference to women. As a woman, I don't appreciate any woman being called a hoe, of any race or class. The major distinction between lyrics on an album and what Imus did is that the artists of song lyrics are not directing their language at a any one women in particular. When we hear song lyrics, women in general are being targeted or fictitious women- not specific women with names and identities. hip- hop and rap artists also write lyrics as a statement of condition and to tell a story. For this reason, you can't compare the two anymore then you can compare apples and oranges.

I find it tragic that these young female athletes are immortalized not for their athletic accomplishments, but for being the team targeted by a Don Imus. This factor effects all the women on the team and will likely affect future female basketball players.

I am also hearing cries, from the Imus camp and male hip hop artists, about the first amendment. The first amendment is a reality that isnot going away and serves everyone. As an artist myself, the first amendment is my greatest ally. I personally don't believe that our forefathers were fighting and dying at Valley Forge for the use of the word "hoe" or other incideous speech. It is true that we have freedom of speech, to excuse incideous speech. With freedom of speech comes individual responsibility. Just because we can say anything under the sun, does that mean we should? What if our freedom of speech robs someone else of their freedom? Do we say these things just on principle, because we can? What higher purpose is being served by calling me and my sisters, real or fictitious "hoes", stripping myself and other women of our freedom? If we have the freedom to say anything under the sun, why can't we use it for the benefit of others?

I watched Oprah today and a panel of male hip hop artists, in my opinion, failed to take this responsibility. They talked intelligently, articulately and even empathetically about women, especially black women, being marginalized. Not one of these men, on this all male panel, said that they could take responsibility by not using insidious language about women. Maybe, I can't stop rap artists and hip hop artists from using this language, due to the first amendment, but they can choose their words and how they tell their story. Maybe more people would listen to these words and stories if the language were not so hurtful. I know I would.

Consumers also have responsibility. A bigger question, an article in itself, is why does insidious sell? If we didn't buy it, the word "hoe", all racist speech, and all homophobic speech would be obsolete and so would pornography. We vote not only on election day, but also when we put our money or credit card down on the counter. It can be argued that how we vote with our money has a greater impact. I will not buy Bigalow Tea nor will I buy any CD by Eminem. I can't stomach any lyrics that use the word bitch or hoe, so those stories will not likely reach me, either.

Don Imus behavior was reckless and irresponsible. With this behavior there were consequences. The advertisers took responsibility, for their consumers, and pulled the plug, possibly impacting these consequences- the people have spoken, as far as I am concerned.