Don Imus Has Only Himself To Blame For His Downfall
Robert Paul Reyes
April 14, 2007
Don Imus looks like the Grim Reaper after an all-nighter. The obscene and racist rants that spew from his mouth match his deathly appearance. After more than 30 years in the shock jock racket, he finally imploded in a spectacular fashion.
I don't have the slightest bit of sympathy for the old codger; I hope he does the decent thing and disappears from the limelight.
Imus can't blame anyone but himself for his demise. Let me outline the grievous mistakes that led to his downfall.
Imus uttered the phrase "nappy-headed hos"
Imus would not have been fired if he had used this demeaning phrase in a general sense. For example, if he had said: There's too many nappy-headed hos walking around in Manhattan.
After all self-loathing blacks refer to black women as "hos" dozens of times in their records and stand-up routines.
Imus directed his insult at a specific target
The shock jock's big mistake was directing this insult at a specific target: A predominantly black women's basketball team. These intelligent and highly motivated young ladies are not in the public arena and should not have been subjected to such ridicule.
Imus was too late with his apology
The old goat's racist comment wasn't calculated, it was an off-the-cuff remark. We all say stupid and insensitive remarks at times, but we should apologize as soon as possible. Imus didn't apologize until a couple of days later.
Imus apologized to Al Sharpton
This was perhaps the biggest mistake Imus made; why pander to a publicity-loving buffoon with his own history of uttering racist remarks? Who the hell appointed the Harlem Hustler as the Pope of the African-American community?
Imus did not step down voluntarily for a significant period of time.
Once Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson went into full "media circus mode", the shock jock's only hope was to step down for a month or so. Did Imus really think that any of his critics would be appeased with a 2-week vacation?
I'm glad Imus was canned by CBS and NBC, for someone who's been in the radio business for such a long time, he responded to a crisis like a rank amateur.
I don't have the slightest bit of sympathy for the old codger; I hope he does the decent thing and disappears from the limelight.
Imus can't blame anyone but himself for his demise. Let me outline the grievous mistakes that led to his downfall.
Imus uttered the phrase "nappy-headed hos"
Imus would not have been fired if he had used this demeaning phrase in a general sense. For example, if he had said: There's too many nappy-headed hos walking around in Manhattan.
After all self-loathing blacks refer to black women as "hos" dozens of times in their records and stand-up routines.
Imus directed his insult at a specific target
The shock jock's big mistake was directing this insult at a specific target: A predominantly black women's basketball team. These intelligent and highly motivated young ladies are not in the public arena and should not have been subjected to such ridicule.
Imus was too late with his apology
The old goat's racist comment wasn't calculated, it was an off-the-cuff remark. We all say stupid and insensitive remarks at times, but we should apologize as soon as possible. Imus didn't apologize until a couple of days later.
Imus apologized to Al Sharpton
This was perhaps the biggest mistake Imus made; why pander to a publicity-loving buffoon with his own history of uttering racist remarks? Who the hell appointed the Harlem Hustler as the Pope of the African-American community?
Imus did not step down voluntarily for a significant period of time.
Once Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson went into full "media circus mode", the shock jock's only hope was to step down for a month or so. Did Imus really think that any of his critics would be appeased with a 2-week vacation?
I'm glad Imus was canned by CBS and NBC, for someone who's been in the radio business for such a long time, he responded to a crisis like a rank amateur.
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