Imus insanity--Can we fire the stereotypes?

Okay, I just had to weigh in on the Imus insanity that seems to have gripped the nation, like some huge April Fool's joke. In case you've been on another planet, America has found itself in an uproar for the past few days because one of its "shock jocks" has decided to push the limits of decency and racial / political correctness by calling the Rutgers Women's basaketball team a bunch of "Nappy Headed 'Hos.

Here's an update on the Imus Flap

Now there is much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth as we come to try to decide:

1) if it was wrong or just a comical offhanded statement.
2) why it seems okay for black men to say such things, but not white men.
3) how this label could possibly apply to bright educated women

Don Imus has claimed that he was only expressing a view often expressed by black men (especially rappers) to describe women. He also apologized a dozen or so times--no doubt wondering why us "nappy folks" can't take a joke.

As a father of two daughters, I have to say that the Imus statements were not funny-- the way for Imus to get it, would be to force him to meet with the mother's and fathers of the girls he insulted. He'd get a quick lesson in manners, and a clear image of why the black community was so outraged by his statements. It boils my blood to think that one day, future Imus clones will take a look at my daughters and see them as NHH's. Such negative stereotypes will still exist because hidden behind the political correctness rampant today--racism still lurks.

I also think it was stupid to fire him for his stupid remarks... as if what he said really matters. It is US and our beliefs about ourselves that we need to worry about. The stereotypes that Imus culled up on April 4th are hundreds or years old. The questions that WE BLACKS need to be answering is how much weight do they still carry in our own self images

Rappers and movie makers & cultural identity

Why, for instance, is it okay for the entertainment industry to continue the portrayal of young black women as low life beings... and we support the images by viewing the movies, and videos or buying the recordings that contain these depictions? I believe it is because white America has long had trouble dealing with black womens' images-- and that most of the gatekeepers for entertainment are still white guys. One of the legacies of slavery is that whites simplify black women to either be trustworthy "Mammies" or promiscuous "bad girls." The problem is that many blacks have also bought into the stereotypes. Young black girls pick the images up off of TV and movies and wonder if these are the only two choices society offers them... rappers and movie makers also continue to reflect updated versions of these images at us in their songs, movies and videos.

Yes, I know that once upon a time there was something called "The Cosby Show" and that it was supposed to have been the death knell of all the old stereotypes--but that show is now relegated to late night reruns--and BET has broadcast more than a decade of "Bootylicious Rumpshakers" since the Huxtables left prime time.

Mammies wear business suits now--and NHHs live in Hip-Hop Videos

The two images are Yin and Yang--extreme opposites--the mammies are sexless beings, trustworthy, hardworking, friendly and responsible--just the kind of person you'd trust to raise your children (or hire to run your corporate office)... but the "bad girl," the "hootchie mama," the "NHH" she's the one you might meet at a bar or speakeasy, have an affair with and then scamper home, pretending you'd never met. She's not the kind of girl you take home. "Masta" had both models at his disposal during slavery, one in the kitchen and the other out back in the slave quarters--both images forced upon women who had no choice but to accept--but now we need to be sure that our daughters have AND BELIEVE other options are available to them. We also need to prepare our daughters for a world where these stereotypes are still PORTRAYED AND BELIEVED by significant portions of white and black America. It's frustrating, but true.

Think I'm just ranting? Check out Slate magazine's recent piece about racist imagery in the media, specifically advertising images of the 20th Century--many of these still exist in modified forms.

For the other side of the coin, check out black exploitation flicks of the 1970s or rap videos of the 1990s and 2000s to see NHHs in action. Most of the offending rap videos can be found on BET.com

Here's another take on the Imus firing--

All this doesn't even begin to ask questions about the images of black men--that's another blog entry.