Imus Was Wrong; But...

By Michelle Wheatley

Yes, Don Imus was wrong. But that's the purpose of his radio show. He IS a shock jock. Everyone is talking, right? So that means more publicity, more buzz. Sure advertisers are dropping his show, but they'll be back.

Fact is, Imus' show is one of the most listened-to shows on the air outside the Beltway. Advertisers know prime real estate when they hear it and the numbers add up. Imus' show is second to Oprah in book promotion. He has been a fixture on the radio for a number of years.

An appropriate punishment for Imus would be an unpaid leave, a public apology to both listeners and the Rutger's women's basketball team, and a reconciliation and understanding meeting, also with the team.

Imus' remarks and its backfire are simply a result of racial sensitivity. Often those of the older generation are more closely related to the civil rights struggle. With this closeness, African-Americans may feel the need to create an uproar over every slight and Caucasian-Americans can be less appreciative of the beauty of all people.

However, the younger generation, to which I belong, doesn't necessarily see everything colored in black or white. Racial jokes are common, as we view the world in a haze unassociated with color. It's just too bad, but money wins out. Black comedians and radio personalities make fun of white people all the time. It's a fact of life.

And one silly little comment isn't worth that much news, not when people are dying every day in Iraq and oil prices continue to rise. Our foreign policy sucks. We're embroiled in an illegal war. There are questionable practices at the highest levels of government. And we're worried about one "nappy-headed hos" comment.

Maybe ignoring it signals a shift in the public consciousness, one that may be detrimental. But, American society is already desensitized to violence; why not racial slurs?

By Madia Brown |  April 15, 2007; 9:18 PM ET
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