Eye on America |Imus incident highlights common misuse of offensive language

Ross Weingarten Columnist

As the old saying goes, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” However, a recent event reminded us that spoken words, like written ones, have a similar power. When acclaimed radio show host Don Imus called the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos” last week, he launched a nationwide debate about race, gender and power in the media. Although it took the broadcasting companies Imus works for more than a week to fire him, there was little doubt that they would have to give in to the immense pressure from advocacy groups and the general public.

Imus’ remark was despicable. Instead of seeing the players on the Rutgers team as star athletes and accomplished students, he reduced them to centuries-old, derogatory stereotypes about women and African Americans. In addition, much of the outrage over his comments was due to the fact that he targeted young women who should not have to face such ridicule.

While his words might have been said in jest, Imus deserved to be fired. Furthermore, a look at his past reveals that this was not the first time the talk-show host has made offensive comments. In fact, his remark was just the worst in a long line of insensitive comments, or at least the first time such comments had serious retributions for him.

In 1995, Imus once referred to African American journalist Gwen Ifill by remarking, “Isn’t [The New York Times] wonderful? It lets the cleaning lady cover the White House.” He also referred to Times sports columnist William Rhoden as a “quota hire,” and was confirmed to have said that he hired a black writer to “do n----r jokes.” For years, Imus has used racial and gender insensitivity to pad his pockets. Clearly, the most recent episode was not Imus’ first foray into the controversial.

There are a number of reasons, however, why this episode registered on a national scale and the others did not. Where do the right to free speech and the limits of decency intersect? Because of his position as a talk-show host, does Imus have the right to say what he wants? The nation responded to his comments with a resounding “no.” But the issue of what can and cannot be said in an increasingly unchecked media world remains unanswered.

But another issue remains. Many in the media have quickly blamed hip-hop, and the pervasive use of what is considered “hip-hop language,” as the real culprits in the Imus scandal, and there is perhaps some merit to this. One must ask where a 66-year-old heard a phrase such as the one Imus let slip. While it is not a commonly-used label, there is little doubt that it is at least a subconscious reference to hip-hop.

But this link is unclear, and simply blaming rap music or the culture associated with it is too simple. Hip-hop has been around for decades; the stereotypes that Imus referred to have been around for centuries. Blaming rappers that call women “hos” doesn’t dig deep enough. Instead, it is a society-wide disregard for offensive language that is to blame. Vulgar words have gone from taboo labels to everyday utterances. Some of these words are “hip-hop,” some are not.

While there are still some socially accepted rules about who can say what, the fact that a person can call another by one of these labels and get away with it is disheartening. Think Vassar is free of such horrible denigration? I disagree.

We live in a society where musicians can call girls “sluts” and “hos,” talk about using women as sexual objects, and go on to sell millions of records! There is no regard for the true meaning of these words or for women’s continuing struggle for equality.

We live in a society in which a white guy can call his friend a “nigga” and then laugh about it, thinking nothing about the horrid history of race relations in this country. We live in a society where the terms “faggot” and “gay” are derogatory terms, which are sometimes said in jest with no regard for the struggle of homosexuals to gain legitimacy.

In addition, Imus’ outburst points to a latent and pervasive existence of sexism and racism in the media and government. Simply put, institutional barriers still exist, and while Imus got caught and has been punished for his verbal misstep, his case is noteworthy because it received national attention while so many others do not.

Imus said the wrong thing, and he said it on the air. He has become the unlikely face of a country that throws around language without a second thought to what it actually means and whom it offends. I credit the Rutgers women’s basketball team for standing up to Imus and conducting themselves with class and pride, proving that when language like this is used, real people get hurt. When irresponsible, hurtful language is used at Vassar, I hope we will all do the same.