Don Imus: Much Ado About Nothing

Don Imus, a radio and television talk show host, has been fired from both his radio show and his television show. His crime: while bantering with a guest on his radio show, Imus referred to the all black women’s Rutgers basketball team as “nappy headed hos.” Imus was just joking around, probably thinking he was being cool to use black street lingo.

But no, he had transgressed. For many years, popular culture has set black folk in America apart, placed them on a high pedestal where they are to be exempt from outside criticism, rude language and bad taste. The penalty for transgression is public humiliation, severe social ostracism and the loss of one’s livelihood.

If Imus had offended any other group, the Irish perhaps, he could simply say, “Oh I’m sorry, I really meant no offense,” and the incident would be instantly forgotten. But black people are not just any other group. They are the high priests of victimhood for whom the apologies must never stop and for whom great deference, respect and reverence are due now and forever. If any (non-conservative) black person in America is ever offended by anyone or anything, for any reason, great wailing and gnashing of teeth is the order of the day, followed by wild paroxysms of moral indignation, foaming at the mouth, grand mal seizures, and capital punishment for the offender (well, socially anyway).

I am not saying Imus’s remark was inoffensive or rude or in bad taste. Of course he should apologize. But the reaction to it was way over the top and Imus’s punishment and ostracism are way out of proportion to the actual offense.

Yes, black people are not treated like other people in America. They are given far greater latitude on any number of issues and treated like social invalids whose tender feelings must be protected at all costs. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like racism to me.