Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Opinion

Imus' comments are part of a bigger issue

Cheycara Latimer 
Opinion Columnist

It was the end of a great Cinderella run. The Rutgers' Lady Scarlet Knights had a good season with an overall record of 27-9, which added to an even better record in the national tournament where the team lost only their final game against the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers. 

However, the essence and ambience of that moment in Rutgers history was quickly diminished by a comment referencing the players made by radio personality Don Imus: "Nappy-headed hos." 

This isn't the first time Imus has "blurted out" comments that he could have kept to himself. According to the New York Times, he has referred to a Times Op-Ed contributor as a "cleaning lady" as well as a Times sports columnist as a "quota hire." 

He stayed employed because he generates ratings by poking fun at everything and anything to get a rise out of people. 

Unfortunately, his recent choice of words got a rise bigger than he had imagined. 

At MSNBC, big name advertisers removed all commercial and promo spots that aired during his television simulcast program. The removal of these advertisers meant MSNBC would lose millions of dollars in revenue and advertising. 

Women's groups and black leaders called for his termination (which happened Thursday, April 12) but he's been fired before and hired again and again; his career may be far from over. What made matters worse was Imus' dismissal of the ordeal. According to MSNBC, Imus didn't really think there was anything wrong with what he said. It took him two days before he offered an apology, making it seem fake and forced. 

Al Roker from the Today Show said that enough was enough. His statement can be taken from various points of view. Enough is realizing that insulting someone doesn't reflect positively on you. Enough is when people realize that discrimination can hit home with anyone and everyone. 

But this controversy is not just about Imus. This isn't the first nor is it the last time someone has used offensive language to refer to a woman. In an interview with Newsweek writer Julia Scelfo, the author of GhettoNation Cora Daniels said the comments made by Imus are an illustration of how a "ghetto" mindset makes it easy for someone to call a woman a "ho".

This underlying issue is much bigger than Imus and his cohorts. Discrimination and stereotyping are still, and unfortunately will always be, a part of our nation's heritage. We automatically assume the worst about a person before we get to know them. A person's outward appearance says nothing about who they are on the inside. But because we see the outward appearance first, we immediately start drawing our conclusions there. 

Latimer, a creative writing post-baccalaureate student, 
can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu