Well Imus got his azzz canned! Hip Hop Hooray!… Ho!… Hey!…. Ho! (Did I just say: “Ho?!”). The Prophets of Negrology can now pat themselves on the back cause they showed the white man! They mobilized their power and influence to bring down a powerful rich white media icon over his insensitive…. no racist, misogynist remarks against our sisters, the queens of our race. But yet….sniff….sniff…. I can’t help feeling that “something stinks in Negrodia”. Does anyone else smell it!?
At first the whole Imus thing was a non-issue to me. Just history, recent history mind you, repeating itself. I figured he would apologize, appear on one of the Prophets of Negrology radio programs, get admonished, act contrite and ask forgiveness, claim sheepishly that “I am not a racist… I got Black friends and I do lots for under-privilege youths…”, go for therapy to understand how he picked up this demon (“the devil made me do it!”), wait for a couple days or so until something more juicy comes up for the media to latch onto, (like…. Anna Nicole Smith gave birth to a baby while being deceased and now they have to go on another intensive dna search to identify the baby daddy… is it Christ’s?…. or Mohammed’s?…. or maybe even Lucifer’s?), then go back to making money for CBS and being a category on “Jeopardy”. But alas…. Imus got fired and the Prophets of Negrology are content and smug once again.
However, I have two issues. One is, well… when are the Prophets of Negrology going to take issue with the rappers, comedians and other Black entertainers over their insensitive…. no racist, misogynist remarks against our sisters, the queens of our race? When are they going to “name names” and call for “our” community and society at large to boycott these so-called artists? Yes, I’m talking about R. Kelly, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Snoop, and Dave Chappelle! When are they going to call for demonstrations against the media moguls (BET included), record companies, record stores, radio stations, as well as the actual cd’s and t.v shows, which produce, distribute and perform this filth? This quote is too true: “A man who doesn’t respect himself wastes his breath demanding that others respect him.” I have heard our sisters, the queens of our race, referred to by derogatory names by Black men, WORSE than what was stated by Imus. And these same Black men were gladly gettin’ PAID for saying it! So please tell me, how is Imus suppose to know or behave any better?
Two, when are these Prophets of Negrology, the more noteworthy of whom attach the moniker “Reverend” at the beginning of their names to signify that they are ambassadors of Christ…. which by association, automatically clokes them in the robes and collars of credibility, and hence the keepers of the flame against the darkness of social injustice…. when are they going to apologize to the Duke lacrosse players who were so falsely accused and politically charged, based on a obviously non-credible and incredible complaint? Imus, whether sincere or not, apologized for his error. These Prophets were front and center, playing to the cameras, calling for the head (or was it the balls?), of these young men. Or was the injustice they went through acceptable due to the color of their skin, as well as their economic and social class? (hmmmm… sounds strangely familiar….) Well, I may be in the visible minority on this one (as opposed to being just a “visible minority”), but I believe that if you know better, you do better. My Granny always used to remark: “those who knows it, feels it.” AND we have felt this kind of injustice before! So when we innocently and/or even through our best intentions, get caught up in the frenzy (media frenzy for some) of adding to this injustice, we need to address it, apologize and ask for forgiveness. Call me naïve, crazy or even a sell-out, but that would be the “Christian” thing to do, especially for a “Reverend”.
Now to reality. The Prophets of Negrology need to wake up and realize that they have no real power. They are stooges. They are a distraction from the real issues. They are the “Sanjayas” of the moment, until American Idol resumes next Tuesday night. They had no direct influence in getting Imus fired! The ONLY reason Imus got fired was that it was no longer profitable for the networks to keep him! Sponsors were pulling out of his show. He then became a financial liability. The NCAA made this call to networks: “You know the BILLIONS of dollars you make during March Madness and Football Bowl Season? Well… that is now in jeopardy because of Imus’s remarks.” The next call was made to Imus: “You’re fired!…. and no…. this is not Donald Trump.” In the same light of reality: when racist and misogynist rap music, music videos, t.v. shows, comedians, movies etc., are no longer profitable, then the Prophets of Negrology will be permitted to wail and rally against it. Let’s not get it twisted! Until then, we will continue to live out this truth from the song, “Shut em down” by The Prophets of Rage, Public Enemy:
“Howdy ‘all, this is Bernie Cross house, yours truly of the KKK! I’d like to express our deepest gratitude at the destruction of the inferior nigger race, and I’m especially pleased to report it’s destroying itself without our help! To all you gangs, hoodlums, drug pushers and users, and other worthless niggers killing each other, we’d like to thank you all, for saving us the time, trouble and legality, for the final chapter of riddin’ y’all off the face of the earth! Your solution to our problem is greatly appreciated! So keep sellin’ us your soul. Thank yah!”
I have to end with this excerpt from Jason Whitlock, a Black sports columnist. It’s just too good not to share:
“We have more important issues to deal with than Imus. If we are unwilling to clean up the filth and disrespect we heap on each other, nothing will change with our condition. You can fire every Don Imus in the country, and our incarceration rate, fatherless-child rate, illiteracy rate and murder rate will still continue to skyrocket. A man who doesn’t respect himself wastes his breath demanding that others respect him. We don’t respect ourselves right now. If we did, we wouldn’t call each other the N-word. If we did, we wouldn’t let people with prison values define who we are in music and videos. If we did, we wouldn’t call black women bitches and hos and abandon them when they have our babies. If we had the proper level of self-respect, we wouldn’t act like it’s only a crime when a white man disrespects us. We hold Imus to a higher standard than we hold ourselves. That’s a (freaking) shame. We need leadership that is interested in fixing the culture we’ve adopted. We need leadership that makes all of us take tremendous pride in educating ourselves. We need leadership that can reach professional athletes and entertainers and get them to understand that they’re ambassadors and play an important role in defining who we are and what values our culture will embrace.”
I say we need AfroSpear!
The Second Book of Asabagna 
April 13, 2007 at 4:56 pm
I suggest we AfroSpear Imus + all our brothers and sisters who are culprits.
This shit is just DEGRADING AND BLOODY EMBARASSING NOW. It isn’t okay to make fun of women with nappy hair, it isn’t heavy to call women bitches or hos, it just isn’t brilliant or clever or smart. Yet as usual black people just have this obsession with closing ranks and branding people like us who think differently sell out. I think the true sell outs are the ones who continue to allow all of this to continue. For example, Kanye West. He is a great example of this with his mutts comment yet he wants people to look up to him like he is some sort of fucking mentor cos he had blades all up in this gob. So what? Be a real teacher and be a real man and just stop putting women down. That gold digger song too, dont even get me started….
The allure of money is just too strong for our famous brothers and sisters; their celebrity doesnt faze me. I’d love to tell 50 cent that I thought he was a terrible role model and I would.
Brilliant post, Asa
==A
April 13, 2007 at 9:14 pm
You’re right, Asabagna. It’s crucial that we demand respect from others outside our group, and it is just as crucial, if not more so, that we demand that those within our group respect one another.
Who can do more harm? Imus calling you a name once or your own brothers and sisters calling you the same name day in and day out. We need to deal with Imus and need to deal with our own brothers and sisters with equal or greater urgency.
Meanwhile, have a look at my video advertisement about the 2008 election. If it can’t be a revolution, at least it can markedly different:
Please visit and watch my new 30-second video in which I offer my opinion about the 2008 presidential race: “It’s Time to the 43-Term White-Male Monopoly of the American Presidency”
April 14, 2007 at 9:17 am
Asabagna – Your analysis is on point. We need to determine next steps now that Imus is gone and it appears that dealing with the disrespectful lyrics in music is a logical direction to turn. I look forward to seeing how others in the Afrosphere direct the flow in the post-Imus era.
peace, Villager
April 14, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Yo Asa this was an intellectual Mike Tyson knock out the hip hip establishments lame, putrid and weak jusitification for no reform of hip hip in its current existence. Also I have been screaming about this for a long time I think the next steps now phased should be aimed at the intellectual reform of black people.
This should target inconsistencies in our culture.
It should target hypocrisy (especially that from our leadership and churches).
It should be designed to morph into something more powerful but focused on eradicated the major threats to our health, lives, mental healt, finances ect.
I think thier should be some kind of forum (and it can be online) between people who support hip hip in its current reform and those demanding reform of hip hip and black culture in general.
I assure once the debate starts and those on the side of the current hip establishment start explaining thier logic for allowing these types of self destructive lyrics and stories that glory neantherdall, murderous and baffoon behavior I assure you it will provide much comedy and ammo to us against the current hip hip establishment.
I think R. Kelly’s shewed skewered thier truth be told I would not mind seeing his craddle robben perveted ass publicly flawed he did to black children the same thing as the slave master did and hes allowed to get away with it and continue to see cream.
Folks you cant get no more than hypocritical than to buy his records (which we continue to do). I wont talk about preachers fathering children in divinity school, or preachers who father children outside of wedlock who are still allowed to call themselves preachers and see cream off of that credibility the word preacher lends.
LAWD HAVE MERCY I WONT EVEN GO THERE.
P.S The embarassing part is that I heard questions of how come the hip hop artist and some of the black morning shows allowed to use offensive language.
Lastly if we force the hip hopers, bet tv and other entities that promote negative images of black people, then shouldnt we get rid of the morally and intellectual unfit preachers in our communities as well?
April 14, 2007 at 2:12 pm
” P.S The embarassing part is that I heard questions of how come the hip hop artist and some of the black morning shows allowed to use offensive language.
Lastly if we force the hip hopers, bet tv and other entities that promote negative images of black people, then shouldnt we get rid of the morally and intellectual unfit preachers in our communities as well?”
mark bey: I meant to say that I heard these very issues concerning offensive content by black artist and radio programs brough up one news programs who usually dont touch these issues.
Stir the sh#t in the pot I say. We got foul gutter rubbage that needs to be disposed of.
April 14, 2007 at 2:13 pm
YO Asa I am going to post this and link this article on my blog.
April 14, 2007 at 3:57 pm
While I sympathize with the theory, I am dismayed that we still believe that fixing a symptom equates to attacking a problem. In this case Art is a reflection of life not the other way around. If you don’t like the Art, then you must do something about the life and reality that inspires it. The broad brush with whcih you paint Snoop, Jay-Z, Luda, et al is no more fair than you appear to think it is that we talk more about what Imus said more than we vilify our own.
I would like to se the art form of hip-hop elevated as much as the next person. But I also understand that there is more testifying than glorifying in much of the music that people condemn. That is something that too few voyeurs to the hip-hop culture fail to acknowledge.
April 14, 2007 at 6:07 pm
@ exodus mentality
mark bey: I disagree with you, hip hop has more than prove that it is toxic towards black america. After all its is the only artform that encourages, justifies and condoms murdureous and neanderthal behavior, in fact it kills its greatest and most talented ambassadors.
Also true art is supposed to elevate the human condition not demean and exploit the women who give birth to those who create that artform.
Also Exodus I can assure that even black kids in the worse niegborhoods are exposed to teachers, recreation center staff and others who dont reflect the voilence and neanderthal behavior that hip hop gloryfies much to often.
April 15, 2007 at 8:29 am
Amen Brotha!!! Amen!
That was a good read….
We are of like minds on this one.
April 15, 2007 at 9:14 am
I love you ASA! Way to drill in the TRUTH!
April 15, 2007 at 11:00 am
Today at my blog, on this sixtieth anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s first game in Major League Baseball, I published an article entitled “The Enduring Importance of Firsts,” making an argument that breaking into new areas that were once off-limits to us is an important part of securing our place in America and establishing ourselves as equals.
I first published this article at DailyKos with the title “Ending the White Male Monopoly of the Presidency,” and I was banned from participation at DailyKos a few days later.
April 15, 2007 at 11:24 am
Nice post ASA, I love that phrase you coined: “Prophets of Negrology”. Now as someone who probably loves hip hop more than most (maybe it’s my yawdie background, growing up with toasters like I-Roy, Stichie, and Dellinger)I am somewhat leery of all the backlash and the call for censorship of some of these hip hop artist out here.
Sorry, I can’t participate in this white majority population three card monty (take the focus from the real problem and issue, and point to a straw man, -hip hop and Jessie and Al- to detract from the real f****d up sh** they have been doing in this country.
Still, you are right, black folks need to start demanding accountability from those in our own quarters who peddle the ignorant bull sh** which doesn’t help promote any of the positives in our race.
There is some great hip hop artist out here, who spit some real nice lyrics and who are trying to say positive things. But they get no love, because the record industry doesn’t choose to promote them.
We need to make those jokers accountable too. And sellouts like Bob Johnson, and Russell Simmons should be called on their bull sh**.
Peace.
April 15, 2007 at 4:36 pm
It’s true. The Klan owes a lot of hippety-hop and rap artists a debt of gratitude. No one but Black people could have disparaged Black people like some of our rappers have and gotten away with it.
Now we need to bring back that ancient standard of liberal integration, measuring everyone with the same yardstick. More or less. If we wouldn’t accept an insult from Imus, why should we accept the same insult from a Black rapper without a fight? After all, “getting paid” ultimately makes those Black rappers simple mouth-pieces and spokesmen for (white-male) corporate America.
April 16, 2007 at 2:25 am
Excellent post. We do have to differentiate between the tool and its application, the mouthpiece and the message. HipHop has been co-opted – deliberately – precisely because of its revolutionary potential. It is not what it was: and who turned it into what it is?
Money was used to corrupt the artistic impulses of the youth and perverted their socially conscious impulses and channeled them into nihilistic, death embracing, straight capitalistic bbbbullshit. Who owns the record companies? Many report that many people of Jewish ancestry are the owners of some of the biggest record companies putting out hip hop.
If hip hop artist ripped Jews the way MC’s savage black women, black people – you couldn’t get a recording contract PERIOD. This image assassination is deliberate and it is controlled by people who have a vested interest in demonizing us.
We, as black people, have to take responsibility for our side of the street. That’s why this AfroSpear is so critical. We have to feel the propaganda void, the leadership void. We certainly can’t wait on the CBC or those folk to lead. We need women as well as men to lead themselves and each other.
April 16, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Nice blog!
April 16, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Now that all f the drama is partially over & Imus us fired, I am looking forward to the full discussion in the media & elsewhere n ending the misogyny in rap/hip-hop. I love rap & hip-hop & IMHO there is a difference.
I think our women need more respect that what the radio & video’s give them but honestly, it is hard to defend a women who does not “popping her pussy” (2 live crew) in front of the camera & lord knows what is going on after the filming is over etc. Basically, some self respect will need to be involved.
I am happy that Obama spoke out against the music industry that promotes such disgusting music. He hit the nail on the head & so did many others who are of the same mindset.
Retrospectively, I am happy that Imus had the nerve to call the Rutger’s team Nappy Headed Hoes because it is opening the door for larger national & Black community discussions.
Aulelia said “I suggest we AfroSpear Imus + all our brothers and sisters who are culprits.” You know that would be one big ass kabob LOL.
“The Prophets of Negrology” Asabagna, I tell you; you have been on a role with all of the new terms. Keep em’ coming.
Bygbaby
April 17, 2007 at 6:49 am
I think that we all have valid points here. I think that Imus got what he deserved. Do we need to make stronger objections to thos hip-hop artist who demean our black woman? Hell yes. But here is the thing. Amny grass roots groups, and I am not talking about Sharpton or Jackson, have spoken out against those artist who use offensive language and who contrbiute in underestimating, undervaluing and marginalzing black folks, but we did not support them as a whole. Look at Essence who launched a campaign 3 years ago against artists who degraded black woman. Main stream media didn’t give them the time of day; hell black people didn’t give them the time of day. And let’s not forget C. DeLores Tucker, we thought she was joke. She not only held the artist responsible, she blasted the reocrd companies. How did we repay her? We laughed her off as an old black woman who nothing better to do with her time. It is ironic now, that years after her death, her actions don’t seem so crazy now….
April 21, 2007 at 8:22 am
Asa nice well thought out post. However, I will disagree on two levels. First I don’t think we should focus on shutting up the “nonsense” rappers but scream to have Common, Talib Kweli, Public Enemy, Krs One and the like played more. As the Kulcha artist Chuck Fender says “…… I hope oonu see it, I hope oonu see it ah who a cause di war outta street. I hope oonu see it dem nah waan wickedness fi delete…I hear blam blam gun a buss inna song all ah know dem nah tek dem off radio station…I hope oohu see it…”
Next on Don Imus you said “…So please tell me, how is Imus suppose to know or behave any better?” This is the answer. Don Imus is a 67 year old man born and raised in the United States. A 67 year old man living in the U.S. was around when Black men and Black women were being lynched on a constant basis, a 67 year old white man in the U.S. KNOWS and has experienced the direct effect of hurtful racist words better than most of us Black people under the age of 45. He knows and has experienced the effects of racist words and behaviors in a way most of us blogging or the rappers will ever experience. He was not hurt by the words but understood the effect since he lived at a time when the words nigger, sambo, coon were flung about openly and directly in the face of Black people. He, lived and experienced the time period when whites did not want to call Black people Mr. or Mrs. so they substitued the respectful titles with “honey”, “sweetie” or “dear”. Imus and others in his age group and older know very well how to act, thats why he and his type should be BLASTED harder than any other group of people!
May 16, 2007 at 1:48 pm
While I agree with the thrust of Asa’s post, I agree with Ensayn: Imus should and does know better. It is, regardless of what some cultural commentators has suggested, an entirely different matter when a white “celebrity” (loosely applied) uses racial slurs. Yes, hip-hop musicians are a genre that needs to be cleaned up, but (in my opinion) that is for the black community (and consumers, black and white) to address.
Imus, on the other hand, is a certifiable burned-out relic that deserved to be dismissed. He should (and, undoubtedly, will) slink over to staellite radio and have idiots pay fees to listen to his inane monologue. There, he can spew his dementia to an audience that gets pleasures anticipating what he might say next. Whatever.
The part I dislike is that the networks and the sponsors didn’t just do it themselves. I regret that Al Sharpton felt compelled to step in to address such a trivial (but, nevertheless, offensive) episode.
When the reigning black “leaders” spend their time chasing down these (in the “big picture”) culturally inconsequential trespasses against common decency (racial or on a non-racial plane), it is a waste of “currency.” There are bigger fish to fry.
Regards,
Ron Albright