New School Politics

The New Double Standard

Zach | 24 04 2007

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Last week, after calling the African-American members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos,” Don Imus was fired in a storm of controversy. Imus’ comments prompted a frank discussion of race in America. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, two black individuals at the head of the African-American lobby, immediately chalked up Imus’ comment to overall racist sentiments. They called for rallies and boycotts. Imus, simulcast on MSNBC and broadcast over CBS radio, faced a two-week suspension for his misconduct. Sharpton, even after interviewing Imus, refused to back down. Reacting to pressure, MSNBC fired Imus. Several days later, Les Moonves, the President of CBS, did the same, claiming that the network didn’t support the racial injustices Don Imus had mentioned.

The incident, however, seems to have stirred up activists throughout the country. It’s not out of character for “shock jocks” like Don Imus to discuss controversial topics. Rush Limbaugh, perhaps the best known conservative commentator, has been caught doing far worse. Limbaugh’s numerous offenses include criminal acts (illegal painkillers). What’s worse, however, is the way he speaks on the radio, often maligning those who don’t think the way he does. Unlike Don Imus, who most view as an “equal opportunity offender,” Limbaugh offends only those who dare to disagree with him. Groups that come to mind include blacks, homosexuals, and liberals. Imus, however, makes one slip-up and he’s without a job.

I’m not doubting Imus’ malfeasance. It is, however, rather shocking how quickly the entire ordeal was over. I find Al Sharpton’s immediate success with this issue disheartening. Days after he threatened a boycott for advertisers on Imus’ program, Don Imus was fired. CBS and MSNBC should have stood up for Imus, a character who brought them millions of dollars in advertising revenue throughout the years. The networks, afraid to lose millions, canceled Imus’ recently signed (5-year $50 million) contract. Standing up for free speech wasn’t a priority. As is the case with most corporations, profit was the priority. Yet the two networks failed to stand up for a principal that their very organizations rely on. Caving quickly to Sharpton’s pressure shows the existence of an overly strong race lobby. Never should one organization be able to fell a giant corporation like MSNBC or CBS.

Sharpton’s actions are besides the point, however. What shocked me about the situation is the new double standard, this time one overwhelmingly in favor of minorities. For hundreds of years, blacks fought for equality. I’ll be the first to admit we’re far from it. Creating a double standard with affirmative action, however, is not the way out. Several commentators, among them the conservative Michelle Malkin, have drawn attention to the words contained in rap music. “Ho,” the word Imus used, appears dozens of times in popular rap songs.

Disrespecting women and blacks seems to be the norm in rap music today. The n-word, once taboo (as it should be), has begun appearing in rap songs. Several pundits claim rap music publicizes rather sordid aspects of our society, including drug dealing and violence. Yet rappers like Mims, whose new top 10 hit “This is Why I’m Hot” single includes (by my count) six mentions of the n-word in four minutes of music, go unpunished. The aforementioned article by Michelle Malkin has YouTube videos of several other offensive songs.

Sharpton, just like the rappers, enjoys immunity when it comes to racial issues. As he criticizes Imus, rappers record new songs with the very same parlance he sought to ban from the airwaves. America, for some reason, sees the music industry and pop culture as exempt from the tolerance status quo. While the rest of America must adhere to a strict set of racial tolerance guidelines, the music industry is free to parade racial slurs and degrading images all over our television sets.

The double standard is visible yet again in the Duke rape case. The case, stoked by racial issues, made national news and provoked critiques from Sharpton. Sharpton’s somewhat inflammatory comments fueled the fire that snowballed into national news. Last week, however, the Duke students were acquitted of all charges. Now, the prosecutor in the case, Attorney General Michael Nifong, faces a lawsuit for misconduct. Yet the most vocal critics of the Duke students, Al Sharpton and others, have yet to come forward. Imus himself, several days before his show was cancelled, wondered where Sharpton’s apology was.

It’s clear that something has to be done to race relations in the US in order to move on. Hate-fueled incidents like those caused by Imus and the purported Duke rape case continue to fill our media. It shouldn’t be this way. Unfortunately, nobody’s leading the charge for equality. Activists like Al Sharpton demand more than equality. They demand the double standard; one that’s clearly shown itself in Imus’ proceedings. One can only hope that the future will destroy this new impediment to racial equality and bring real equality to all Americans.