Imus is just the tip of the iceberg

The recently fired Don Imus - from MSNBC, but not yet CBS radio - isn't the first, nor will he be the last, example of latent racism in this country. You see and hear it on a daily basis.

Be it the quiet, "have you heard this one", joke about a racial stereotype or the blatant hate mongers who might post stereotypical cartoon figures on the net. It is all around us. Slavery was abolished over 140 years ago, yet there are still people - on both sides of the equation - who can't get over it.

Rush Limbaugh thinks it's funny to refer to Barack Obama or Halle Berry as "Halfrican Americans." Glenn Beck actually said to America's first Muslim congressman, Keith Ellison, "sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies." Where is the outrage over these comments? Doesn't the right wing care about racism?

Back in 1976, Stevie Wonder released the song, "I Wish". The very first line of the song was, "Looking back on when I was a little nappy headed boy." Innocent at the time, "nappy headed" today - especially when used in the context of Don Imus' comment, can be easily seen as derogatory. I mention Wonder's song because even black musicians today may be going too far in their use of stereotypical slurs and words. "Ho'", "Bitch", "Nigger", etc. are words no one would want to be called, and using them in mainstream rap or songs only serves to desensitize a portion of the population to their real intent.

Some people may point to comedian Richard Pryor and his use of the word "Nigger". The difference is that Pryor came along at a time when both white and black comics were looking at the racial divides in this country and Pryor didn't flinch in his examination of racism. Pryor was one of the only people - black or white - who used the word in a way that I did not find uncomfortable, in the same way that I accepted it when he would say "Cracker" or "Honky". We are at a point now when there should be more understanding and less examination. Using certain words today may seem cool in some circles, but I find it disrespectful and contemptible rather than cute or even shocking.

I've noticed that several members of the Right are coming to Imus' defense. Why is this? Is there a bit of unwritten racism on the part of the Right?

It's obvious that the right wing media mouthpieces aid in proliferating racial stereotypes. Last year, Michael Savage showed his contempt for blacks when he was railing against reaffirming the voting rights act: "I don't really know what they mean by reaffirming the Voting Rights Act. Do they mean they're going to put a chad in every crack house? What are they going to do - spend 10 billion dollars to make sure they have voting machines in crack houses?"

That's right, Mr. Savage, black = crack-head. You really are an idiot, aren't you?

Less than a week ago, syndicated columnist, Dick Morris was responding to a Fox Noise Channel poll, that showed Republicans were frightened at the prospect of Hillary Clinton being elected president, when he said, "You have to ask yourself, the first black man is running for president and nobody's afraid of him, because everybody's afraid of Hillary." Where is the outrage?

As someone who supports the Senator from Illinois in his quest for the White House, I certainly do not look at Barack Obama as possibly the first black president - although this could end up being a true statement - I look at Barack Obama as someone who has integrity and good ideas. Just read "The Audacity of Hope" and you'll know what I mean.

I was happy to hear Rev. Jesse Jackson calling on black artists to cease from using derogatory words in their music. This is a step in the right direction. Now what we need is someone from the right to step forward and denounce the bigots of the airways.

Racism must stop. One good way would be to call out each person you hear making a racist comment. Let them know that you won't take it from anyone, not even your friends. It may be a small step, but if enough people do it, it could be a giant leap toward a brighter tomorrow.