Imus comments not suprising
No one should have been shocked by the recent racist comments spewed by Don Imus, MSNBC morning talk show host. He, with the aid of his sycophants, has committed these kinds of hideous acts before with no other consequence than a slap on the wrist, hence this continuance. Any of us living in America with the slightest sense of fairness knows beyond a doubt that the majority of white Americans are racist, despite their denial to the contrary. This racist mentality, in my opinion, has its roots in the American institution of slavery. All one has to do is to reflect back on the inhumane conditions experienced by the African on the plantations of America.
The African woman was reduced to the level of an animal through the process of breeding. Many of the strongest male African slaves were shuttled from plantation to plantation and used as studs to impregnate the African slave women. One can only imagine the detrimental psychological affects this barbarian practice had on the African psyche; as well as the Caucasian mentality over the years in terms of their contempt for the African-American female.
Throughout our history in America, the African woman has been nothing more than an instrument in service to the white male and his family. They have performed as nurse maids, cooks, cleaners, mistresses and a host of other tasks. Despite the fact that these services played a major role in their development over the years, the African woman has still been regarded as less than her white counter-part.
The Negro or African-American in our society, who, in my opinion, always speak from a position of subjugation and appeasement would attempt to characterize Mr. Imus’ remarks as sexist. However, those of us who are black and see the world as human beings and not as an oppressed entity would simply say, “Look at the facts.”
Most of the Rutgers players on and off the court were non-Caucasian. The few Caucasian players on the squad possessed straight hair; consequently, when Imus and his stooges made the remark “nappy headed hos,” it became obvious about whom he was referring.
As a black father with daughters, I find this man’s remarks to be an affront to all black people in America, and also to many whites who have assisted us in our struggle to eliminate this kind of insanity over the years. Moreover, our children, some with nappy hair and some with straight, are fighting in Iraq side by side, with white Americans dying and being maimed for the positive things that our nation stands.
White folk who claim that they are not racist fail to realize that they are entrapped in a historical psychological quagmire that only they can extricate themselves there from. But first they must be willing to understand their history and all that entails, and stop this nonsense about, “That happened years ago and I’m not at fault.”
That may be true, but the acts of their fathers has had a damaging affect on the social fabric of our great nation. I would say to my Caucasian fellow Americans that if you are not racist, act like it and speak out against fellow citizens like Don Imus who engage in this type of behavior.
I can assure you that the Negro cannot help you because they view the world from a realm of subjugation and therefore cannot speak the unadulterated truth to white folks. And the black man will not because it has taken him centuries just to see himself as a human being, equal to all.
Ron Dennis resides in Uniontown.