April 16, 2007
The Imus Humor Style:
Attack the Defenseless
Don Imus’s firing from his morning radio job and the loss of his
simultaneous MSNBC show might give the impression that the public at
large is truly offended by his labeling the Rutgers University women’s
basketball team as “nappy headed hos.”
But is that the case? A Web poll as of 4/14 at
www.fishbowlNY.com showed that of 3,346 votes, 55 percent of online
voters were against Mr. Imus’ firing and 40 percent were for it, with
the rest undecided.
This was, of course, an unscientific survey, but it fuels suspicion that
most ordinary folks don’t care what Mr. Imus said about the players.
After all, Mr. Imus enjoyed a lucrative career spanning more than three
decades of spewing crass remarks. Occasionally he’d have to offer an
apology, but the flap was usually over almost before it began and
quickly forgotten, except perhaps by the unfortunate targets of his
so-called humor.
Mr. Imus, in other words, gave voice to opinions a lot of his audience
members would love to say aloud, but either don’t dare or don’t have a
convenient public platform from which to do so.
The entire brouhaha is significant beyond just another white man
spouting vile, inappropriate sexist and racist remarks. Mr. Imus’
comments – and others like them – are about the powerful and privileged
mocking of those who usually are not in a position to refute their
tormentors. What’s made this instance stand out is that many parties
have come to the Rutgers team’s defense and the mainstream media are
making a big deal out of their objections – at long last.
So-called humor ceases to be amusing when it is turned against the
unfortunate, the powerless and the dispossessed. That’s why blackface
comedy routines were so offensive apart from the obvious racial
stereotyping. Members of the empowered group, whites, had fun at the
expense of a subordinate group, blacks. This is also what makes female
impersonators so repulsive. Males demean females by reducing them to
make-up, hairdos, dresses and high heels, when the reality of being a
woman is so much more complex and momentous.
Contrary to the old nursery rhyme, name-calling can and does hurt.
Turned against authority and pretension, humor is a potent weapon. It
can, in fact, have the effect of equalizing power, if only for an
instant. That is precisely why thin-skinned dictators and wannabe
tyrants invariably ban or eliminate humorists and satirists. The former
are terrified that the latter will, with a pithily pointed comment or
observation, puncture their carefully constructed bubbles of lies and
hypocrisy. Yes, the king/CEO/president really is a buck-naked buffoon.
The Rutgers basketball players did not deserve to be slandered in such a
manner. But then, few of those who are the butt of cruel jokes merit
such treatment, either. Alas, we human beings find it much safer to
target the defenseless with racial or sexual stereotypes than to
lambaste the powerful and influential, forgetting that there are real
people, with real feelings, being tarred by our so-called jokes.
Other shock jocks and comics might be a tad nervous now about keeping
their jobs while demeaning people not in a position to return fire. Rest
assured, all is not lost. Just be sure to target smokers and fat people
exclusively. Sad but true: These two groups are still good for a cheap
laugh at their expense.
To offer
feedback on this column,
click here.
© 2007
North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.
Click here to talk to our writers and
editors about this column and others in our discussion forum.
To e-mail feedback about this column,
click here. If you enjoy this writer's
work, please contact your local newspapers editors and ask them to carry
it.
This
is Column #CT031.
Request permission to publish here.
|