Don Imus, 4/12/07

Possibly the most perfect way to kick off a movie journal is to not analyze a movie. And since everyone is abuzz about Don Imus, why not join in? To BFP the saddest thing about Imus’ statements is that it reveals yet again the pervasiveness of sexism and racism in American culture. Imus has for decades spewed forth on radio and lately on cable a hateful, mean-spirited, cutting mockery of minorities--primarily blacks, but including gays, Latinos and Jews--women and politicians. He thrives on cruelty and crudity. He should be fired. Should’ve been fired years ago. But do not for one minute think his listeners will go away with him. He earns in the neighborhood of $10 million a year because his ratings bring in, by some reports, over $70 million in advertising revenue. That’s a lot of people listening and laughing. Imus is a sycophant currying favor with his audience by appealing to their racist and sexist thoughts. He is Eddie Haskell grown up.
BFP submits that in November 2006 when Bush and the Republicans “got thumped,” a new line of what is acceptable and what is not was drawn. The failure of the Iraq invasion crystallized for the American public the excesses of American macho culture. We aren’t going to take it anymore. Bob Herbert writes in today’s New York Times: “Powerful statements were made …by women at NBC and MSNBC--about how black women are devalued in this country, how they are demeaned by white men and black men. [They] spoke emotionally about the way black women are frequently trashed in the popular culture, especially in music…”

But BFP wonders, the audience for Imus is still there. Shamed, probably. But BFP thinks that, like Sam Spade, they will have a few sleepless nights, get over it and want to hear another shock jock slam, degrade and demean people who have done nothing to them, people whose only misfortune is that they happen to be born female, or black or Muslim, or all three.