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As you no doubt know by now, CBS has fired Don Imus, issuing a statement saying that the network was "deeply upset and revulsed" by his comments. Kudos to CBS for doing the right thing, even though they waited until NBC dropped him and major advertisers
bailed. The statements I heard from CBS's two top executives suggested that they took some time to canvass employees about
this issue. Makes you wonder, though, exactly how much canvassing is required in order to take a position on an employee who
calls five top female athletes at a prestigious university "nappy-headed ho's."
As you may also know, Imus went ahead with his planned meeting with the Rutgers University women's basketball team and their
coach, who accepted his apology -- gracefully, I thought -- while not excusing his remarks.
Imus has not had much to say since his firing. He says he won't go on "some talk show tour" to tell his story. I hope he keeps
his word. Six years ago he pledged on the air (albeit while chuckling) to columnist Clarence Page that he would swear off abusive stereotypes. And we all know what happened to that promise.
I hope, too, that the now show-less Imus has learned something about the limits of white privilege. And male privilege. And
straight privilege, with regard to his slurs against gays. The fact that a hefty chunk of Americans still think he was entitled
to keep his job says a lot about the habitual lack of seriousness with which many view bigoted behavior.
(Posted 4/13/07 by Bruce A. Jacobs)
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