Current Events: Don Imus' racist remarks

In recent events, radio show host Don Imus has officially lost his job—his show was canceled after making an offensive inappropriate racist remark on his show. Before the show was officially canceled however, some questioned whether or not such a big deal should have been made about his remark. It seems that some believed that his apology was heartfelt, and the comment should be put in the past and everyone should move on. I completely disagree with this—forgetting about the incident would just represent how America, after working so hard for racial equality, all that has been accomplished does not matter. It merely would show that racist remarks are not taken seriously, that white men can make derogatory statements on air, while only receiving a slap on the wrist.

Racial jokes are still prevalent in many television and radio shows, with comedians such as Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle. They make jokes about Black people all the time, yet it is never considered racist or offensive, just funny. It seems that it is ok to make jokes about people of your own race, but mocking other races is taboo. The double standard seems to be prevalent throughout many streams of media, but is not said aloud.

Radical radio hosts are not uncommon—Howard Stern, the offbeat inappropriate host moved his show to Sirius satellite radio away from the restrictions of broadcast. What the FCC regulates has become an ever expanding entity—the limits of what can and what cannot be shown is now fluid, with no strict defining boundaries. These radical hosts can even be considered part of the new dissident media, outside the mainstream.