Sarah Jones
By Ben Adler
Tuesday May 29, 2007
 A proud Queens, N.Y. native, Sarah Jones began to make her name in the New York performing arts scene when she started writing and competing in poetry slams at the landmark Nuyorican Poets Café in Alphabet City. She began to develop one-woman shows including “Surface Transit” and “Women Can’t Wait!” (which was commissioned by Equality Now to address the human rights of women and girls.) A subsequent commission by the National Immigration Forum yielded “Waking the American Dream,” the inspiration for “Bridge & Tunnel,” which was produced off-Broadway by Meryl Streep and went on to become a critically praised smash hit on Broadway. Campus Progress caught up with Jones by phone while she was in Toronto working on her latest show to talk about politics in theater and hip-hop.
Campus Progress: What are you doing these days?
Sarah Jones: We – not the royal “we,” but all my “characters” and I – are doing a show called “A Right to Care” about ethnic and racial health disparities. We have a lot of fun with it but I hope it’s also educational for the folks you’d think would be interested in this sort of thing, like doctors and people in public health. But it’s also for community groups who are just happy to hear somebody talking about how much our health care crisis in this country plagues everybody and is disproportionately affecting working-class people, poor people, people of color.
What does a freelancer like you do for insurance? Buy your own?
That’s a very good question. I answer it all the time. I had Screen Actors Guild insurance for a couple of things that I did. Then when that lapsed, I got freelancers insurance for a while.
You’re lucky you live in New York, where they have a freelancers’ union.
That’s a really important point. I have colleagues who live in other places who don’t have access. I have some friends who don’t live in New York and their parents are doctors, and would rely on their friends for professional courtesy. That was ridiculous. Not everybody has that option. Now that I’m a grown-up and a little more embarrassed to be like, “Hi mom, can you take me to the podiatrist?” I think about it all the time. For now I have my insurance from the Broadway show. When that runs out, I’ll be back in the freelancers’ camp.
How did you end up writing this play about health insurance?
I wrote a commission for the Kellogg Foundation. Actually, the piece I wrote for the Ford Foundation gave rise to “Bridge & Tunnel.” I have done a string of these now where it happened that there was something I feel really passionately about and want to educate myself better about, and also feel that there is a dearth of information for most people around a particular issue floating out there in the mainstream. So I wanted to learn more and hopefully create an interesting way for other people to learn about it. When there’s a topic like that and there’s a foundation that wants to fund work around that issue, they’re usually really excited to fund a performance instead of a study or another person bringing up a health plan presentation. It’s a little unusual to have an actor develop characters and approach it in a theatrical way. So I’ve had really good luck with having stuff I care about also being on the radar of people who are in philanthropy.
You’ve spoken out against sexism, particularly against women of color –
No, sexism in general. I don’t discriminate when it comes to sexism.
You wouldn’t say that your poem, “Your revolution will not happen between these thighs –
When men throw out the word “bitch” or “ho” – even when women who’ve internalized misogyny throw those terms out – they may not be thinking about certain subsets of women. Feminism means respecting the rights of women and girls of every background. That’s why I balk about you saying “particularly about women of color.” Because of racism, women of color do disproportionately experience anti-feminist policies and anti-feminist culture in a different way but I just want to make sure that it’s clear that sisters stick together. That’s sisters with an “a” and an “er.”
What are your thoughts on Don Imus?
I feel sorry for Don Imus because it’s one thing to be racist and sexist and homophobic and anti-Semitic and all the things we already know he is and to seek out this life as a legitimized voice and have politicians on your show. It’s one thing to be that and still have access to mainstream airwaves, with people vetting you as an arbiter of the mainstream in our culture, where he’s as important to the McCains and the Bidens as Larry King is.
But then to be that same person and see just how much you have lost touch with culture and the things you think are funny are not actually funny – you’ve lost your grip on what people revere you for. As a writer and someone who loves comedy and really knows how to take a comedy punch, I know some things are offensive but funny as hell. There are any number of voices out there that represent controversial viewpoints but are bringing so much complexity to the table and are so funny that they still manage to push the conversation forward and keep a healthy debate going. This guy Imus is just out of it. He isn’t really an interesting contributor to the American conversation at all. That’s what this reminded me of more than anything else. He’s kind of washed up and that’s always a sad thing to see.
You just mentioned Imus’ history of being homophobic and anti-Semitic as well as sexist and racist. I’ve definitely heard you praise some of the hip-hop artists who are more socially conscious, who may not use derogatory terms about other African Americans or women. But some of them use anti-gay slurs or anti-Semitic language – what do you think of that?
I’m frustrated in the same way that I’m frustrated every time a brilliant comedian who I love with a particular background – I think of Sarah Silverman, she’s so good and fantastic on feminism. It’s ironic. It’s great. I’ve read the range of praise and I agree with so much of it. Obviously some of her stuff about race and Black men is really frustrating and I have to decide whether to throw this funny, feminist lady out with the bath water. My position in general is I try to find those other people, those other voices who manage to be really great on everything, and unfortunately those are the people who are least likely to find even alternative mainstream distribution. There are voices out there that represent hip-hop, and even Black men and hip-hop, who are committed to progressive values and issues along the lines of combating homophobia wherever they see it, attacking anti-Semitism wherever they see it; people who are progressive enough that they understand the issues of human rights around Israel and Palestine. There are people who are really good but I promise you you’re not going to find them on the Sprite Tour.
There’s a really interesting documentary out now, “Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” done by Byron Hurt – full disclosure: I’m in it for a couple minutes – one of the things so compelling to me about him is his stance against homophobia and he has to be brave. He got cursed out by some of the people whose albums you and I bought because we feel they’re the lesser of the evils. I’m with you waiting for the people who are good on everything. I love Dave Chappelle but I’m not going to trot him out when it’s time for me to think about feminism. I find myself waiting for those voices and hopefully, whenever I can’t find them, I’m trying to supplant what I’m not getting with my own work. That’s all we can do as artists and writers: be the change we want to see in the world, to paraphrase Gandhi. We can look up to people like Michael Eric Dyson.
Often part of the problem is you’re not going to get the kinds of intellectually rigorous and morally unimpeachable values on a hip-hop record that you’re going to find in a university, and that’s a shame because if we cultivated those voices and made more space for more quote-unquote conscious hip-hop, we would hear more.
I might find myself nodding my head to the beat of people whose values I don’t share at all because the beat is dope. So I wish I could take the beats from the people who are totally egregious and match them up with the people whose rhymes I don’t adore but whose politics are so wonderful that when I put my headphones on, it makes me want to take on whatever my next challenge is.
Illustration: August J. Pollak
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Comments
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Words like racist, anti-Semite, sexist, and homophobe are mindless, propaganda words used by people who are out of touch with reality.
As Pat Buchanan has written, Imus got fired for being white. It is common for black rappers to call black women “hoes” and “bitches.” Yet, no-one is calling for punishment for them or those music producers who put out their music.
A homophobe is simply a person who understands that two men fisting each other in a Manhatan apartment are not on the same moral plane as a mom and dad bringing life into the world.
Anti-Semitite is simply a word that is syonomous with “insolent Gentile”.
Racist is a synonym for the word European, given that Jews and nonwhites are never seriously called words like racist or neo-Nazi.
— JoeMorgan - May 31, 06:19 PM - #Imus is anything but racist, sexist, homophobic or anti-Semitic. The message within his humor is tolerance, love and understanding. Sarah Jones can’t get past the fact not only does Imus get it but he speaks to an audience like she never will.
— channelXRFR - May 31, 09:12 PM - #Sarah Jones is ill informed about who Imus is. He is person who cares. And he has million people audience, he helped thousands of people. His deeds speak not the words.
— Elena - May 31, 10:48 PM - #Imus? Racist? Get your facts straight. Here is what you said about him.” racist and sexist and homophobic and anti-Semitic and all the things we already know he is”
You are a nut.
— Bruce - May 31, 11:15 PM - #It’s a bit hypocritical for someone who disagrees with “Nappy headed ho’s” to start with the anti-semite, anti-black bull crap. When you and your liberal pals contribute half of what Imus has to various causes…getting timerisol out of children’s vaccines, getting fairer treatment for our soldiers who are dying or coming back injured, dealing with cancer in kids, and SIDS to name a few…then maybe what you write can be taken seriously.
Joe in Tucson
— Joe - May 31, 11:37 PM - #Sickle Cell Anemia is one of the childrens diseases that Imus contributes to. It was part of his radiothon for Kids with Cancer and SIDS. Guess what? Sickle Cell Anemia afflicts predominantly people of African descent. How is he a racist and still do more for SCA than anyone else that I’ve heard of. Gimme a break!
— Dave - Jun 1, 12:16 AM - #Just an FYI...Imus donated millions of dollars to organizations that sought cures for sickle-cell anemia, SIDS, and cancer.
He also supported Harold Ford, Jr.‘s Senate run in Tennessee, and endured death threats because of it…simply because Ford is a black man. Imus was also one of the first in the media to surmise that the lack of response in Hurricane Katrina was rooted in racism. His donations to charity, combined with the awareness he brought to such issues on the public airwaves, did much more to help the health of women and minorities than any poetry slam in a coffeehouse. — Angie - Jun 1, 12:37 AM - #Interesting stuff, but she’s really just speaking with the masses on Imus. You don’t get him at all, and are judging and piling on like all the rest, from the outside. Imagine if some group came along and judged Sarah Silverman from one clip of her show? They could have her off the air as fast as Sharpton got Imus off. They created a misperception about Imus, then everyone acted on it. Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuARFXdcdXQ especially if you don’t think of yourself as prejudiced. Because your opinions about Imus are coming from prejudice. Imus is not racist at all. He’s not an anti-Semite. He’s fine with same-sex marriage. He’s half-a-friggin homo himself. Please. You people have it totally wrong. Y’ALL ARE USING IMUS AS A PUNCHING BAG TO MAKE YOURSELVES LOOK BETTER AND IT IS UNJUST, PHONY, HYPOCRITICAL, AND WRONG!!!!!
— JohnD - Jun 1, 12:47 AM - #Sarah Jones has hope, but she’s fake loser for now. If you don’t know the show, don’t pile on, dorks.
You obviously know nothing about Don Imus, his relevance or his humor. His actions show that his words are meant as satire. He’s poking fun at the very attitudes you describe him with.
The only place I’ve heard MLK’s speech yearly presented on mainstream media in its entirety was on Imus. The First place I’ve heard of Harold Ford was on Imus. So he’s not racist.
One of his best friends is kinky Friedman. He regularly had Rabbi Gelman on for “Spiritual guidance”. He supported Joe Lieberman for years. So i don’t see him as anti-semitic.
He was one of the first to bring the Mathew shepherd case out. Supported NJ’s Anti discrimination law. Supported domestic partnership long before it was cool.
As for sexist. Marlee Mailtlin. Anna Quindlan. His Wife Deidre. Andrea Mitchell. and many others all strong women were regulars on his show. He’s Pro Choice. In favor of pay equity and the ERA.
I could go on but why bother, you made up your mind with out finding the facts.
Somebody is guilty of ignorance here, and it’s not Imus. For the facts check out http://www.supportimus.org/
— PTBartman - Jun 1, 01:06 AM - #I don’t “know” who Imus is. In this instance he was using language from a movie, and thought it was funny. He crossed an unspoken line, because “white” slave owners raped “black” girls, so “white” men are not allowed to be playful. If a “black” person had compared the two teams to fictional ones from a movie, it would not have been offensive. Racism is a two-way street.
— alice - Jun 1, 03:39 AM - #We agree what Imus said was offensive. One point of his show was to explore these “lines” in what you can and cannot say. What we are saying is that he should not have been fired for crossing one.
Black men have raped tens of thousands of white women, so let’s limit what black men can say as well. See the absurdity yet?
— JohnD - Jun 1, 04:51 AM - #I’m sorry, Sarah, but you are only highlighting how out of touch YOU are…not Don Imus. Don Imus is an incredible interviewer, entertainer AND Humanitarian. If you really knew his show..you would know exactly how much fun he poked at Social Culture (all of us…not any one group) and it was just in fun. It’s amusing how all of the self righteous are jumping on this to call Imus a “racist”. Hypocrites basically. Imus in the Morning was the BEST thing on the air…it did not appeal to the general population..more to the intellectual. That, perhaps, explains some of the misunderstanding that his rare bad joke brought upon him…with comments like yours.
I wish you good luck…but do research and understand your target PRIOR to assigning titles to people like Don Imus (also look into his charitable activities…do you give as much? He used the airwaves to collect for Charity and was an inspiration as few other people in his position came close).
Imus, you are missed so sorely. Please come back.
— Cindy - Jun 1, 06:36 AM - #Sarah, you are so wrong and don’t do your homework and you don’t know “Imus”!
To all above my comment..you/we know Imus and we will let people know what a great humanitarian this man is!
The 3 words, in 3 seconds should not define a man’s life…
We are more than fans, we’re more like a family!
— Albina - Jun 1, 07:48 AM - #Sarah: You are speaking from a misperception of Don Imus. He is none of those things you mentioned but unfortunately that is the way the media portrayed him in this situation. If there’s one thing I have learned from this fiasco it is that what you hear being reported as news is biased and you have to research for yourself before making a decision about a subject or a person.
I loved Imus’ show and felt as though I knew him and his crew. But you would have to watch this program for a while to get the nuances that made it so genius. Of course, if you didn’t like or want to watch it, then you didn’t have to. But now my freedom to do so has been taken due to a serious overreaction and misunderstanding of the program and the man.
— Anne - Jun 1, 08:04 AM - #Sarah Jones? I never heard of you until I saw this article and read your response to the question about Don Imus. After seeing your answer, I choose not to read, watch or listen to you in the future. How does it feel to have somebody, who doesn’t even know you, has never listened to your ‘art’ or read anything about you, base your entire life’s work on a moment in time when you call somebody else “racist and sexist and homophobic and anti-Semitic and all the things we already know he is.” Talk about ill informed! Sarah Jones, never heard of her!
— Julie - Jun 1, 08:42 AM - #Sarah;The comments shown above this writing says it all.Imus is the thinking persons venue to the truth,satire & all.
— LOU - Jun 1, 08:50 AM - #Your education to Imus was blinded by your inability to seek out the truth of Imus’s firing. Shame on you. Maby,just maby ,later on in life you
just may discover that Imus watchers are anything but bubble heads. Racist,homophobic Anti simetic,and all the other labels thrown at Imus, just doesn’t stick.
Your assumption of Imus
makes me tell you, YOU CANT CURE STUPID.
Oh; and by the way, if anybody, including Sarah, wants to become better informed about Don Imus, drop by this site: http://www.supportimus.org
— Julie - Jun 1, 08:56 AM - #or this site:
http://imustruth.com
The fans of Don Imus and Company have information on their side.
I’m so tired of people running their mouths who know nothing about Don Imus. You’re so misinformed, it’s sad. Here’s something for you to read to help you understand why your words really hurt children, not that you can be bothered I’m sure
Link
— M G - Jun 1, 09:38 AM - #Your logic is somewhat thoughtful. Obviously, you have been educated to politically think things through. I will agree that Imus did not become politically correct with the times.
However, you lack the facts and over look the real truth about what happened, who he is, and his show. This so-called controversy was media created and harmed a very good man.
Having watched him regularly, I saw a sensitive thoughtful man who was actually a feminist in action, and lived his ideals of equality in a very real way. Quite frankly, if a media frenzy can do that to him for what he said, they can do it to anyone for what they say. ‘Anyone’ is a category that includes you and I. By the way, labeling is labeling. The ‘crime’ is the same whether you use politically correct labeling or not.
— Laura Coleman, Ph.D. - Jun 1, 09:46 AM - #Iwas wondering SARAh,did you get off your duff and support the causes Imus was involved with.? Put your money where your mouth is. He does.!! In the millions.!!! You are a most un-imformed person on the planet. Bet you swallow all of Sharptons bullshit without pause.
— LOU - Jun 1, 09:55 AM - #The only reason I’m here is to put in my 2 cents about you, Sarah, being misinformed about Don Imus. You really don’t know what you’re talking about.
— Jeannette - Jun 1, 09:59 AM - #You are just “piling on” insults because it’s easy. Do some research on the charitable work that he and his wife are doing and have done. Ask the autism community about Don Imus. If you want to your opinions taken seriously, you might want to have your facts straight.
This is probably a person who has NEVER seen ONE episode of the Imus in the Morning show. How can Imus be racist when he had Harold Ford, Jr. on his show at least once a week, PLUS support Ford’s senate campiagn? How can he be anti-Semitic when his friend Kinky is a Jew? How can he be sexist when has women come on his show and comment on a regular basis? Homophobia, other than cracking the routine gay joke, I have NEVER heard Mr. Imus preach any hate against gays. I would like to know where this young lady got her information from. However, by the end of the article she has completely contradicted herself in my opinion. How can she TOTALLY down Imus and uplift Sarah Silverman (Who I like, but can be a little harsh.) and Dave Chappelle (Who was paid 50 MILLION to make “nigger” jokes.)?
— Harley - Jun 1, 10:22 AM - #Sarah, obviously you do not know the man you are intentionally labeling with disrespectful terms. I would suggest that if you would spend some time with people who worked with him on the many causes he supports or voluteer your time at his ranch, you would realize, as we do, that none of the terms apply. Don Imus and his team are brilliant at what they do and there are many of us who intend to keep harping until they get to do it again. I would further suggest we should all be as “racist, etc.l” as Don Imus!
— Bobbie Reinecker - Jun 1, 11:46 AM - #Ah someone else ill informed but offering commentary. The media blew this all way out of proportion and the propaganda keeps coming.
— JoeM - Jun 1, 02:08 PM - #It is so tiresome to hear those who don’t the man or the show continue to comment.
Further, it sounds like this woman knows little about comedy only politically correct garbage.
I cannot imagine why people would allow you to prattle on like a mindless idiot. I’ve never heard anyone talk so much and have so little of any relevence to say. Join the “peace movement” I hear they need a new face.
— Fletch - Jun 1, 03:37 PM - #wow. thanks for trolling the campus progress site, don imus and his 25 remaining fans.
sarah, kudos for your thoughtful comments and leading our generation in a new and truly progessive direction. i really appreciate your approach and concern for health care. keep rockin out.
— courtney - Jun 1, 07:36 PM - #Hey Courtney, I’m in YOUR generation and I like Imus so what does that make me? Trust me, he has plenty more than 25 fans, boo!
— Harley - Jun 1, 09:07 PM - #Looks like 26 fans to 1. Keep rockin out courtney.
— Dave - Jun 1, 09:16 PM - #Courtney,
I’m not gonna bash you or call you names, and I’m far from a troll.
I’ve spent the last 25 yrs of my life as a progressive working in the social justice movements.
I’m a former member of the NJ anti-apartheid Coalition. Worked on bot of Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaigns. Jobs with Justice. Trade Unions. Marched all over the East coast. Lobbied for the Nj-Anti discrimination bill.
I could go on and on but trust me I have my “bona-fides” and have paid my dues over the years.
I’ve also been an Imus Fan since I was eight years old and I agree with everything my fellow “trolls” have written.
What I see though is that so many examples of Imus over the years were taken out of context;
The Gwen Ifel quote for example. That was said in the character of President Reagan’s Press secretary.
The song parody “Friends with White Faces” (which is posted in my audio blog at www.xanga.com/PTBartman ) was sang first in the character of David Duke (truly a racist) and then later re-recorded in the voice of Rush Limbaugh. HE was Mocking their intolerence.
While your their read my first blog, where I post an article by Ali Eteraz. In it he quotes Cenk Uyger, another brilliant Progressive.
When Viewpoints are squashed everybody loses. Freedom of speech must be absolute or there is no freedom.
As Bob Marley said “Emancipate yourself from Mental slavery, only ourselves can free our minds”
Go to Imustruth.com. Listen to the clips. Read about him and his works. We need Dialog not diatribes. Peace
— PTBartman - Jun 1, 10:36 PM - #Totally agree, Sarah should be commended for all her progressive activism.
Her position on Imus is just inconsistent with the open mind she seems to show otherwise.
How can you judge a whole person’s life/character from 3 words they said? Imus stood up in the face of power. He had rock solid principles, everyone being equal was only one. The powerful took him down using racism as an excuse.
This isn’t racism. It’s ethnic humor/satire. Maybe tasteless, but it’s all in good fun if we all love each other which his ACTIONS prove. This example of it(“nappy”, etc.) wasn’t even funny, which was the problem. But who is funny everytime they try to make a joke? We agree it was offensive. Firing him was just unfair.
I’m in Sarah’s generation(who cares about age tho) also but thought Imus was great.
— JohnD - Jun 1, 11:25 PM - #Sorry I have never heard of Sarah I have heard of Imus, I suppose this one way to get people to notice you?
— Imusfan - Jun 1, 11:55 PM - #Just another of the Imus 25 (sounds like a new band!). Sarah & Courtney, you are of course entitled to an opinion and to be “progressive” if you want, but my god, please be a little better informed. You know nothing about Imus, and maybe you would have the same opinion if you did, but please open your minds. Thanks!
— saad-o - Jun 2, 01:51 AM - #Hey I am one of those 25. I am a card carrying member of the ACLU, democrat and union member.
I support Imus first and foremost for free speech. Additionally, because he did the best interviews on TV or Radio. I always believe that I was better informed because of his show. He stepped out of the corporate media mold and told the truth honestly.
— JoeM - Jun 2, 09:09 AM - #All of these commenters are further proof that people like Imus should think before he speaks, because obviously a whole lot of people agree with her.
And by the way, colonialists and imperialists could be said to have done a lot to “help” people of color, but that doesn’t mean they genuinely consider then their equal. Racism isn’t a two-way street—it’s about power differentials.
Sad that a focus on a terrific perfomer like Jones becomes all about a pathetic man attempting to be funny and discovering that there are consequences for what you say.
— sarah fan - Jun 4, 05:42 PM - #Wow. Sarah Jones, you are AWESOME. I am so, so saddened by the comments on this article. I don’t care if Jesus Christ himself came down from heaven and called someone a nappy headed ho, it still isn’t right. And I don’t give a rat’s ass how much you donate to charity, it isn’t confession at the Catholic Church- it doesn’t forgive your sins! Don Imus was an example, yeah there are a lot more like him still on the air, but people need to realize that those of us who have been the tradition butt of the joke are not going to take it. Women deserve respect as human beings. Easy way to avoid a beat down- don’t disrespect us. Easy.
— Nazrafel - Jun 4, 06:39 PM - #Sarah, rock on!
Dang, Nazrafel I’d hate for you to make a mistake! Imus apologized, the girls accepted his apology; that should have been the END of it. It’s not fair that he has to continually be bashed by folk who haven’t even heard of him or watched his show. Let ye without sin cast the first stone…..What are you doing Nazrafel? Throwing or turning away? I’m tired of this WHOLE PC crap! By the way, I’m an African-American female who has watched Imus’ show on a regular basis and felt that he was treated VERY unfairly. A suspension would have been fine with me.
— Harley - Jun 5, 11:29 AM - #Sarah Jones Who? I don’t know who Sarah Jones is but yes I know who Jesus Christ is and I know who Don Imus is…People of color can’t be racist? really this is why some call themselves “haters”...it is called hypocrisy, conditioned to be victims. You can’t make fun of me I am too delicate, you will hurt my feelings, I am too weak be careful I will fall apart and have a breakdown…puleeze give me a break, since when is being overly sensitive, in this country a badge of honor? This isn’t Utopia, this isn’t Shangrila, this is the USA a Republic, where people have the right to Free Speech. When Imus comes back maybe he can have Sarah Jones on his show then the rest of us will find out whg she is…it seems she needs the exposure.
— Imusfan - Jun 5, 11:52 AM - #I think it is interesting that all of these self professed modern progressive persons know just what Don Imus is. Most I am sure have never listened to his show at all. A man that is if anything the submissimve husband, can’t be a sexist. A DJ that every MLK Day plays the “I have a dream speech” and has promoted the Blind Boys of Alabama as if they were his own brother, can’t be a racist. IMUS himself is a JEW, so how can he be an antisemit. As for being a homophobic, I really can’t say, however he does not seems to me to be homophobic.
What a great country that we live in. A man that has help raise millions of dollars for SIDS, Sickle Cell Anemia, Kid with Cancer, and Money to help build the Inrtepid Center for Veterans returning from war with hidioues injuries can have the best quality care avaliable says something that was stupid which he was forgiven by those that he offended is held to such distain by people such as Sarah Jones. How much has ms. jones done for the caused that IMUS has helped?
— Jim - Jun 5, 11:57 AM - #I don’t need anyone to give me dignity as a woman. I am secure enough to take joke. It is always a good idea to know what you’re talking about before you make an extensive statement about anyone or anything.
Believe me, life will deliver some heavy blows and it would be my advice to get a sense of humor. I will be immensely helpful, Nazrafel.
And I know whereof I speak, I have survived cancer, have lost my husband, my brother and my mother and father (in the same week) by death, and I consider myself lucky.
They should have suspended Imus for a couple weeks but firing was way out of line with the offense. Let’s be fair.
— Anne - Jun 5, 12:17 PM - #Sarah Fan what’s with all the namecalling? Just like Sarah Jones has a league of fans who love her, Imus has fans who love him. Why is he pathetic? What did he do to be labeled pathetic? Say three words that he shouldn’t have said? Sarah Fan have you ever said something that you wish you hadn’t? Were you forgiven or did that person FOREVER hold a grudge against you? And Nazrafel, if Jesus made a mistake, said the wrong thing, would you not forgive him? Would you hold a grudge against JESUS? Why can’t Imus be forgiven? Hell, we forgave Clinton for what he did in the Oval Office and THAT was way out of line!
— Harley - Jun 5, 12:23 PM - #I remember college campus days of Hoffman, bros. Berrigan & don’t think they would be too awfully impressed with the “progressives” today….I could NOT get thru this entire blog as Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame came to mind….IMUS is a living legend, his deeds & works speak for themselves…have NO idea what Sarah researched, if at all HOWEVER I believe her 15 minutes are up….my first & LAST post as I find nothing credible in your STATS.....pcedness is without opinion because somebody is going to get offended PERIOD.....BOYCOTTING MSNBC/CBS/media ho’s/hillary. obama
— Ms. M - Jun 5, 12:49 PM - #Sarh Jones? Who hell are you & what gives your the credentials to critize Imus? I just glanced at your article because it is typically political-wind-bag-long & you’re not worth my time. Suffice to say you never listened to him.
— lulu06615 - Jun 5, 01:04 PM - #FUCK OFF!
Sarh Jones? Who hell are you & what gives your the credentials to critize Imus? I just glanced at your article because it is typically political-wind-bag-long & you’re not worth my time. Suffice to say you never listened to him.
— lulu06615 - Jun 5, 01:04 PM - #FUCK OFF!
This woman doesn’t have a CLUE about who Don Imus is and how much good he has done. Sarah Jones, you need to do some intense research about the great Don Imus. Your ignorance is showing! Don Imus is terribly missed because , in part, he did so much good and he told his audience the truth about things. He’s genuine and he’s a living legend. How dare you say those untrue things about a man you obviously don’t have a clue about.
— Kathy - Jun 5, 01:28 PM - #Excuse me: there are millions of Imus fans out there and they are NOT going away, because Imus deserves to be brought back to the airwaves.
— I-Fan - Jun 5, 01:42 PM - #Dear Sarah,
You need a crash course in Imus 101. How dare you attack a man whom you know nothing about (that’s obvious if you actually BELIEVE the things you have said about Imus). — Carleeta McCracken - Jun 5, 01:44 PM - #You Are Part of the Problem, my dear, not Part of the Solution.
I Support Imus
— Bebley Youree - Jun 5, 01:48 PM - #Sarah, you need to do a little bit of research on Don Imus. You are very ignorant regarding him. Check your facts!!!
— Susan - Jun 5, 01:54 PM - #It’s a cheap shot…when you obviously haven’t done your homework. Lazy journalism at best. You are just regurgitating what others who are equally ill-informed are spouting. When IMUS was on the air, he did more good in 1 week, than you have probably done your entire life.
One unfortunate statement does not a racist make. Nobody who has been a regular listener/viewer of IMUS could EVER think that he was a racist.
I have to say that it does take guts to pist articles for all to read when you know nothing about your subject.
It would be like me writing an article on brain surgery…speaking of which, why don’t you get a brain!!!
— carrie elkin - Jun 5, 02:43 PM - #Imus is rich but he’s not a Jew, or anti-semitic.
— Dan - Jun 5, 07:46 PM - #Sarah
It’s amazing to me how you could totally denounced Imus’ career and his whole being.
How you summed up and passed judgment on a human’s life in one little article.
And it’s little in more ways than one.
But, could not bring it upon yourself to do the same for the Hip-Hop crowd or the comedians you were chastising.
Seems to me, Sarah Jones you were bullshitting the whole time about your disappointment in these Hip-Hoppers.
You must be taking lessons from Al Sharpton and Jessee Jackson.
Shame on you.
I see you have a skit called “A Right to Care” It’s about health disparities, isn’t it?
Did you know Don Imus cared about health disparities also?
Do you have a skit about the wounded soldiers coming back from the Iraq war?
The soldiers that go to Walter Reed?
Imus did and he made good on his skit.
He was able assist in getting the Death Benefits raised for the families that lost their loved ones.
Did you participate in that cause?
Do you visit Walter Reed?
Did you say you received “freelancers insurance?”
Don Imus worked tiredlessly for the uninsured.
Kids with Cancer. He made sure they had the medical treatment they needed.
Did you know he & his wife have a hospital wing named after them?
Do you know they contributed millions of their own money to these causes?
Will you include this in your next “One Women Show?”
Again, Shame on you.
— JERI - Jun 5, 11:54 PM - #Some descriptions of Jesus Christ in the bible suggest that it is possible that he was a black man. Now if Jesus were black and he returned and uttered “Nappy Headed Hos” it would be just fine, life would go on, he would be hip and cool and a Media darling. If Jesus were white and said “Nappy Headed Hos”, he would be immediately crucified again and sent back to the Lord.
— Dave - Jun 6, 01:30 AM - #Amen, JERI! She totally TRASHES Imus, tosses him aside, but doesn’t do the same to Sarah Silverman or Dave Chapelle. She makes excuses for them, but doesn’t denounce them like she did Imus. Then, at the end of the article, she says, “I might find myself nodding my head to the beat of people whose values I don’t share at all because the beat is dope. “ You listen to THEM, but Imus is totally UNREDEEMABLE! Give me a break!
— Harley - Jun 6, 08:28 AM - #Did the Ku Klux Klan Members for Imus club infliltrate the Campus Progress site to bash on Sarah Jones because she’s a fierce sister speaking truth. Get a life bigots!
— Jamia - Jun 12, 09:42 AM - #Hey Jamia, I’m an African -American female, Democrat, college educated, and REGULAR Imus Show viewer! Do I sound like I would belong to the KLAN? PLEASE STOP THE NAME CALLING! Why would you OVER-GENERALIZE that ONLY WHITE people listened to his show? Imus has MANY African-American fans. Are you this upset about what DL Hughley said about the Rutgers girls? What about what Al Roker said about people with epilepsy? We as Black folks need to take care of a LOT of things in our OWN community before we go off on more witch hunts!
— Harley - Jun 13, 11:02 AM - #Jamia,
Read my post #29. Do i sound like a ‘Kluxer’ to you? I have a feeling that I’ve spent more time in the progressive movement than you’ve spent on the planet.
With age comes wisdom.
Our society is at a crossroads.
In 1966, shortly after becoming the first black graduate at ‘Ole Miss’, James Meridith was shot in the back while marching from Memphis to Jackson to encourage voter registration.
The shooting of James Meridith drew hundreds of Civil Rights Activists, both black and white, to finish the march that he began. The march culminated with a rally of fifteen thousand people in front of the Missis-sippi state capital in Jackson. At that rally two of my heroes spoke, Martin Luther King and Stokey Carmi-chael.
Dr. King told the crowd of his dream, that one day in Mississippi “justice will become a reality for all of God’s children”
Stokey Carmichael argued that blacks had to “build a power base so strong in this country that we’ll bring [whites] to their knees.
So many ‘factions’ in our society today have found Stokey’s strategy effective, as your becoming aware, but to say they win is like saying the playground bully wins every time he gets another kids lunch money.
I’m reminded of a story Don Imus told where his son asked him what’s the difference between white and black people. Don pointed to two pickup trucks, one red and one blue and asked him what the difference be-tween them was. All Wyatt could come up with was that they were different colors. They had the same en-gines. They did the same type of work. All that was different was color. Imus looked at his son and said, “It’s the same with people.” Which sounds a lot like Dr. Kings “Judging a man not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character.”
This is about free speech, an idea as basic as The Liberty Bell. A chance for you to say that while you don’t agree with the words Imus used, that now is a time for dialog not diatribes. That America needs education not intimidation.
Keep on fighting the good fight not the easy fight.
PTB
— PTBartman - Jun 13, 01:31 PM - #I support free speech, but I also support our right to fight against hatred, sexism, and bigotry. I think that the good fight includes frank and honest discussions about the intersection of race, class, and gender politics. Imus’ attack on the Rutgers women was an EASY fight and an easy attack in a world where being black and being a woman both make you open from attack — from outside and within. I think you should consider this quote from bellhooks— “The rise in black anti-feminism, often spearheaded by a focus on endangered black masculinity, has rekindled false assumptions that black women’s efforts to resist sexism and sexist oppression are an attack on black life. Backlash from whatever source, hurts.”
And I don’t think your age makes you wiser about the struggle. It gives you insight but it also might make you a little more settled in your ways and closed to alternative viewpoints than you might realize.
— jamia - Jun 13, 02:00 PM - #I’m still quite perplexed by all of this Imus support especially from brothers and sisters… How can we argue that he isn’t promoting racism when he truly is… I agree we have a lot of internal problems but the power that comes with white supremacy and his ability to dominate dialogue can’t be underestimated…
I think that Imus’ comments about Gwen Ifill being a “cleaning lady covering the White House” prove the point even more that he’s a racist with no respect for black WOMEN in particular.
— jamia - Jun 13, 02:05 PM - #Jamia, Imus’ job was to be a “shock jock”, if you listened to his show, you knew that EVERYONE was fair game. Yes, I was angered by what he said about the Rutgers girls, but when he gave his apology I knew he was being REAL. If you listened to his show on the regular, you would know that he would throw his power and time into any cause that affected him. He would talk on and on about the kids with cancer, autism, the wounded soliders, Walter Reed, sickle cell anemia, the environment, etc. The jokes were only a small part of his show. He even had Harold Ford, Jr. on his show on a REGULAR basis and got death threats for being a “N*gger Lover.” Imus talked for days about how sad he was that Harold Ford lost the senate race and that he knew it was because of the racist commerical that the Republican Party ran against him. Did you ever listen to Imus Jamia? Or are you judging him by three misguided words?
— Harley - Jun 13, 02:35 PM - #Jamia,
You’ll find the answer to the Gwen Ifill issue in post #29. That joke was done over 20 years ago during the REAGAN administration. (I was in elementary school and didn’t know who Imus was back then!) During the week of Imusgate, Ifill went on Meet the Press and said that one of Imus’ producers at that time (over 20 years ago) called her to apologize for that remark. Why would she act all hurt now? Beats me…...
— Harley - Jun 13, 03:06 PM - #Jamia,
What was easy was to demand he be fired. What was right was to educate him .
If tou truly support free speech, then your remedy would not have been to silence someone you disagree with.
I don’t agree with sarah, but that doesn’t mean I want her silenced.
Instead I exercise my my right to disagree and voice that disagreement.
actually my age has made me less settled in my ways. I found the fire and brimstone give em hell ways of my youth changed nothing, and did nothing more than polarize. I decided to be a uniter not a divider.
I truly believe each one reach one, each one teach one.
— PTBartman - Jun 13, 03:07 PM - #I find it interesting that you said I agreed with the firing. I said she was fierce and speaking truth which I stand by. I believe she is right that his words were badly chosen and she should have called him out. I wasn’t in favor of him being fired, what I was in favor of was his career being ruined because of advertisers pulling out due to his bad taste and boycotts from celebrities who were offended by the comments. I have listened to Imus many times and often found his comments disgusting and repulsive. He has free speech rights but it is also my right to speak out about what I believe promotes intolerance. I never promoted silencing anyone, but I do believe in mass public dissent being expressed through pressure on power holders and boycotts. Imus wasn’t fired because of the conciousness of the network, i don’t really believe he was fired because his dumb move was costing them money and advertiser clout. If not, he would have been fired before for all of the other evil things he said.
Any other business would have fired other people who did the same thing.
I also think that in uniting and teaching people older people should move away from condescension when expressing their thoughts to younger activists, otherwise it just leaves us polarized and unable to find some sort of common ground.
— Jamia - Jun 14, 12:24 PM - #Jamia, how do you feel about the guy from Grey’s Anatomy being fired? He also apologized many, many times.
— Harley - Jun 14, 02:25 PM - #Jamia, how about al roker NOT getting fired?
— Ms. M - Jun 14, 02:44 PM - #Jamia, you are right about tone; Disagreement does not require condescension. There’s not much daylight between firing someone & ruining someone’s career. I’m an old white guy whose politics aren’t typically liberal, but I am very sympathetic to the minority (in a broad sense) voice. Just ask one question: If we feel the need to eliminate (by whatever route) speech/opinion that we find ugly-offensive-etc, who gets hurt the most? The establishment, the majority, the wealthy? No!! The poor, the disenfranchised, the minority (again, in the broad sense). I despise Limbaugh and Sharpton, but I don’t want them to lose their platforms by external means (although it’s beyond me why anyone listens to either). Anyway, thanks for this forum.
— saad-o - Jun 15, 04:35 AM - #The advertisers didn’t leave on their own. Sharpton and Jackson strong-armed them to do it. I wouldn’t get pleasure from destroying someone’s career. Have you ever made a mistake? What if you made a mistake on your job one day, Jamia? What if you said something that offened others? Would you want them to judge you by the same standards you laid down for Imus? Should your career be destroyed? Should you be banished from ever having another job? Think long and hard about these questions. See post #40 for more insight.
— Harley - Jun 15, 10:00 AM - #Of course I make mistakes but I would also expect to lose my job if I broke codes of conduct by sexually harrassing people or promoting discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, nationality, or religion. I think it is important to consider the power dynamics at play. Imus is an affluent, heterosexual, white man in a white supremacist society with money, power, and connections. Even ANN COULTER didn’t think it was fair for those young women to be “up for grabs”. When Ann Coulter made those homophobic statements about Edwards it was in poor taste and out of line. Still, the power dynamics at play were completely different. Edwards as an affluent white man with power, prestige, and political clout is in a different place than the women from Rutgers who Imus attacked out of now where, perpetuating ugly stereotypes and misogynist ideas about black womanhood in a society where we are already devalued and abused from outside and within our community. Words have power and we need to make the connection between the kinds of attitudes and violence these kinds of assertions promote and condone.
I’m sorry but I don’t think Jigaboos and Wannabees should have even become a part of Imus’ vocabulary… and I’m going to get petty here, but who is he to call anyone ugly?”)
— Jamia - Jun 15, 02:24 PM - #Imus’ didn’t call them Jigaboos and Wannabees, his producer did. Are you saying that only certain people should be allowed to say certain words? Sounds like a double standard to me. The Rutgers girls have gone on with their lives, I think we should too. Imus apologized and should be able to work again. News on the net say he and Roise may team up. I think they will do well.
— Harley - Jun 16, 09:52 AM - #I’m not saying that they should be allowed or not allowed to say anything… What i’m saying is that there are some things that people say that carry historic weight and promote intolerance and there are social consequences that can result. For example, I don’t think he would EVER have been able to use the N word on air without being called out…
— Jamia - Jun 16, 07:57 PM - #No one would use the N-word on the air these days, less alone Imus. Why would he when he had Harold Ford, Jr. on his show on a regular basis? Hell, Imus got death threats for supporting him! He also had the widow of Pastor GE Patterson on a couple of days after he died. Imus even played portions of his sermons. I didn’t even know who GE Patterson was until I saw him on Imus and later on BET on Sunday morning. That being said, I think the Richard Pryor days are over, he even stopped using that word in his act way, way back! But, history aside, folks can pretty much say what they want to in private. However, Imus apologized and will be back, just like Clinton when he did his thing in the Oval Office. It was hard for me to forgive THAT, but hey life moves on and folks are climbing over themselves to get to Bill these days! All I want is for folks to lighten up a little! Peace
— Harley - Jun 17, 09:33 AM - #Sorry, all you Imus-addicts.
I’m glad that he is gone from MSNBC for the sake of the people of color at that network who did not share your Imus-idolization. They saw Imus for what he is, and thought that he needed to be GONE. He is.
Sorry if that ruins your mornings. It MAKES mine.
My only regret is that they replaced Imus with another insensitive, bullying white guy. There were plenty of people of color who could have EASILY and COMPETENTLY replaced Imus, but MSNBC is queer for bullying white guys.
— hterrya - Sep 16, 07:40 PM - #