Don, You Incorrigible Rascal!

Don Imus, on Pacman Jones’ recent arrest:

Newsreader Warner Wolf: …[H]e’s been arrested six times since being drafted by Tennesse in 2005…

IMUS: What color is he?

Warner Wolf: …He’s African-American

IMUS: Well. There you go. Now we know. [Audio here]

We’re absolutely shocked. Who could have seen this coming?

[From Deadspin.]

Update: Al Sharpton, The Representative for Black People Everywhere, weighs in. Blah blah lazy journalism blah blah.

G.D.

G.D.

Gene "G.D." Demby is the founder and editor of PostBourgie. In his day job, he blogs and reports on race and ethnicity for NPR's Code Switch team.
G.D.
  • I gotta tell you, this one ain’t racist in my lonely opinion. It was said tongue in cheek in “our” favor. he was implying that of course he got arrested, he’s black male being targeted. This is one of the rare times I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. And what really pisses me off is how Pacman is trying to play this up to prove he’s the victim..

  • I’ll have to go with Rashad above on this one. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and believe Imus’s explanation of his intent. He’s a shock jock, but after the previous debacle that almost ended his career, I doubt that he’ll be so stupid as to start striking matches this early since coming back on air… let’s give him awhile…

  • LH

    Racism is a cancer, but no more so than cynicism. I mean … must everything be about racism? Having heard Imus’s statement, I feel safe in saying that he wasn’t going there–this time.

  • Rashad/Obeezy: I actually don’t know what the hell he was saying. I listened to it repeatedly and the ‘what color is he?’ question doesn’t seem any less odd. Okay, let’s assume he wasn’t being racist. How do we arrive at the ‘sarcastic point’ thing? It just seemed like a non sequitur.

    LH: Did we posit somewhere that everything was about racism?

  • Tasha

    I don’t know what he ws saying or implying. I’d give it the 3 strikes rule at this point mark this as questioable and up for debate.

  • LH

    G.D.: No, but my question wasn’t directed to you. It was meant for the Al Sharptons of the world.

  • LH: gotcha.

  • to a racist, everything IS about racism. but the real question is: doesn’t donny remind u of the scary old man from poltergeist?

    yeeesh!

  • Pingback: Don Imus redux « The United States of Jamerica()

  • Stay classy, Don.

  • elliemaehoya

    I’m definitely with rashad & everyone on this one. If it was anybody else, his comment would have made complete sense in its criticism of racial discrimination in the justice system. The only reason they’re jumping on this is because of last year, and honestly, I would hope he is too smart to make another obviously racist comment after that MESS!

    Also… when are reporters going to muster up the energy to call someone besides Al Sharpton to talk about race issues on their shows?