Black Journalists Group: Keep Imus Off The Air

CHICAGO Weighing in again on the Don Imus controversy, the National Association of Black Journalists Tuesday said the radio personality who outraged many with his comments about "nappy-headed ho's" should not be allowed back on the air.

NABJ called reports that Imus is in negotiations with Citadel Broadcasting and in informal talks with Fox News "unimaginable."

"It seems inconceivable that less than a year after Imus was dismissed from CBS Radio and MSNBC for his vicious insults upon the Rutgers women's basketball team, that Citadel Broadcasting and Fox News would consider putting him back on the air," Ernie Suggs, NABJ's vice president of print said in a statement. Suggs is an enterprise reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Austin Rhodes calls an African American female a "nappy-headed ho," on the Rejoice Network during Ryan B's talk show Friday morning. He was referring to the accuser in the Duke Lacrosse Scandal.

It's that comment that has people in the black community calling for Austin Rhodes' resignation.

"The term that gets me is nappy-headed ho," said Minister Vinson Baker. "He meant to cause offensive feelings. He meant to hurt."

Austin Rhodes said, "I call myself nappy-headed, and that's been my nickname since I was 16-years-old. If you look at what's left of my hair, it's nappy."

And so the story continues with “shock jock” copy cats spewing racist and derogatory speech. Unfortunately, the FCC does not regulate hate speech, however this should not stop communities from fighting back... remember it was advertisers who shut Imus down not the FCC. Hit them where they hurt. Lisa Fager, Industry Ears

PRESS RELEASE
Community Action Coalition - Augusta, GA

In Augusta, Georgia the Columbia County School System (Predominately Caucasian) made a African American Male Kindergartner clean the toilet. As the mother complained to the Superintendent in writing her letter was then given to the local Radio Station WGAC a Beasley Broadcasting Station. The radio host, Austin Rhodes, known for making negative statements about African Americans in the Augusta community then called the 5 year old child “Pee Pee Boy” and “Wee Wee Boy” countless times on his show. He then called the boys’ mom Mrs. Vann a “Media Whore over the airwaves where thousands in their community heard it.