Remarks on Don Imus

Floor Speech

REMARKS ON DON IMUS

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by expressing condolences to all of those who were directly affected by the gun violence that has just taken the lives of so many young people with so much promise. Again, I think it is an indication of a tremendous need to better regulate the acquisition and ownership of guns in our country, and I join with all of those who call for increased regulation.

Mr. Speaker, America's radios, televisions, newspapers, and Internet sites have been consumed for the past several days over remarks by radio personality Don Imus.

Two weeks ago Imus referred to the women of the Rutgers University women's basketball team in language which can only be described as racist, sexist, and viciously offensive. Faced with an uproar of disgust and protest in response to those remarks, Imus apologized on one hand and on the other denied any racism and insisted that his words carried no malice.

Imus has a history of similar remarks and demands for him to be fired escalated by the hour and day. Under pressure from the public and advertisers, MSNBC agreed to drop the Imus show, and then, of course, CBS came to the same decision. I commend them for coming to the realization that this kind of rhetoric has no place on the public airways. I hope this outcome will be viewed as a victory for free speech and corporate responsibility.

I consider myself an apostle of the first amendment. Free speech is fundamental to our very notions of what and who we are as a people and as a Nation. Nevertheless, I believe that the outcry and protest over the Imus remarks and the demands for his dismissal are not only justified, but are totally consistent with the first amendment.

Nothing has eaten away at the soul of America, nothing has divided our Nation, and nothing has more persistently infected our democracy than the monstrous evil of racism.

Racism dehumanized and continues to dehumanize African Americans and others. Racism continues to ravage the lives of Black America from health to housing and from income to imprisonment. It has taken almost 150 years of struggle and sacrifice, but we no longer accept the racist practices and we no longer excuse racist speech.

No one is demanding that the government muzzle Mr. Imus. However, it is logical and just that large, extremely profitable media companies whose existence and whose profits are based on freedom of speech, would want to ensure that they are not profiting from the abuse of African American women, from the poisoning of relations between Americans, or from discrimination or oppression of any sector of our society.

Last week it was an outcry against Mr. Imus for his remarks. Today and tomorrow it must be against the rappers, hip-hop artists, and comedians who use vile language as a part of their public acts.

My mother used to take washing powder or soap and wash out our mouths if we were to use language that was unacceptable to her. Now, I know that we can't do this with some of our entertainers, but we certainly can sanitize and let them know that we are not appreciative of their language.

I join with those who commend the chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, for her leadership. And I also commend Reverend Jesse Jackson and the Reverend Al Sharpton for the tremendous roles that they played in raising this issue.

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