Imus’ remarks deemed reflection of culture

NEW YORK — When radio host Don Imus used a racial epithet to refer to members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, his remarks were indicative of a culture saturated with demeaning rap lyrics, Concerned Women for America (CWA) said April 12. "Both Imus’ remarks and pop culture laud the objectification of women," Janice Crouse of CWA said. The group hopes the incident will spur the end of such remarks on media outlets such as MTV and other television and radio stations.

Morality in Media concurred with CWA’s analysis. "The outrage directed at Imus is more than justified, but it will prove to be largely a hollow victory if corporate America continues to give rappers who degrade women, glamorize criminal and other anti-social behavior and promote racial stereotypes a high-profit, high-profile national platform to corrupt the minds and hearts of children and to pollute mainstream culture," said Robert Peters of Morality in Media.