Lou Reed and Don Imus - any difference?

[kavika411]

Don Imus:

"Nappy headed ho's"

Lou Reed:

"I wanna be black..."
"I wanna be like Martin Luther King, and get shot in the Spring..."

"I Wanna Be Black", off the album Street Hassle

"All the colored girls say, 'Do, do do...'."

"Walk On The Wild Side," off the album Transformer

[solvs]

Context.

And besides, isn't the Imus thing a bit old as far as these types of stories go?

[kavika411]

I don't know in what context Lou Reed meant those words. What was the context?

[killerrobot]

Any difference? WTF!?:eek:

[leekohler]

I don't know in what context Lou Reed meant those words. What was the context?

Go listen to Lou Reed's songs. They are obviously quite the opposite of Don Imus. I can't even believe this is a question. What's going on in this country when people can't tell the difference?

[kavika411]

What's going on in this country when people can't tell the difference?

What's going on in this country when people can't ask a fair question? (Incidentally, I own most of Lou Reed's albums, including the Velvet Underground days, so I don't need to go listen to them.)

[OnceUGoMac]

Context (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walk_on_the_Wild_Side_%28Lou_Reed_song%29)

I agree with Lee, confusing Don Imus' statements to the song is a bit silly.

[leekohler]

What's going on in this country when people can't ask a fair question? (Incidentally, I own most of Lou Reed's albums, including the Velvet Underground days, so I don't need to go listen to them.)

It wasn't a fair question. And if you're really listening to Lou Reed's records, I don't understand why you would think it is.

[kavika411]

if you're really listening to Lou Reed's records, I don't understand why you would think it is.

So far, I don't "think" anything. I have given no opinion. I have asked a question, to which no one will provide an answer. But let's cut to the chase - the reality is that, as no one will admit, racism is subjective, and it is okay for some people to be racist but not others.

As for people who simply scoff and say "just go listen to Lou Reed," I offer just two more stanzas from "I Wanna Be Black."

I wanna be black, have natural rhythm
Shoot twenty foot of j*sm too
And **** up the jews

I wanna be black, I wanna be a panther
Have a girlfriend named samantha
And have a stable of foxy wh*res
Oh, oh, I wanna be black

The question in the subject line of the original post remains fair and objective, and I remain interested in anyone who has an actual answer.

[Flowbee]

How about "Mark Twain and Don Imus - any difference?"

[leekohler]

How about "Mark Twain and Don Imus - any difference?"

Bingo- I was thinking the same thing.

[Blue Velvet]

Controversial song, that can't be denied.

Ostensibly the song is a dramatic monologue in which the narrator "don't wanna be a ****ed up middle class college student anymore," and thus imagines a life in the urban world of Blaxsploitation films. However, as a character study "I Wanna be Black" would be more convincing if Reed hadn't played footsy with these stereotypes himself—remember the colored girls doo-doo dooing their way through "Walk on the Wild Side."

http://www.gadflyonline.com/archive-lou_reed.html

There's your explanation. You can read into Lou Reed's actual stances what you will.

It never really happened until we were messing around with the band and there was this kind a shuffle going around. The only thing I had for "I Wanna Be Black" was the title, I never had any words to it, I just thought it was a funny idea. You know, as a goof.

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-t4U3tzY0dqdVBHlUv1s-?cq=1&p=1875

[kavika411]

Thank you, Blue Velvet, for taking the time to give a substantive response. I just read the article you linked and it was very interesting.

[solvs]

I have asked a question, to which no one will provide an answer.

I gave an answer, just didn't realize it had to be spelled out.

[kavika411]

I gave an answer, just didn't realize it had to be spelled out.

The single word "context" is not an answer; it is a word used in lieu of thinking.

[leekohler]

The single word "context" is not an answer; it is a word used in lieu of thinking.

No- "context" was an answer. By using the word "context", solvs and others were trying to get you to think for yourself and explore Lou Reed's records for yourself. BV put an end to that by spoonfeeding you an article that you could have easily looked up on your own.

[Flowbee]

The single word "context" is not an answer; it is a word used in lieu of thinking.

Given the context of this thread, shouldn't that be "in lieu of reading"? :p

[solvs]

The single word "context" is not an answer; it is a word used in lieu of thinking.

I'm sorry you didn't want to have to think, but you asked a simplistic question, I figured a simplistic answer was sufficient.

[LethalWolfe]

any difference?

Lou Reed didn't get a nice settlement after a wrongful termination lawsuit?
Al Sharpton likes Lou's music?
Imus' remark was specific and pointed towards black women (a minority double-shot)?
Lou came off as witty but Imus came off as a jerk?


Lethal