The Devil's Advocate: Imus/Rap industry

[laylo]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Well, for one, when speaking of a double standard, there is no point in bringing up white people's participation in furthering rap music. The only reason for that would be to either bring up a double standard in the white community or to argue about whether rap music should be boycotted, etc, which isn't what we're discussing. If you want to bring up white double standards, I'd be happy to participate, but to my knowledge thats not the subject matter.

I wasn't arguing White double standards, only that the Black community has a limited ability to manipulate an industry for which they are not the main consumers, and the protestors of Imus are a smaller number still.

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I agree, the people who stood outside MSNBC and protested were a small segment. However, I anticipate that given the personalities involved and the attention paid by the black community, they would have had a fairly large base to work with if they hadn't gotten their way so quickly. I don't think just a small segment of the black community was concerned. Walking around campus, going out to eat, getting gas, everyone was talking about it (by everyone, I mean a lot of black people, but whites too). Now, of course my experience is limited to my area and whatnot, but when combined with the extensive media coverage, what else am I to think? I know you want me to accept your view of this as valid, but everything I've read and witnessed firsthand contradicts what you'd prefer I accept.

Again, there is a distinction between who was concerned and who acted. Of course you will accept whatever you wish, I'm just offering my experience as someone who interacts with different Black communities regularly and is actually involved in some of the efforts you are speaking about.

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Once again, I don't think the lack of feasibility is indicative of a lack of a double standard. I think there isn't enough support across the black community to foster such broad action against rap music. I'd compare this to something like the left's quest for gun control. Sure, they write articles, some may protest on occasion, but overall, the potential backlash outweighs most people's desire for the change. This isn't to say some aren't willing to do it, just as some are willing to create change in rap music at all costs. However, once again, I do see a disparity between the way the mainstream entity (in this case, the black community) reacts to different situations.

I'm not saying the lack of feasibility indicates the non-existence of a double standard, I'm saying that without two feasible options, there is no evidence of the existence of a double standard. You can't make a valid judgement of people's unwillingness to do something without a valid 'something' for them to do.