Untitled (Rutgers women's basketball team)
by Mike Segar for Reuters, April 10, 2007
photograph
This visual element depicts the team at a news conference in response to a very popular radio host, Don Imus, referred to the women as “nappy-headed hoes”. Although he repeatedly attempted to offer apologies, Imus was suspended from the radio show for two weeks. Regardless of his apology, his comment insulted them by basically calling them whores by using the slang term “hoes”, and “nappy-headed” is steeped in racism by serving as a vile slur to African American hair. Imus was also reported to have quite a history of using other racial insults in other situations.
All things considered, there are still a few questions that arise:
1. How could such a raunchy statement from a public figure only be punished by a two-week suspension from his radio show?
2. Did Don Imus actually have a reason for using the phrase “nappy-headed hoes” other than because of their African American heritage? After all, these were fine, young Ivy League women.
3. How does Don Imus' situation relate to other contemporary examples where a public figure insults individuals due to race? (See Donald Sterling, former Los Angeles Clippers Owner, or Bruce Levenson, former Atlanta Hawks Owner.)
This photograph was very effectively placed in Rankine's lyric. Although it is slightly vague on an initial read, the photograph serves as a contemporary example of the use racial slurs. It was so effective for Rankine to insert the photograph of the Rutgers women’s basketball team where she did because it directly relates to the scenario she was currently portraying on that exact page; in this particular narration, “you” have arrived slightly late to meet up with a friend, who refers to you as a “nappy-headed hoe”. This visual element helps to communicate to the reader that circumstances like that occur without some individuals ever noticing. Regardless of the insulters’ intentions, even if they were meant to be a friendly jab, there are serious consequences that the receiver of a racially charged affront has to endure. The placement of this photograph illuminates this message.
Question for Claudia Rankine:
1. Why did you choose that specific photograph of the Rutgers women’s basketball team, considering that there are other pictures that would better emphasize the players’ features?
Research is from the following websites. Follow the links below for more information:
Video of Don Imus' comments during live game
~ Research by Garrison Rosser and Teddy Salazar