wandering stars

Commenting on the Dom Imus controversy, Limbaugh said: “[minorities] can get away with anything because they’re disadvantaged and they’ve been discriminated against.” I would note that conservative commentators can apparently get away with anything, as long as they stick to being racist, but evidently attacking the honor of a white woman is potentially enough to sink your career; even the Republican party is starting to distance itself from Limbaugh, which it felt no need to do in the wake of his numerous racist tirades.

These issues intersect: There is a very long history of calling women of color and nonwhite women, particularly Black women, “sluts.” Or, in Dom Imus’ case, “nappy-headed hos.” And there’s a long history of not resisting that, of letting these statements pass without comment, illustrating a double whammy of sexism and racism that pins women of color at its intersections.