TRANSCRIPT

Guest: Redding News Review Publisher and Talk Show Host Robert "Rob" Redding Jr.

Show: "Fox News Live" TV from 11a-12p 

Date: April 12, 2007

(((Listen to the broadcast)))

ATLANTA, April 13, 2007, 11:50 a.m. - E.D. Hill: Thanks for being with us. Is there a double standard? Because there are plenty of entertainers that use racist, sexist language that is as bad and worse than what Imus said.   

Rob Redding:  And they have been called on the carpet by and large by the black community. We have reported the stories over and over again.  I' m glad to see we're talking about it in a national forum.    

Hill:  But they don’t necessarily lose their jobs. Look at a guy like Chris Rock. He uses offensive language.  He’s got a TV show now. 

Redding: And he’s reaffirmed the fact is he's going to continue to use n-word and we have to continue to vote with our dollars and our pocketbooks and make sure we make that impact felt to people like Chris Rock, who I like as a comedian, but I think he should be admonished for his use of the n-word.  

Hill: Take a look. We have some graphics. They’re bad.  I will not read them, but you can look at them. They are talking about offensive language.  Is there a mixed message at the very least being sent out if kids are going out there listening to this music, hearing this language.  These people are glorified.  Huge corporate contracts and then Don Imus says something very similar to what these guys have said and loses least one of his jobs. 

Redding: I have been in the rap community for half of my career. I left the rap community because of the lyrics, because of the direction of the hip hop community…you are speaking to actually one of those people trying to bring about change in myself. My attorney, Roy Miller has fought to get a ban on the n-word.  I have fought to try to make that as public as possible. I believe this is something that we should focus on.  This has been a thrust for the black community, to the black leadership as of late. It just has not received a lot of attention. That’s why I’m glad we are here today. 

Hill: That is an interesting point. It is noble what your doing, but we do not see that same outrage. You don’t see people coming out against these especially rap artists. 

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Redding: Can I answer that really quickly? We had a jock here in Atlanta who was supposed to be on CNN yesterday on their last program, and he was told, as far as I can tell, that he did not have permission. He wanted to speak out about these degrading comments, and when we have that kind of thing happen, that is something we have to make sure that we stop from happening. We need to allow people to speak out when they want to. He plays music. He has actually had the song "Doo Doo Brown" which was a very degrading song. 

Hill: What in your opinion is the feeling of the black community at large?  Do they look at people regardless of their skin color and find the exact same words equally offensive?    

Redding:  Well, unfortunately, they don’t. That is the uphill battle that I fight. Even with my message board at ReddingNewsReview.com, we find people asking why they are trying to eradicate the n-word.  You’re supposed to be a journalist and for free speech.  Clearly I am, but at the same time, we have to control the image within our own community and tighten up in some parts of our committee. I agree with you, but at the same time, Imus’ comments are unforgivable for some people. That is why is there is outrage.  He is talking about these young, college women.  

Hill: Do you think CBS will fire him as well?    

Redding: CBS, my former employer, I hope does the right thing. Free speech is an important part of our America, and we should continue to forward that, however his words are offensive to some.  So we will see.

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