N.C. Indians target Clear Channel for shock jock's racist remarks
American Indians and their allies from across North Carolina gathered at the state Capitol yesterday to demand the firing of a Clear Channel station disc jockey who made denigrating remarks about indigenous people. They are also calling for an investigation of Texas-based Clear Channel by the Federal Communications Commission.While on the air April 1, Bob Dumas, host of a morning radio show on Clear Channel's WDCG "G-105" in Raleigh, teased an intern about her upcoming wedding to a member of eastern North Carolina's Lumbee tribe. Joining in were his co-hosts Mike Morse and a woman who goes by the name of Kentucky Kristin. Dumas began:
"This is the God's honest truth ... now I mean you can look at the statistics,” he said while on the air. "Indians are lazy. Do you know that before you get married?"Dumas also asked the intern if the groom's grandfather would stand by the road and shed a single tear, apparently a reference to the famous "Crying Indian" ads for the Keep America Beautiful campaign.
Continued Mike Morse and "Kentucky" Kristin on the radio show, "After you guys get married are you going to have a teepee warming party? I hear Pottery Barn is making really great stuff for teepees these days."
In response to public outcry over the statements, G-105 suspended the three hosts for three days without pay. The hosts also read an apology on the air, and G-105 posted another to its Web site that says the station "does not condone inappropriate behavior, language or insensitive remarks."
Among those participating in yesterday's protest were Lumbee Tribal Chairman Jimmy Goins; N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs Executive Director Gregory Richardson; state Rep. Ronnie Sutton, who is a Lumbee; UNC-Chapel Hill Native American Law Students' Association President Candace Harke, also a Lumbee; and members of the Lumbee Warriors Association, a veterans group.
Richardson told the Raleigh News & Observer that Clear Channel had invited Indian leaders to discuss the issue this week, and that they had accepted.
Dumas has been in trouble in the past for controversial on-air statements. In 2003, he was suspended and the station management broadcast an apology after he encouraged listeners to call in with stories about terrorizing bicyclists and said he threw bottles at them. In 2004, he organized a heterosexual pride parade in Chapel Hill and sold T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase "Flaming Heterosexual." That same year, he and another host were suspended for saying on the air that American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino of High Point, N.C. was "ghetto" and "low class."
But Dumas has also used his position to help charities. For example, his "Bus to the Bayou" campaign in the wake of Hurricane Katrina collected enough supplies to fill 11 tractor-trailers, and he helped personally deliver them to the Gulf Coast.
(Photo of Bob Dumas from G-105's photo gallery.)
Labels: Clear Channel, FCC, Lumbee Indians, media, north carolina, race and racism
6 Comments:
I am a "Kentuckian" Cherokee descendant. I am not lazy and neither is my family! We are educated industrious people.
I find the "jock's" statement appauling to say the least. Imus lost his job over such racist remarks, and this jock should too. By the way, the JOCK could use Jenny Craig!!!!
Ocie Woolsey
Wolf Clan Member
Across the hill from NC
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/2688886/
Anyone that does not know by now.....radio station G105 in raleigh NC’s dj spent 15 minutes non stop stateing every kind of racist native American slang and sterotype I have heard anyone say in one sitting......even went as far as to call the Lumbee tribe inbreds.....it is more stuff than I can type here!!!!
EVERYONE needs to go to the news station nbc 17’s website and watch the news broadcast from this week.
http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn/search.apx.-content-articles-NCN-2008-04-04-0007.html
You can also go here and listen to the entire thing....be warned you will be very mad once you hear it....don’t say I did not warn you.
http://www.djforge.com/audio/showgram.mp3
send messages to the station send complaints to the fcc....do whatever to let these people know we are a strong united nation and are not going to take this kind of crap.
the radio station has a apology posted on their website right now but it is such a short and going no where apology that you can clearly see how it is NOT a apology.
Pass this information to everyone you know and lets LET THEM know WE are not going to allow this.
http://www.djforge.com/audio/showgram.mp3
Please help support the ending of this radio station's evil acts.
http://www.lumbeetribe.com/
I was just wondering how is it not okay for him to voice his opinion but you can voice yours on his physical appearance? How is that any differant than what he said?
The thing people do not seem to grasp is the Showgram is entertainment not a news commentary or editorial comments . Bob insults no one any more than he does himself. Some people took offense and he apologized. Why can't you just accept his apology? Its his job to come up with things that are funny.If you listen to him you would see just how big-hearted he is and before you condem him listen to comedians sometime and then you will hear racial insults to cover everyone, immigrants, women, you name it. People need to get a grip. Do you get all fired up when someone gets murdered or just act ho-hum about it?
So...you defenders of the racist jock? Why are you posting anonymously? Scared to stand beside your opinions?
FTR, I stopped listening to Clear Channel stations ages ago. I thoroughly resent having my 'local' signal being broadcast from someplace nowhere near where I live. Just like watching my local news station more than the national one, I want a local radio station which is truly local. Clear Channel? Not it.
I agree with: Anonymous said...
I was just wondering how is it not okay for him to voice his opinion but you can voice yours on his physical appearance? How is that any differant than what he said?
And I agree with:
Anonymous said...
The thing people do not seem to grasp is the Showgram is entertainment not a news commentary or editorial comments . Bob insults no one any more than he does himself. Some people took offense and he apologized. Why can't you just accept his apology? Its his job to come up with things that are funny.If you listen to him you would see just how big-hearted he is and before you condem him listen to comedians sometime and then you will hear racial insults to cover everyone, immigrants, women, you name it. People need to get a grip. Do you get all fired up when someone gets murdered or just act ho-hum about it?
That is the problem with this world people complain about what everybody else says, get a life, turn the channel, and look in the mirror. I have listened to Bob since him and Mike were looking for the building, when Tom Britt was on the air. I LOVE Bob, he it the best thing on the Radio, because it is all in fun. I laugh everyday. When you need a laugh he is there. If you don't like Bob and the Showgrams comments TURN THE CHANNEL, BUT LEAVE MY RADIO ALONE!!!!
PS, I will leave my name - Teresa Day - South Boston, VA - Will listen to the Showgram always!!!!
Post a Comment
Return to Facing South's main page