Radio Station’s ‘Hoe’ Promotion

I never cease to be amazed by the hypocrisy of comments such as those printed in “Outraged by ‘Black Hoe’ Radio Promotion” [Letters, Aug. 15].

Radio promotions are designed to attract attention. They often use the latest “hip” fascination that appeals to the lowest common denominator.

Have those who are so outraged by that promotion ever thought how the term “ ‘ho’ ” ever became so notoriously popular? Have they heard, or perhaps purchased, any rap recordings within the last 10 years? No other group lately has done more to humiliate, marginalize and degrade women and minorities than the rappers.

What other group over the centuries has glorified rape by enshrining it in the mass-distributed lyrics? More importantly, who patronizes the “decent and compassionate” beings who produce and perform rap by bestowing upon them fame and fortune? Why is KLOS being denounced as racist for promoting the same thing that the rap stations have been successfully selling for years?

MICHAEL JAMES

Huntington Beach

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After reading the letters I was shocked that someone would equate a sexist, discriminatory plastic gardening tool to the gas chamber, where millions of people died.

The crime Walt Disney Co. committed has little to do with the promotion. “The Mark & Brian Show” has regularly made fun of every race, creed and color over its 15-plus years on the air (including the Pope).

The crime (as with all of the high-profile discrimination cases of late) was committed when KLOS management failed to handle the complaint properly.

DAVID BRANT

West Los Angeles

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I am personally amused by the “outrage” expressed in the letters. Frankly, the original article [“Disney Station Accused of Racial Discrimination,” Aug. 7], coupled with the letters, merely illustrate to me that the no one has taken any particular notice of the “Mark and Brian” show that conducted that particular marketing effort.

It occurred to me that their show could be advertised quite accurately as “Morons in the Morning.” Then too, so could the morning disk jockeys on KROQ as well as Howard Stern. The Morons in the Morning are addressing their specific demographics, which I understand to be white, male and ages 15 to 25. Consequently, the typical fare of the day is locker room humor replete with references to sexual activities, bodily functions and homophobic jokes. Crass locker room humor on the airwaves has been the format for years, and, if you bother to remember the promotions of the morning teams over time, it is a successful format for the radio station.

I don’t like it personally, so I change the radio station. Unfortunately, my ability to change the radio station is not matched with the ability to alter the nature of the Los Angeles radio market that makes such a format a well-received and sound business venture on the behalf of the radio station.

WILLIAM C. SIAS

Glassell Park