What Rush Limbaugh’s Death Means for Black People
He Expanded What Was Possible to Say or Do
Rush Limbaugh, whether wittingly or unwittingly, was the architect. Give him credit where it’s due; he was the Messiah for right-wing media. He begat Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, and every other wannabe radio or television star of political discourse. His formula was copied or slightly altered by dozens who learned to profit from hate, with Black people often being the target.
I’m not here to stomp on the man’s grave. This story won’t be a recitation of his racism, misogyny, or homophobia. All that is well documented, and you either are well aware of it or won’t ever believe it. I will give him credit for carving out a niche in radio and on television that hadn’t previously been exploited. He had the first show of his kind to be syndicated and created a whole market where none existed, though his fan base harboring the feelings he cultivated had always existed.
Rush Limbaugh was a genius at marketing himself, and it didn’t matter if it was at the expense of others. He made fun of Democratic politicians who were fair game, but he took it farther, teaching his legions of followers to hate people for who they supported, what they believed, and for their color.
