Recent action by the NAACP and New York City council to bury and ban the N word is hypocritical, according to one of the panelists during a Professionals of Color Lecture.
Benjamin Chavis, co-founder of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, said national leaders should place their emphasis on educational reforms. He was among the panelists during “The ‘N’ Word, the ‘B’ Word, and Beyond,” held September 12 in the Kirkhof Center; the event was sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
“To suggest that municipalities and government say don’t talk about this word is hypocrisy,” Chavis said. “To start banning art, music and other expressions does nothing in my view. I’m more interested in changing conditions.”
Author and journalist Joan Morgan agreed and said consumers could play a large role in regulating television and music content, but national groups have been mostly silent.
“You can show anything on the BET Network and there’s no outcry from the public,” she said. Morgan had served as executive editor of Essence and writes about feminism and hip-hop culture for many publications.
Chavis said he works with many rappers who have agreed not to use racial slurs in their music. “With freedom of speech comes freedom of responsibility. Different words mean different things to different people; the caution comes with contextual application,” he said.
The panelists, which included Raymond Winbush, director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University in Maryland, said they hoped discussions about racial slurs continued on campus.
“I’m hoping that GVSU doesn’t see this panel as a temporary thing,” Chavis said. “If we really want to solve this problem, we have to deal with the complexity of it and how that complexity lives itself out in our communities. We cannot let the educational system off the hook.”
AUDIO CLIPS
- Chavis said he believes in freedom of speech and those who criticize use of the 'N' word or 'B' word in hip-hop music should consider its application.
- Chavis said banning certain words does nothing to fight the real problem of racism
- Morgan said banning certain words isn't the answer
- Winbush said dialogue about the use of certain words is just a start in dealing with the real issue of white supremacy.
Raymond Winbush, right, makes a point during the Professionals of Color Lecture September 12 in the Kirkhof Center. Also pictured are Joan Morgan, Benjamin Chavis and moderator Jennifer Moss / Photo by Adam Bird
