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Spehntm Spotlight Page 2
Censorship?
Tame la Newbold
On October 25, 1990, a forum on
censorship was held in the LLCII
conference room. Well over one
hundred students from the AUC came
to hear the panelists’ views and share
their own in this Living and Learning
sponsored program.
Much of the conflict concerning
music censorship stems from the mid
summer case in which a Florida federal
judge ruled that the lyrics on the
Miami rap group 2 Live Crew’s album
"As Nasty As They Wanna Be" were
obscene.
This, the first ruling of its kind -
ironically against an African-American
group led to the banning of 2 Live
Crew’s album in Florida and other parts
of the country.
There was much controversy as
many people began to wonder why this
group was being singled out for
censorship when so many others had
lyrics equally or more offensive. Many
also debated who and what could deem
a song or other work of art obscene.
The lyrics of about four rap
artists/musical groups were presented in
the forum. They were BBD, 2 Live
Crew, The Ghetto Boys, and Ice Cube.
The panel consisted of Hal Lamar,
a DJ from the popular Atlanta radio
station V1Q3; poet, lecturer, and
essayist Pearl Cleage, a 1972 Spelman
graduate teaching at Spelman . this
semester; and Nelson George.
Each presented very different views
on the issue of censorship, although all
agreed that censorship should not be
allowed.
Hal Lamar based his argument on
the premise that censorship starts in the
home. He stated that he wouldn’t want
his children listening to the lyrics of
many songs on the market today.
Moreover, he disparaged the
misogynistic lyrics in these songs,
saying that they are not a good
message to pass on to the next
generation.
Lamar ended his argument by
stating that if we educate our children
against the negative ideas such as those
presented by these artists and others,
the] /ill have no audience for which
they can present these views.
Pearle Cleage, the second panelist,
also began by stating her hatred for the
misogynistic lyrics of the groups being
discussed. Her stance on these lyrics
is that they are debilitating to African
American male/female relationships.
Cleage also attacked the labeling
of this music as "art". She questioned
the artistic value of a male bragging
about the rape of a black woman
(Ghetto Boys) or of a male wanting to
physically abuse the women carrying
his child (Ice Cube).
She feels that the treatment of
black women as ignorant objects is
wrong and questions the morals and
values of those black men who choose
to listen to such lyrics. She asked how
black men would feel if black women
listened to and defended lyrics by
white men speaking of violence
directed toward black men.
She urges all black women to take
a stand and refuse to listen to or be
around those who listen to such music.
This would produce a community -
induced censorship, not one in which
white society tells us what we can or
cannot listen to.
The third panelist, Nelson George,
represented a bipartisan view of the
issue. He djdn’t think the lyrics being
discussed reflected a positive outlook
for the community, but he supported
many of the groups.
In reference to the lyrics presented
by rapper Ice Cube, George replied that
despite the song and others by Ice
Cube that discuss violence toward
females, the rapper’s work as a whole
has much artistic value since he raps
about many subjects, not just violence
against females.
However, when discussing 2 Live
Crew, George had nothing but negative
things to say. He blasted the group
and their music, stating that they had
no artistic value and could never be
compared with other, more venerable
groups.
Overall, George supports the music
of some groups, overlooking their
misogynistic lyrics, and blasts other
groups because of it.
All panelists agreed that no music,
regardless of the lyrics lack of artistic
value, should be subject to censorship.
They all felt that while blatantly
refuting our constitutional rights of
freedom of expression, censorship is
another racist tool used by white
America to control the minds of
African-Americans.
Student response showed a general
agreement with panelists. Most
negative remarks were in regard to the
disparate views of Nelson George.
One Morehouse student from
Miami, Fla. stated that we cannot
negatively review the music since we
are not all familiar with the
environment from whence these rappers
relay their experiences.
He felt that these, rappers were
speaking of "Their truth about black
life - life in the streets, in the ghetto."
A Spelman student, in remarking
that the music does not offend her,
stated "I listen to these groups for
pleasure, and I like to dance to the
beat."
The overall message of the forum
was that it is up to the individual to
choose. Censorship is not the answer -
- discretion is!!!
THEMB/TOPIOSPONSOR
Thanksgiving Rally
kwanza Celebration
for speakers and dates,
CAU Student Killed
Test Your Wit...
By Delicia Ballard
Early Sunday at about 12:30 a.m.,
two students from the Atlanta
University Center were attacked during
a robbery attempt. One was shot and
killed, the other pistol-whipped.
The murder victim was Duane
Goodman, a 19-year-old, second
semester freshman from Clark Atlanta
University. Police officials stated that
the robbery attempt occurred in front
of 136 Vine Street near the E.L. Simon
Courts. The two students were leaving
from a friend’s dorm to go to the Vine
City Marta Station when two men in a
car stopped to ask for directions and
latet»*returned to rob them.
During the attack, Goodman’s 21-
year-old companion was hit in the face
with a gun by one of the robbers. His
identity is being concealed to protect
him from possible retribution.
This incident has incited rage
among CAU students. The university
held a forum for the students to vent
their grievances about the inadequate
security on the campus. The security
box located at the Simon Courts, 40
feet away from the incident, was
unpatrolled. President Thomas Cole is
working on a plan to get more money
for security on the CAU campus.
Other similar incidents have been
reported in the AUC lately. Police
officials are urging students to travel in
groups, stay off the streets at night and
always be cautious.
There was a memorial service for
Duane Goodman Tuesday, Nov. 13, in
the CAU auditorium. At press time, a
17-year-old dropout was charged with
the murder of the student.
by Patrice PHnce
Assistant to the Dean of Students
Ms. Prince is the adviser/coach
for the 1991 Campus All-Star
Challenge.
Campus All-Star Challenge was
highlighted last Thursday, Oct. 18, on
the NBC-TV Network sitcom, "A
Different World." Campus All-Star
Challenge is a question and answer
academic quiz bowl for historically
black colleges and universities.
Spelman students are encouraged to
form teams and sign
up during the specified dates and times.
Campus All-Star Challenge is a
game of broad knowledge and quick
recall. Based on the popular game
College Bowl, Campus All-Star
Challenge features teams of four
players competing in head-to-head
competition to score points by
answering Toss-Up and Bonus
questions.
The questions cover every
conceivable topic from literature,
science, history, current events,
religion, philosophy, art, mythology,
music and drama, to sports and movies.
African and African-American history,
achievements, and culture will be well-
represented in the question areas.
Students who want to play in the
Campus Tournament may sign up at
Suite 210, Manley Center, Office of
Student Affairs between 10:00 a.m. and
4:00 p.m. from Nov. 13 - 19. Teams
should consist of four students and an
alternate.
The Campus Tournament is the
first leg on the road to the official
Campus All-Star Challenge National
Championship Tournament. Sixty-six
schools are competing in Campus All-
Star Challenge this year. The Sectional
Play-offs are scheduled for Feb. 15 -
17, 1991. Spelman will be competing
against Morehouse, Clark-Atlanta
University, Morris Brown, Tuskegee,
and Florida A&M at Spelman College.
The top four schools from each
Sectional will meet at the National
Championship Tournament, in
Washington, D.C., where teams are
competing for a share of over $125,000
in grant money for Spelman College.
Each school will win at least $1,000.
The National Champions will win a
grant of $50,000 for their school. The
grant money will be used for a student
scholarship fund.
If you are interested in appearing
on Black Entertainment Television
(BET), and participating in one of the
hottest "sports" on campus, then come
out and play! Put together a team
today!! Individuals may also sign up,
and will be matched with other players.
If you want to help with the Sectional
Play-Offs, which will be hosted at
Spelman College on February 15 - 17,
contact me, Patrice Prince in
the office of Student Affairs.