Decency vs. censorship

Title: Decency vs. Censorship
Author: Thomosin, Priscilla
Source: New York Amsterdam News; 10/2/2007, vol. 98 issue 41, p17-17, 1/2p
Document Type: Article
Subject Terms: *RACISM in language, *DEBATES & debating, *AFRICAN Americans, *MUSIC trade.
People: MALLORY, Tamika
Abstract: The article reports that the Decency Initiative, directed by human rights activist Tamika Mallory, to place a ban on three offensive words including "n," "b" and "h" has sparked a debate in the music industry. Artists admit that banning the usage of words in a song is considered censorship. According to Mallory, slurs referring to Blacks or women should not be used in recorded music.
Full Text Word Count: 439
ISSN: 0028-7121
Accession Number: 27063591
Database: Academic Search Premier




DECENCY VS. CENSORSHIP

Section: CARIBBEAN UPDATE 2007
An effort to place a ban on three offensive words often used in the music industry has sparked a debate in the community over what is censorship, tasteless and offensive.
In April 2007, Rev. Al Sharpton's organization, the National Action Network, launched their Decency Initiative. The Decency Initiative, which is directed by Tamika Mallory, was created in an effort to wipe out the use of the "n," "b" and "h" words.
The Initiative's efforts to ban those three words immediately erupted into sharp criticism from a few well-known recording artists. Artists' greatest fear is that banning the usage of words in a song is considered censorship.
But Mallory, 27, feels the community is behind the Initiative's effort. "We're not going to let up, because we know we're right and we know there will be people that support us." Presidential candidates Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton have publicly supported the Initiative.
On August 7, the Decency Initiative Committee organized A Day of Outrage through which protests were held across the country to pressure record companies who allow artists to use degrading terms to remove them. People from 20 different cities joined forces to bring attention to the usage of the degrading words. Dozens of people in some states, hundreds in others, came out and supported the effort, which made the event a huge success.
Through extensive research, the Decency Initiative found that in New York State there is $3 billion in investments and pension dollars invested in record companies. This number is about $2 trillion nationally. In New York, the Decency Initiative is supporting divestment legislation sponsored by State Senator Antoine Thompson of Buffalo targeting companies to ban offensive contents from lyrics.
Additionally, the Decency Initiative has found that there are lyric-screening committees in every record company. All song lyrics are screened through these committees before release. Mallory stated, "Racial slurs are not used for other ethnic groups," and believes slurs referring to Blacks or women should not be used in recorded music. The record companies blame the rappers who write the lyrics. Some rappers report that tracks that do not contain offensive language are ignored by the companies.
The ban on offensive words in the industry has been debated by many music critics and music fans alike. Mallory has been quoted as saying the ban wasn't put into place to attack hip hop, but to better the community and the amount of respect shown to one another.
PHOTO (COLOR): Kanye, Diddy, Fitty
PHOTO (COLOR): Tamika Mallory
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By Priscilla Thompson, Special to the AmNews
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