Fighting Words: The Politics of Hateful Speech

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

This intriguing book reflects on the conditions on college campuses that give rise to words and acts of hate, on the consequences of these episodes, and on strategies intended to improve intergroup harmony. Using the speech given by Nation of Islam spokesperson Khalid Abdul Muhammad at Kean College in 1993, the book begins with a consideration of the societal trends affecting today's college student, including the increasing economic uncertainty that characterizes their future and the hostility and fragmentation that characterizes their present. Attitudinal changes have proven to be widespread, as more Americans have begun to view the world through the lenses of political, social, and economic self-interest, calling prevailing equity policy into question and giving new life to identity politics. Since issues of affirmative action, multiculturalism, and political correctness are at the core of the national debate and command the attention of college students, each is addressed in detail. A discussion of what prompted Kean students to invite Muhammad follows a consideration of the current status of intergroup relations on campuses across the nation. This examination covers the inescapable conclusion that, despite the desires of most students for positive relations with people of other groups, there are serious gaps to be bridged.

Reviews

"Fighting Words presents an important challenge to America's higher education leadership. Either develop constructive, non-pejorative means to discuss and explore issues of race and racism on college campuses and in American society, or expect students to act upon their socially conditioned racial antagonisms in a way that will shatter the presumed serenity of academic environments. Kudos to Marcus for bringing this unpleasant little secret into the light of day."-William B. Harvey, Dean School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
An extended history of racism is followed by an analysis of the affirmative action debate; other chapters deal at length with such issues as college speech codes. The analysis...is certainly extensive: Marcus strings together...pages of quotes and statistics, occasionally pausing for interpolations. Using as his model the disruption caused at Kean college in 1993 by a speech by Nation of Islam's Khalid Abdul Muhamad, Marcus then looks at what colleges should and should not do to reduce hate speech.-Kirkus Reviews
While Marcus suggests that it may be possible to tighten regulations to combat campus hate speech, he also argues that it is more important to prevent such expressions by promoting racial harmony. To pursue such goals, he proposes, colleges might aim to perform a "human relations audit," a report (as done at some corporations) on race relations.-Publishers Weekly
"While Marcus suggests that it may be possible to tighten regulations to combat campus hate speech, he also argues that it is more important to prevent such expressions by promoting racial harmony. To pursue such goals, he proposes, colleges might aim to perform a "human relations audit," a report (as done at some corporations) on race relations."-Publishers Weekly
"An extended history of racism is followed by an analysis of the affirmative action debate; other chapters deal at length with such issues as college speech codes. The analysis...is certainly extensive: Marcus strings together...pages of quotes and statistics, occasionally pausing for interpolations. Using as his model the disruption caused at Kean college in 1993 by a speech by Nation of Islam's Khalid Abdul Muhamad, Marcus then looks at what colleges should and should not do to reduce hate speech."-Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

LAURENCE R. MARCUS is a professor in the Educational Administration Department of Rowan College. He has previously held positions at the New Jersey Department of Higher Education, Stockton State College in New Jersey, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he received his doctorate. His book, The Great Educational Debate: Washington and the Schools (coauthored by Benjamin D. Stickney), was honored by Choice as a 1985-86 Outstanding Academic Book.