Synopses & Reviews
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.
Review
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
Review
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
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [167]-182) and index.
About the Author
LAURENCE R. MARCUS is a professor in the Educational Administration Department of Rowan College.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction: Hateful Speech at Kean College
A Changing America
The Affirmative Action Debate
Identity Politics, Multiculturalism, and Political Correctness
Campus Climate
Regulating Speech on Campus
Dealing with Hate Speech
Index