Taylor Bell’s rap song is poetry, not crime Newswise — The case of Taylor Bell, a Mississippi high school student disciplined for posting online a rap song about sexual misconduct of the school’s coaches has drawn national attention. This week a number of high profile hip-hop artists – including Killer Mike, Big Boi and T.I. – signed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to hear the case on First Amendment grounds. Travis Gosa, an assistant professor of Africana Studies at Cornell University, coauthored the brief – which includes a historical review of hip-hop as a tool to decrease violence, mobilize urban youth, and to improve public education. Gosa says that Bell’s rap-song should be treated as a form of poetry, not as evidence of criminality. Bio: www.asrc.cornell.edu/people/gosa.cfm Gosa says: “Increasingly, defendant-authored rap lyrics and the consumption of ‘gangsta rap’ music are being used in legal proceedings as evidence of criminality. Because almost all the cases involve young men of color, the criminalization of rap music raises important questions about racial bias in the justice system. “The Taylor Bell case highlights the potential chilling effect on free speech, art, and political dissent. Bell’s rap song ‘PSK Da Truth’ should be treated as a form of poetry that served as an important vehicle for social commentary and political protest. “By making a song calling out sexual harassment of female students at his school, Bell acted as a whistle blower.” For interviews contact:Rebecca ValliO: 607-255-7701M: 607-793-1025[email protected]
Linda GlaserO: 607-255-8942M: 973-650-8172[email protected] Cornell University has television, ISDN and dedicated Skype/Google+ Hangout studios available for media interviews.
RSS