Everything Southern Humboldt and more
Heraldo’s got the details and a few links to my old posts on the topic.
To my knowledge he’s never apologized nor repudiated. Hopefully Nohum can generate a few candlelight vigilers.
Addendum: It’s all heating up very rapidly.
Second addendum: New blog on the subject – Humboldt Against Hate.
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| Forest Queen on Priorities |
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44 comments
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September 30, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Jim
He was cancelled from LA Live, the large new venue in downtown LA, because of his past lyrics and LGBT lobbying (would have sold 5,000 tickets easy). But he is playing here in a smaller reggae club instead.
A couple years ago someone played a couple of the songs that got him in trouble in between sets at Reggae. I complained to PP and didn’t get a response (they always responded to my other complaints). So I pretty much knew where they stood, on top of their prior issues with bringing him and others to sohum. Pretty shameful stuff for people professing peace and love huh? But they aren’t strangers to that either.
As a gay reggae lover, I have conflicts with these issues but somehow work it out and let it go, but have found a few artists who publicly reject this false conflict between sexuality and rastafari.
October 1, 2009 at 8:37 am
Annoyed with the whole thing
He’s a musician not a community leader. So he wrote a stupid song when he was a kid. Why should he continue to pay for a mistake? The people who attend his concert are not going to be swayed by the lyrics to a song he doesn’t even sing anymore. Let it go!
October 1, 2009 at 9:18 am
anon
to annoyed with the whole thing,,,,,THANK YOU…..
October 1, 2009 at 10:00 am
Eric Kirk
If he would renounce the song and pledge to stop singing it, I would be fine. But he’s performed the song to a cheering audience on at least one occasion in the past few years. And just for context, let’s review those lyrics.
Buju Banton – Boom Bye Bye
Boom bye bye
Boom [as in gun sound] goodbye, goodbye [as in we won’t be seeing you again, you’re dead]
Inna batty bwoy head
In a queer’s head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Rude boys don’t promote no queer men
Dem haffi dead
They have to die
Send fi di matic an
Send for the automatic [gun] and
Di Uzi instead
The Uzi instead
Shoot dem no come if we shot dem
Shoot them, don’t come if we shoot them [as in don’t come to help them]
Guy come near we
If a man comes near me
Then his skin must peel
Then his skin must peel [as in pour acid over him]
Burn him up bad like an old tire wheel
Burn him up badly, like you would burn an old tire wheel
With Sohum, there is a little bit of a double standard here. If a country star associated with racist comments were to perform at the Mateel, there would be hell to pay. I don’t know if the difference is that people around here would view homophobia as a lesser issue than racism, or whether a black Jamaican is entitled to more of a benefit of the doubt than a white American. But we’ve had this discussion.
The problem is that there have been homophobic violent incident in Jamaica where young people attacking homosexuals have chanted his lyrics while in action. I’m more than willing to forgive and move on. But Banton has yet to atone for the victims. He may have been young, but he wrote the song and he has a responsibility.
I’m not even asking him to renounce homophobia. That’s obviously too much for him. He simply needs to publicly renounce the violence he called for, so that it doesn’t take more victims in his name. I don’t care how “spiritual” his other songs are. He has to account for his song. It’s not too much to ask.
October 1, 2009 at 10:41 am
Anonymous
nice manipulation of the lyrics there….
The bottom line is that this kind of coverage brings more attention to this song than Buju or his fans promoting it.
move on, people
if you don’t like it, don’t promote it. All the negative press does is bring attention to it
October 1, 2009 at 10:48 am
Eric Kirk
How have the lyrics been manipulated? I will go back and find the source.
And no, silence is not an appropriate response to an unrepudiated call for violence, especially as extreme as this one.
October 1, 2009 at 11:03 am
Eric Kirk
Well, there are some different versions. I’m not sure what they mitigate, but you can read them here.
http://www.jamaicancaves.org/boom-bye-bye-lyrics.html
What I had was excerpts translated, and juxtaposed. For example:
http://www.soulrebels.org/dancehall/u_lyrics_boom1.htm
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=66045152&blogId=510363589
http://www.homosexualagenda.org/bujubanton.html
So other than being pulled out of the larger song, was anything altered?
October 1, 2009 at 11:05 am
Eric Kirk
To avoid any confusion, here is one of several versions around the Internet. The differences between the different versions are minor.
World is in trouble
Anytime Buju Banton come
Batty bwoy get up an run
At gunshot me head back
Hear I tell him now crew
(Its like) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
(Two man) Hitch up on an rub up on
An lay down inna bed
Hug up on another
Anna feel up leg
Send fi di matic an
Di Uzi instead
Shoot dem no come if we shot dem–
Don’t want Jackie
Give dem Paul instead
Dem don’t want di sweetness
Between di leg
Gal bend down backway
An accept di peg
An if it really hot
You know she still naw gon fled
A some man
Still don’t want di
Panty raid
Pure batty business dem love
(Me say) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote the nasty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
(Woman is di) Greatest thing
God ever put pon di land
Buju lovin dem from head
Down to foot bottom
But some man a turn around
Where dem get that from
Peter is not for Janet
Peter is for John
Suzette is not for Paul
Suzette is for Ann
Where the bobocloth
Dem get dat from
Here come the DJ
Name Buju Banton
(Come fi) ((Straighten yuh talk?))
(Boom boom boom) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote the nasty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
Dem haffi dead
(Caw me say) Dis is not an bargain (Me say)
Dis is not a deal
Guy come near we
Then his skin must peel
Burn him up bad like an old tire wheel
gwaan buju banton yuh tough
(Me say) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote the batty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
(Hear what now!)
(Two man) A hug up on an kiss up on
An lay down inna bed
Hug up on another
Anna rub dung leg
Send fi di matic an
Di Uzi instead
Shoot di batty boy come if we shot dem–
Dem don’t want Jackie
Give dem Paul instead
Don’t want di poom poom
Between Patsy leg
All dem want
Is the body from Fred
But dis is Buju Banton
Me say
(Me say) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
Caw woman is the prettiest thing
God ever put pon di land
Put pon di land (Pu-pu-put pon di land)
But some man a turn around
Where dem get dat from
Peter is not for Janet
Peter is for John
Suzette is not for Paul
Suzette is for Ann
Here come di DJ name Buju Banton (Come fi)
Give di massive
Satisfaction
Happy how yuh lovin (Ju fi)
(So just) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
Dem haffi dead
All a di New York crew
Dem no promote Batty man
Jump an dance
Unno push up unno hand
All di Brooklyn girl
Dem no promote batty man
Jump an bogle
Anna wine yuh bottom
Canadian gals dem no like batty man
If yuh are not one
Yuh haffi push up
(Me say) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
Dem haffi dead
[To ensure that this example of homophobia in Jamaica appears well in SE's, we're going to repeat the lyrics below.]
Artist: Buju Banton
Song: Boom Bye Bye
World is in trouble
Anytime Buju Banton come
Batty bwoy get up an run
At gunshot me head back
Hear I tell him now crew
(Its like) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
(Two man) Hitch up on an rub up on
An lay down inna bed
Hug up on another
Anna feel up leg
Send fi di matic an
Di Uzi instead
Shoot dem no come if we shot dem–
Don’t want Jackie
Give dem Paul instead
Dem don’t want di sweetness
Between di leg
Gal bend down backway
An accept di peg
An if it really hot
You know she still naw gon fled
A some man
Still don’t want di
Panty raid
Pure batty business dem love
(Me say) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote the nasty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
(Woman is di) Greatest thing
God ever put pon di land
Buju lovin dem from head
Down to foot bottom
But some man a turn around
Where dem get that from
Peter is not for Janet
Peter is for John
Suzette is not for Paul
Suzette is for Ann
Where the bobocloth
Dem get dat from
Here come the DJ
Name Buju Banton
(Come fi) ((Straighten yuh talk?))
(Boom boom boom) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote the nasty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
Dem haffi dead
(Caw me say) Dis is not an bargain (Me say)
Dis is not a deal
Guy come near we
Then his skin must peel
Burn him up bad like an old tire wheel
gwaan buju banton yuh tough
(Me say) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote the batty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
(Hear what now!)
(Two man) A hug up on an kiss up on
An lay down inna bed
Hug up on another
Anna rub dung leg
Send fi di matic an
Di Uzi instead
Shoot di batty boy come if we shot dem–
Dem don’t want Jackie
Give dem Paul instead
Don’t want di poom poom
Between Patsy leg
All dem want
Is the body from Fred
But dis is Buju Banton
Me say
(Me say) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no nasty man
Dem haffi dead
Caw woman is the prettiest thing
God ever put pon di land
Put pon di land (Pu-pu-put pon di land)
But some man a turn around
Where dem get dat from
Peter is not for Janet
Peter is for John
Suzette is not for Paul
Suzette is for Ann
Here come di DJ name Buju Banton (Come fi)
Give di massive
Satisfaction
Happy how yuh lovin (Ju fi)
(So just) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
Dem haffi dead
All a di New York crew
Dem no promote Batty man
Jump an dance
Unno push up unno hand
All di Brooklyn girl
Dem no promote batty man
Jump an bogle
Anna wine yuh bottom
Canadian gals dem no like batty man
If yuh are not one
Yuh haffi push up
(Me say) Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
Dem haffi dead
Boom bye bye
Inna batty bwoy head
Rude bwoy no promote no batty man
Dem haffi dead
October 1, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Mr. Nice
Yu did a ting fi translate boom bye bye an juxtaposed dem lyrics dat a mek versions.
I don’t think it needs any translation though, dude’s speaking English sort of.
October 2, 2009 at 11:43 am
crazy horse
Thank you Eric. The double standard is alive and well in sohum. Very disturbing.
Your stand against this man’s lyrics is very much appreciated by the gay community.
October 2, 2009 at 4:02 pm
willy
Jim stop spread lies, I know that you lie cuz “A couple years ago someone played a couple of the songs that got him in trouble in between sets at Reggae. ” Their is only one song. You should not speak about what you don’t know.
October 2, 2009 at 4:11 pm
willy
Dear Editor,
After hearing the concerns being raised about Buju Banton by SASOD Guyana, I felt compelled to reach out directly to the Guyanese community to bring an alternate perspective and help clear up the negative propaganda being circulated about a very important artist.
Buju was a mere 15-year-old when he wrote “Boom Bye Bye” in response to a widely publicized man/boy rape case in Jamaica. The song was re-released in 1992 on a popular rhythm, and caused an international uproar after receiving commercial radio play in the states. For the record, it is the only song Buju ever made addressing the topic, and following much public debate back then, gay leaders such as Donald Suggs of GLAAD, decidedly moved on.
Those who have followed Buju Banton’s journey and have actually listened to his collection of works, know of his development into a world-class singer, songwriter and performer who can quietly sell out such prestigious venues as the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York and the Brixton Academy in London. He does not advocate violence. There has never been a shred of violence at any of his live shows. He is one of those rare artists who commonly preach against violence – against all people.
Two years ago, when Buju found himself the target of a new generation of gay activists, he made an artistic decision to incorporate two lines from “Boom Bye Bye” at a show in Miami as a springboard to discuss the enduring persecution he was currently facing because of that age old song. Certain factions of the gay community continue to use it to discredit him in the media, despite the fact that over the past 15 years, Banton and his Shiloh band have played gigs in almost every continent around the globe, and the song has not been a part of the performance.
Buju’s consistently positive messages of peace, love and enlightenment have never been lost in the music. His 1995, Grammy-nominated album ‘Til Shiloh marked a spiritual and musical transformation that yielded such classic narratives as “Untold Stories,” “Wanna Be Loved” and “Murderer,” which personalized the horrific increase in gun crimes in Kingston’s inner city. Grammy-nominated Inna Heights (1997) garnered him numerous comparisons to the late great Bob Marley. Long before Hollywood raised its collective consciousness about Darfur, there was Buju Banton wailing about the genocide taking place in the “Sudan” on 1999′s Unchained Spirit. Both Friends For Life (2003) and the critically acclaimed Too Bad (2006) were also acknowledged with Grammy nods for Best Reggae Album.
Buju’s love for humanity is not just demonstrated in words but also in deeds. Twelve years ago he responded to the AIDS crisis in Jamaica by launching Operation Willy, an organization focused on raising monies for HIV positive babies and children who lost their parents to the disease. For three years he served as a celebrity spokesperson for Upliftment Jamaica, a US-based non-profit committed to working with underprivileged youth back home.
His culturally diverse fan base, which no doubt includes gay people, spans across the Caribbean, North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. For them, Buju Banton is not simply an artist; he is a very necessary voice. Below you’ll find excerpts from various reviews of Buju Banton’s live shows over the past year. Hopefully this sheds some light on the man Buju is today.
Yours faithfully,
Tracii McGregor
President
Gargamel Music, Inc
October 2, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Ed
And in the straight community too.
October 2, 2009 at 8:39 pm
anon
http://humboldtagainsthate.blogspot.com/
October 3, 2009 at 5:53 am
crazy horse
Open Letter to Buju Banton’s Manager Tracii McGregor
Share
Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 11:45am
In your open letter dated September 3, you state that you’re “setting the record straight” on “grossly inaccurate portrayals” of Buju Banton, following the recent cancellation of many of his performances.
You claim, as you have in several media reports, that Banton was only 15-years-old when he wrote the song that glorifies the murder of gay men, “Boom, Bye Bye.”
What you don’t mention is that he and your record label not only continue to profit from the sale of this song, still available for purchase on compilation albums, but that Banton has continued to perform it—in 2006 in Miami, and as recently as 2007 at the Guyana Music Festival. If the song’s “not a call to violence,” as you claim, then what exactly does Banton mean when he sings: “faggots… have to die” and that he will shoot them in the head and “burn them up bad?”
Though it’s disturbing someone so young could have enough rage to write those lyrics, Banton continues to perform and justify it nearly two decades later when he is clearly an adult man. This song is sadly reflective of the anti-gay culture in Jamaica… a culture that Banton helps to sustain through his music; a culture that resulted in the brutal murder of prominent gay Jamaicans in the last five years, including the gay rights campaigner Brian Williamson and the HIV educator Steve Harvey. Indeed, when Williamson’s body was discovered crowds gathered outside his house and started cheering and singing “Boom Bye Bye” in celebration of his killing. This and similar gay-bashing violence led Time magazine to recently ask if Jamaica is “the most homophobic place on Earth.” And it was just a few days ago that a gay British diplomat was murdered in Jamaica, in what many believe was a hate-motivated homophobic killing.
As you know, Banton himself was charged with a gay bashing attack just five years ago, though—under suspicious circumstances—he was acquitted.
While “setting the record straight,” you didn’t mention that in 2007, when some of Banton’s European concerts were threatened with cancellation, he signed the “Reggae Compassionate Act” (under his real name: Mark Myrie) agreeing (among other things) to never perform anti-gay songs. Perhaps you neglected to mention this, because just weeks later, Banton denied he ever signed it and continued to perform “Boom, Bye Bye.”
You cite, as an example of Banton’s “love for humanity,” his support for disadvantaged youth and his creation of a foundation to help HIV-positive babies. “He has spent an entire career making amends,” you say. But curiously, you never mention what he has said or done to atone for more than 18 years of performing a song that glorifies the murder of gay people. The only quote I can find from Baton on the issue is in a Billboard.com news story from three years ago, in which he says of gay rights groups: “Fuck them. I have never bashed any gays before, and if I bashed gays, I bashed them 16 years ago.”
I believe everyone has the potential to let go of whatever rage and hate they may have in their heart. If Banton is truly remorseful for performing “Boom, Bye Bye” and contributing to the anti-gay climate in Jamaica, and publicly vows to never perform the song again, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center would be happy to support an end to the boycott of his concerts.
In fact, while Banton is in the U.S., we’d like to invite him to the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center to meet with us and to sign the Reggae Compassionate Act again. While here, we’d love to talk to him about the impact of hate speech and to meet with some of the homeless LGBT youth who live in our transitional-living program… youth who are victims of a homophobic culture, fostered by songs like “Boom, Bye Bye.”
You say that “our war against one artist” has prevented “a more fruitful discussion that could perhaps effect real change.” The unfortunate truth is that Banton is just one Reggae singer who has glorified the murder of LGBT people and we’ve protested against the others (Capleton, Sizzla, and Beenie Man) as well. The goal, however, has never been to silence artists—it has been to put an end to music that promotes violence against LGBT people. We’d like nothing more than to have a fruitful discussion that will result in the end of such music. Will you and Buju Banton take us up on this offer, Ms. McGregor?
Lorri L. Jean, CEO
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
October 3, 2009 at 7:57 am
willy
YES HUMBOLDT LETS ALL GET TOGETHER AND THROUGH HATE AT HATE!
ITS THE ONLY WAY, YEAH I THINK HE HATES US SO YEAH WE SHOULD HATE HIM THAT MAKES IT RIGHT ,RIGHT? I MEAN OUR HATE IS LESS HATE THEN HIS.
October 3, 2009 at 9:42 am
Jim
Willy,
How dare you call me a liar. I know what I heard, I heard boob bye bye, with all the bawty boy bull shit included.
I might have been exaggerating that it was more than one song, it was just the one.
How does that make it acceptable again?
Your rationalization makes no sense whatsoever.
If Buju was really all about “peace, love and enlightenment” then he would never have brought the song up in Miami. He isn’t being persecuted, he is being legitimately pointed out and called on for his continual use and refusal to reject the homophobic lyrics he championed. He isn’t being called out for being black or rasta, so this isn’t persecution. The fact that his concerts in Jamaica have become gay killing mobs due to incitement from his lyrics shows how far he, rasta and Jamaica have to come in order to be part of the true christian world, where acceptance and love conquer all.
Obviously any intelligent conversation about this topic is beyond you, as your reaction to my comments and experience show.
In the words of Niyorah (anti-gay bashing reggae artist) “fire pon Fiya” “burn negativity”. One can champion the sacred relationship between men and women without gay bashing or bringing others down.
I think Lori got it spot on.
October 3, 2009 at 9:57 am
willy
ok i found another artist that should be banned.
Percy Sledge – When A Man Loves A Woman Lyrics
Download RingtoneSend “When A Man Loves A Woman” Ringtone to Your CellDownload Ringtone
When a man loves a woman
Can’t keep his mind on nothing else
He’ll trade the world
For the good thing he’s found
If she’s bad he can’t see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he put her down
When a man loves a woman
Spend his very last dime
Tryin’ to hold on to what he needs
He’d give up all his comfort
Sleep out in the rain
If she said that’s the way it ought to be
Well, this man loves a woman
I gave you everything I had
Tryin’ to hold on to your precious love
Baby, please don’t treat me bad
When a man loves a woman
Down deep in his soul
She can bring him such misery
If she plays him for a fool
He’s the last one to know
Lovin’ eyes can’t ever see
When a man loves a woman
He can do no wrong
He can never own some other girl
Yes when a man loves a woman
I know exactly how he feels
‘Cause baby, baby, baby, you’re my world
When a man loves a woman…..
October 3, 2009 at 9:59 am
willy
so as you might have figured i like buju and no I’m not anti gay.
I dont agree with alot of things that people say but i do know that it is their right to say whatever and it is peoples choice to believe what they wish
October 3, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Eric Kirk
Well, people maybe feel a little differently when the hatred is aimed at them. Certainly I agree that Banton has the right to say what he wants. But then, we also have the right to respond the way we want.
October 3, 2009 at 1:13 pm
willy
well said Erik
October 3, 2009 at 1:21 pm
mresquan
His shows have been protested by activists for years.Has he ever taken the time to address them and clear up any misconceptions they have of him,and the song?Seems like a simple thing to do if one has atoned for his words and views.
October 3, 2009 at 1:42 pm
suzy blah blah
How dare you call me a liar. I know what I heard, I heard boob bye bye,
OMG! i didn’t realize buju was anti-tits. Does that also mean he’s pro-amazon?
October 3, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Eric Kirk
Nope. His only responses I’m aware of are >”fuck-em” and “It’s racism man,” the latter quote coming from a local who overheard him on the night of the Mateel concert.
October 3, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Eric Kirk
You know, I really want to understand the Banton defenders here. But the more I research this, the more I think this whole thing is really screwed up. Why is anyone progressive feeding this guy money?
In this video he sings the song and interjects, “there is no end to the war between me and faggots” to a cheering audience. Please stop with the “he’s so spiritual” crap. Other Reggae artists with similar backgrounds don’t carry it this far. There is no excuse for it.
October 3, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Eric Kirk
Lots more videos through this link.
http://cancelbujubanton.wetpaint.com/
October 4, 2009 at 6:06 am
willy
erik Buju has a s much right to believe in what ever he wants as you have as much right to have this blog, its a free country and you should know that more than anyone
October 4, 2009 at 7:36 am
Eric Kirk
I agree.
October 4, 2009 at 10:05 am
DJ red Rasta
dosent anyone realize that Buju Made up that story about righting the song when he was fifteen after his concerts in europe were cancled, kind of conveiniant dont you think, and after he could not get the shows back he recinded his apology, and dont dis jamaica or rastas on this its one person, granted the culture in jamaica disaproves of homosexuality, but there is a major difference between disaproving and calling for the killing of gays, granted buju is a wonderful artist with a great catalog of music, but he keeps hiding behind the lies and wont man up. I say get him out we dont need that S^%$ here in humboldt , we already have enough young dumb impresionable kids in this county that already have not only racist behavior but also homophobic is this what we want to teach our youth.
October 4, 2009 at 11:07 am
Jim
After seeing that video Erik, I think I might just go and protest his small show here in LA.
I had thought he put most of this stuff away a few years ago after the EU cancellations, but obviously he is still trying to pick a fight, so I’ll bring it to him.
October 4, 2009 at 11:08 am
Mitch Trachtenberg
Hi willy,
I haven’t understood a lot of the comments that purport to defend Banton. But I’m especially mystified by your post of “When a Man Loves a Woman.”
Which is the line that you think is comparable to, and I’m just paraphrasing here, “kill him with an Uzi.” Is it “please don’t treat me bad”?
October 4, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Shane Brinton
Does he really have the right to say whatever he wants? It is questionable whether or not he actually has a right to advocate violence. My understanding is that hate speech is only protected up until the point that it becomes advocacy for violent action. He can say all kinds of mean things about gay people, but when he starts advocating murder, he’s venturing into potentially criminal territory.
If this song targeted members of congress, the FBI would probably get involved, and for good reason. His advocacy of violence against gays and lesbians shouldn’t be viewed any differently. If he sings “Boom Bye Bye” in Eureka, law enforcement should be called.
October 4, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Eric Kirk
It’s been awhile since I’ve read up on First Amendment law, but under the old “clear and present danger” standard he might have had some trouble if he was to sing it to an audience deemed likely to act on the lyrics.
The standards of the 60s cases, in particular the case against Berkeley activist Dan Siegel, have tightened it up even more. He made a speech in which he told his audience, “someone ought to burn down the ROTC building.” That night, the ROTC building was burned down by persons unknown – he was not present. The case against him was defeated on the basis that his statement was clearly hyperbole. His words were not contemporaneous with the act, and he did not state a date and time for the act. That someone might act on his hyperbole at some unknown point of time cannot be the basis for either preventing him from speaking or convicting him criminally after the fact.
I think the case against Banton even if he was to sing the song would be weaker, unless someone in the crowd was attacked right there, and probably only if he directed the specific action against the specific individual.
October 4, 2009 at 4:28 pm
willy
Mitch It seems like if we look hard enuff we can find something someone doesn’t like in any song, Its sad to think that people today would live their lives by what a performer sings or does in a movie ( and yes thats a joke too)
have a good one Mitch
October 4, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Eric Kirk
You just don’t get it willy. It’s not about aesthetic tastes. The song calls for violent attacks on homosexuals. Some people take things like that personally, especially when the song is chanted during those attacks.
October 4, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Shane Brinton
The question is whether singing “Boom, Bye Bye” encourages behavior that represents an “imminent” threat to the lives of LGBT people.
Whether or not certain kinds of violent or dangerous speech are constitutionally protected depends on circumstances and location. As I’ve heard it explained, yelling “fire” in a crowded building isn’t protected speech, but yelling it outside in an empty parking lot probably is.
If Mr. Banton wants to sing “Boom, Bye Bye” to himself while he’s in the shower, that’s none of the government’s business. However, when he sings it in the presence of a significant number of people, it isn’t so clear to me that the First Amendment applies.
It is common knowledge that a significant portion of the population is not heterosexual. It is also common knowledge that there are many people who are intolerant of LGBT people. It is likely that both will be present in almost any large crowd of concertgoers.
Therefore, as I see it, the singing of “Boom, Bye Bye” in such an environment could pose an imminent danger to the lives of LGBT members of the audience, or those who are perceived to be LGBT.
I don’t know whether any judge would agree with this argument, but it makes sense to me.
October 4, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Eric Kirk
As I’ve heard it explained, yelling “fire” in a crowded building isn’t protected speech, but yelling it outside in an empty parking lot probably is.
That was Oliver Wendel Holmes elaborating on his “clear and present danger” test. It’s not clear whether it would stand up today’s standards. For criminal conviction I’m pretty sure intent would be required. For preemptive prohibition the standard might be lower, but I think it would have to be less speculative. There are First Amendment scholars who argue that you should be allowed to yell fire in a movie house precisely because the prohibition is premised upon the assumption that you are responsible for another person’s behavior, the theory being that you are entitled to say what you want and your freedom should not be limited by another individual’s action, speculative or real. You are responsible for you, and they are responsible for them.
The counterargument is that there are certain defects in human nature which are predictable and if a reasonable mind can predict them then you should be prohibited from exploiting those weaknesses in human nature to your own ends when they are harmful. But this assumes we lack free will, and the question is whether a legal system premised on the notion of a lack of free will should hold individuals responsible for any behavior.
The philosophical debate among left libertarians is whether such prohibition is consistent with John Stuart Mills’ concept of utilitarianism, and your perspective is probably congruent with your assumptions about human nature.
October 4, 2009 at 8:07 pm
anon
you know, i dont care for Buju,but i have to ask,how come i havent seen this much anger here in humbolt vented towards the right wing hate mongers?male and female,who are stirring up much more hate and violence against not only people of color,but gays as well?WHEN ONE IF FREE..WE ARE ALL FREE
October 4, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Eric Kirk
How many of those right wingers have been invited to the Mateel Community Center to perform a concert?
October 5, 2009 at 8:26 am
anon
RESPECT,, I AM A RASTAFARIAN,,LIVING IN HUMBOLT..I RESPECT EVERYONE;S RIGHT TO LIVE,GAY,STRAIGHT,WHITE,BLACK,PURPLE WITH BLUE DOTS,ALL HAVE A GOD;S GIVEN RIGHT TO LIVE..THOSE WHO PREACH HATRED OF ANOTHER;S SEX,RACE,ECT CANNOT BE TOLERATED..NOT ONLY DOES THIS REFER TO ANY ARTIST,BUT ALSO INCLUDES ANYONE WHO PREACHES AND OR CONDONES VIOLENCE…FREEDOM,TRUTH AND JUSTICE APPLIES TO ALL, NOT JUST ONE RACE,SEX,ECT..RESPECT TO ALL
October 5, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Buju Banton concert reported canceled « Sohum Parlance II
[...] October 5, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: gay rights, homophobia Carol made the right decision. The opposition was going to be considerably more aggressive than the Sohum opposition last time around, and there have been a few more revelations since then which do not put Banton in a favorable light. While his fellow artists have signed pledges against homophobic lyrics he was talking about his endless “war” with homosexuals and actually denying that he signed the document (leading to much speculation as to who forged his signature). If you haven’t done so, you can read about it in the thread below. [...]
December 31, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Sohum Parlance’s top 10 topics in 2009 – local stories « Sohum Parlance II
[...] 8. Buju’s return – several posts on this blog and several other blogs with heated discussions about homophobic violence, censorship, the rights of partyers, whether spirituality mitigates bigotry, People Productions, etc. It ended a bit differently than a couple of years ago when Banton played at the Mateel. The gay rights activists of the north county were apathetic to the politics which governed the dynamics down here and aggressively protested – spearheaded by Mitch Trachtenberg who told me (paraphrasing) “I felt we were making progress with the more traditional sources of bigotry only to find ourselves blindsided by the dreadlocked young people I thought were on my our side!” The show was set to take place in Eureka, but was ultimately canceled. [...]
October 19, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Finally, a pro-gay rights reggae song! « Sohum Parlance II
[...] 19, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: gay rights, music | by Eric Kirk During the last Buju Banton flap I scoured the Internet looking for a gay positive reggae song and came up empty. People told me [...]
November 25, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Murder Music – again « Sohum Parlance II
[...] The debate is already raging. So far I haven’t seen anybody go on about how “spiritual” Capleton is, which was the mantra heard for Buju’s visits. [...]