The First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech.” Does this Amendment nullify one’s human right to go about their day with being the target of negative epithets? Does it allow people to hang nooses if they feel like it or allow a teacher to impose his own opinion to the students? I agree with Charles Lawrence when he wrote that “A minority student should not have to risk becoming the target of racially assaulting speech every time he or she chooses to walk across campus” (pg 57). People go to school to become educated not to be harassed. In this essay I will argue for the regulation of certain speeches specifically speech that undermines or that is purposely used to hurt someone else.
Charles Lawrence wrote an essay suggesting that the best way to get over racism is by allowing people to speak openly about; no matter how offensive it may be. I completely disagree with this idea. For example in 2007 a Caucasian High School boy decided to hang nooses in a tree where African American students had sat the day before. There were several complaints put in by African American students and nothing was done. It was written off as a prank. I’m sure that the sight of nooses wasn’t anything but a prank to those of African descent. I am offended by the act and resolution and am not even with the race that is typically associated with lynching. This is only one incident in a high school student; imagine what would happen if everything were a fair game. Making it okay for people to say exactly what they think will set us back and provoke more racial conflict. “Racial insults are particularly undeserving of the First Amendment protection because the perpetrators intention is not to discover truth or to initiate dialogue but to injure the victim” (pg 56). For example, I have experience an incident during my high school years. Hispanics and African American were rioting for what they have been taught and what they have...