FCC considering banning Redskins name

[bedstuy]

The Redskins should definitely change their name, but I've never heard of the FCC doing anything this drastic before. Probably not a good precedent to be setting, from a liberal standpoint. Wouldn't there be First Amendment issues at work?

The FCC regulates obscene language on broadcast television based on the fact that broadcasters use the public airways.  That's the logic that they use to regulate the use of swear words, nudity, etc.  You could argue that the FCC's policy on swear words is actually unconstitutional in general and I would agree actually.

But, if you regulate the f-word and the n-word, the racial slur "redskin" could easily fall into that category.

[bedstuy]

But, if you regulate the f-word and the n-word, the racial slur "redskin" could easily fall into that category.

Does the FCC actually ban the use of the n-word?  I've definitely seen it used on cable networks, but don't remember hearing it used on any of the broadcast networks since the 80s.  But I assumed that was just self-censorship.

Are there any other ethnic slurs (as opposed to swear words like f--k and s--t) banned by the FCC?

The FCC doesn't ban words.  They ban profane language which would include someone using the n-word in many contexts, so yes.  Certainly, you could use the n-word in a historical film or documentary, but it would be profane in other contexts.

[bedstuy]

But, if you regulate the f-word and the n-word, the racial slur "redskin" could easily fall into that category.

Does the FCC actually ban the use of the n-word?  I've definitely seen it used on cable networks, but don't remember hearing it used on any of the broadcast networks since the 80s.  But I assumed that was just self-censorship.

Are there any other ethnic slurs (as opposed to swear words like f--k and s--t) banned by the FCC?

I know for a fact that Weezie said "n please" several times on The Jeffersons (always to George and always with a huge positive reaction from the live crowd) and I'm fairly certain it was used on Good Times and All in the Family as well.

Yeah, I know.  It was definitely used on broadcast television as late as the 80s, but I can't think of any examples after that.

Years ago, weren't there some broadcast stations that ran reruns of South Park late at night?  How would they have handled "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson"?

OK.  But, as I said, it's not a list of specific words that the FCC bans.  Here's their definition of profane language.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

The n-word can be about as offensive as any word in the dictionary, depending on the context. And, I also don't think these rules apply to late night TV anyway.

[bedstuy]

But, if you regulate the f-word and the n-word, the racial slur "redskin" could easily fall into that category.

Does the FCC actually ban the use of the n-word?  I've definitely seen it used on cable networks, but don't remember hearing it used on any of the broadcast networks since the 80s.  But I assumed that was just self-censorship.

Are there any other ethnic slurs (as opposed to swear words like f--k and s--t) banned by the FCC?

The FCC doesn't ban words.  They ban profane language which would include someone using the n-word in many contexts, so yes.  Certainly, you could use the n-word in a historical film or documentary, but it would be profane in other contexts.

I don't see how they could justify that in the context of "redskin." It may be a slur, but when sports programs and the like mention the name of the team, they aren't slurring Native Americans. If you consider that to be a slur, then there's no way you could prohibit this "slurring" without banning use of the word entirely.

No, I think generally the FCC actually prefers when there is a contextual reason to use a profane word.  So, you can't use a lack of intent to harm or offend as a reason why you can use a certain word.  Really, the subjective intent not to offend is pretty much immaterial.  It's about whether members of the public would generally find the use of the word offensive.  We can argue about that, but it's certainly an offensive word to many people.

But again, in my opinion, it is a violation of the First Amendment for the FCC to regulate profanity.  There are a few areas where you can restrict speech, like libel, obscenity, the fire in the crowded theater scenario.  But, I don't think the government has any business restricting profanity.