The following was sent to Queer Humboldt on Monday by Carol Bruno, confirming the cancellation:
Greetings,
This email is to confirm that after lengthy consideration, Gil and myself decided that we will cancel the upcoming Buju Banton concert at the Nocturnum Nightclub scheduled for the October 11th, 2009. We have been diligently speaking with the management and various activists over the past two weeks in an effort to help establish a dialogue for discussions. We care about our local gay community. Buju did issue a statement today that we have forwarded to you today, but it doesn’t change our decision. We will continue towards positive, constructive solutions.
We regret any inconveniences this has caused to our community.
from
Carol Bruno/ People Productions
Gil Miracle/ Nocturnum
From Gil Miracle:
An open letter to the LGBT community, other Allies, and Humboldt County at large,
The past week has been very difficult for me, both personally and professionally. I have endured hateful attacks on my character and my family and friends have been drawn into the war of words. I would like to state unequivocally that I always have been and always will be an ally to the LGBT community and it hurts me to think that, due to this proposed event, public perception might be otherwise.
Carol Bruno, of People Productions, and I assumed that the controversy that has surrounded this performer in the past was just that – in the past. Unfortunately we found that these tensions have not been eased and the pain is still all too visceral. For this reason, we have jointly decided to cancel the scheduled performance and we encourage the community to continue the dialogue that has begun. As a new business in a struggling economy it is worth noting that this decision does not come without a painful financial cost.
I want to thank the concerned citizens who sent me thoughtful, intelligent and eloquent messages illustrating their point of view. In a fractured world it is encouraging to see our community, gay, straight, or otherwise, coalesce around themes of unity, love and equality. I am proud to be a member of this community and I am thankful for the response my business has received in the six short months we have been operating.
Please feel free to send any further correspondence to the email address below. I hope to see all of you at future events at Nocturnum.
Sincerely,
Gil Miracle
Nocturnum
High Art Productions
gilmiracle@sbcglobal.net
Buju’s management sent out this press release last night:
Buju Banton’s Rasta Got Soul US Tour A Success
NEW YORK, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ — Gargamel Music, Inc. is pleased to report that over 15,000 fans have already witnessed the magic of Jamaican music icon, Buju Banton’s Rasta Got Soul US Tour…
This week, the [tour] rolls into Colorado for two shows and then dips over to California, where the four-time Grammy-nominated artist, along with opening acts Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage, Nikki Burt and Angel Shalome, will play seven dates, before moving on… Despite the ongoing smear campaign against Banton, promoters are already calling it the biggest selling Reggae tour of the year. Buju would like to thank the promoters, venues and especially the fans for their amazing show of support at this time. To the detractors, he offers the following statement:
“Throughout my travels as an artist, I have witnessed first hand the senseless atrocities being suffered by innocent people around the world and my heart goes out to them. I do not condone violence against anyone, including gays, and I have spent my career rallying against violence and injustice through music. At this point, I can only hope that my body of work speaks for itself and that anyone still offended by the lyrics of my youth will take the time to explore my catalog or come to one of my shows before reducing my character and entire musical repertoire to a single song.”
This article appears in Growing Pain.
That is ridiculous….makes me want to live somewhere else(even tho i never would)….Respect to Buju and his ENTIRE body of work!!!….ignorant fools…educated fools…why you haffa block dis show???Cause of some song he sang ten years ago???…like you are perfect in your youth??? or were perfect in your youth??…now using HATE to confront HATE?…Let Buju be the grown mature man he is….who fights for countless social injustice’s…you people accountable for BUJU’s cancel have no love from me
What kind of a world do we live in if you can’t advocate for the murder of homosexuals?
Effin’ liberals.
Thank you People Productions and Nocturnum!
Bob Doran,
The cleverest way to lie is by selective presentation of information.
Buju Banton signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, just before his European tour was to be canceled. He toured, he got his gold, then he denied ever signing and resumed his advocacy of the murder of gay people.
So now, as his American tour is being canceled, as even Humboldt! County! is about to say he’s not someone we want in town, he says he should be judged by his whole body of work. But he still thinks he’s at "war with the faggots," and he still sings a song saying we should be murdered, and businesses like yours STILL take money to advertise his show.
Bob Doran, Buju Banton may hate me and want me dead, but at least that’s because he’s confused by the Bible.
You and your newspaper have no such excuse.
Hooray! This was a clear, solid victory over hate, murder music and Buju Banton.
Confidential to Buju: Just apologize, man. Take responsibility for your past actions. Stop justifying, grow up and just say you’re sorry. Then admit you signed the Compassionate Act and live up to it. Otherwise we’ll keep dogging you and your show schedule will read CANCELED! CANCELED! CANCELED!
all of you Buju haters have an amazing double standard……if you don’t like something your going to force the cancellation of it??…i can assure you the crowd that would have been attending Buju show is NOT anti-gay, and recognize him for all the peace and love he DOES promote…you can’t hold him accountable for lyrics he wrote when he was fifteen and IGNORE all the rest since. Simply don’t go to the show?? Why U gonna decide for Humboldt reggae fans who we can see and who we can’t?…We are informed and(believe it or not) have the ability to decide for ourselves what we want to see and what we don’t….funny your calling it a victory for deciding what your fellow Humboldt brothers and Sisters can and can’t do…you decide where you spend your money and let us decide where we spend ours…live and let live…the mateel show he did was full of positive loving vibes….see ur not just affecting BUJU….and u can’t abolish hate with hate
Spencer,Buju has indeed sung those lyrics in recent years,despite the denial on his part.I believe that evidence of that was placed into the hands of PP and the owner of the venue,and played a part in their decision.
Gil Miracle made too many assumptions. He should have done some serious market research… like… I dunno… google “Buju Banton” or something.
I know that’s rough, research and all. Maybe hire someone to google. Here, let me google that for you.
Today:
"Promoters pull the plug on controversial reggae show"
"Songs of hate"
Last week:
"Majestic cancels Buju Banton show"
"Buju’s ‘batty bwoys’ fight back"
"Concert tour falling apart after gay rights group targets lyrics"
Three weeks ago:
"Buju Banton’s Tour, GLBT Protests, Continue"
"Six More US Venues Cancel On ‘Kill Gays’ Artist"
Last Month:
"First Avenue cancels appearance by anti-gay reggae artist"
I guess that’s not much lead time, eh? Let’s go further…
July 2009:
"A concert last month by Buju Banton, whose lyrics contain references to throwing acid on homosexuals, was cancelled by Manchester police"
January 2009:
"The fact that a Buju Banton concert was cancelled after protests last year suggests that the city’s strong gay community doesn’t need heavy-handed protection."
2007:
"Protests related to the Stop Murder Music campaign have cost Jamaican artists an estimated £2.5m in cancelled concerts and sponsorship"
2006:
"The move follows the cancellation of concerts by Buju Banton in Brighton and Beenie Man in Bournemouth following lobbying by local gay activists"
So, in the past, as in last week, last month, last year, two years ago, or three years ago in the past?
despite being an all-loving, open minded, sexually explorative, local hippie kid, i love buju banton no matter what and that’s never going to change. i’m so sad and angry to miss this performance. wasn’t feeling much hate in my heart before, but now i feel like i’m supposed to go driving around arcata blasting buju out the speakers. what organized group is there to direct this anger and blame? the gay community? could it be that you’re Creating homophobic individuals? everyone should be able to perform, regardless of their personal preferences, and let us make up our minds about how ras it is.
missing this world class reggae performer leaves me so pissed, i’m like: "well who’s ass am i supposed to kick about this?" of course I don’t even practice violence, but that’s certainly the vibes i’m sending out to the random maybe-gay couple in front of me at the grocery store. what a bummer seroiusly. i don’t have time to be pissed at strangers. i just want to soak up some dancehall!
This isn’t a victory for you fools.You are censoring An Artist, a venue, and countless fans.the message i get is you don’t want your fellow Humboldt Bredrin and sistren to be able to decide what kind of art and artists they want to see.im feeling very frustrated over these misinformed protests and the forced cancellation(censorship) of WE THE PEOPLE OF HUMBOLDT who gladly were going to pay 30 bucks to see the Art we wanna see. im sorry there is a double standard here about tolerance and understanding and the activists that managed to cancel this show seem small-minded and full of hate themselves….if you don’t like something don’t spend your money on it or support it. but when you want to decide for the hundreds who have been anticipating this show that we now cant attend, you make yourselves and your cause lose allies!….you have displayed zero tolerance for what YOU don’t like or agree with
Get over it, Spencer. You lost, man. Be a gracious loser and feel glad for the winners here.
May I suggest switching to a new type of music? I can see you getting with Lady GaGa or maybe punk rock. This dance hall crap just seems to be leaving you blue.
Now excuse me while I continue to celebrate! What a sweet victory!
Dear genkleman and Spencer,
Have you actually gone to any of the sites that discuss Buju Banton’s history? That show he’s been involved in an assault in Jamaica that damaged someone’s vision and cost him his livelihood as a landscaper? That show him raging against gay people well into the 2000’s? That show he went back on a promise he signed (to prevent his European tour from being cancelled.)
You won’t hear that from Bob Doran.
You won’t hear that from Carol Bruno.
That doesn’t mean it’s not the truth.
Buju Banton has a right to feel whatever he wants to about black people or white people or gay people or short people. He doesn’t have a right to advocate for our murder.
Genkleman, I’m trying to say this as gently as possible, but if you consider yourself an all-loving kid but feel anger at the random maybe-gay couple you see at the grocery store, you need to look inside yourself.
That random maybe-gay couple probably does not even have anything to do with your concert’s being canceled, so why is your body feeling like they are the enemy?
No one creates bigotry by standing up to people who advocate their murder.
Your ridiculous. I Lose??? ummkay. I only lose in the fact that i cant decide for myself where i want to spend my money and decide for myself what kind of Art, Music and entertainment i choose to attend. Your attitude and gloating don’t serve your cause well….for those of you that want to listen to Buju his new album "Rasta Got Soul" is nice listen of loving positive rightous tracks. My favorite album is "Too Bad" which is all-time. Go out and buy a copy
Joe,
I hate to be a downer, but there are no winners here, just people losing less.
Good people feel they’ve been prevented from enjoying a concert by someone they apparently idolize.
A strong statement has been made about "murder music" in our community, and it looks like Banton won’t get a paycheck out of Eureka. For people willing to listen, they’ve learned more about Banton. That’s good.
Maybe, maybe some people have learned that some "journalists" are liars, and that newspapers tend to side with their advertisers, just like The New York Times and Washington Post suck up to whoever’s in power in DC.
But there are no winners.
No problem and certainly no downer today. We’ll agree to disagree about that, Mitch. It sure does feel like a victory to some of us, though.
Ill pass on the Lady Gaga and punk rock. I know you want everybody to be limited to what your preferences are, but theres a big diverse world out there…and i choose to tolerate all of it.
Here’s what a “win” would look like:
Buju Banton announced today that he regrets his behavior towards gay people. He said “I don’t like gay people, I think homosexuality is clearly against Jah’s law, but I realize that I was wrong to sing about murdering them.”
“I apologize for my role in the assault on six gay men only a few years ago. I realize that I can never give one of them back the use of his God-given eyes, but I will turn over all the profits I’ve made on Boom Bye Bye to this man I should never have attacked. I will remove the song from my albums, and will not profit from it.”
“It was a mistake to hide behind my age when I wrote the song. I’m now well into my 30’s, and I’m ashamed to say that I’ve continued to sing it right up to the present. I don’t understand why Europeans and Americans are so OK with the sin of homosexuality, but I hear loud and clear that nobody should sing about murdering any group of people.”
"I acknowledge that I’ve promised in writing not to sing murder music, and that I’ve denied making that promise. I realize that makes it difficult for my fans to believe me now, but I have to tell the truth."
Many Humboldt reggae fans, not having known the extent of Banton’s continued assault on gay people, wrote a letter to Banton saying that they love him but they disapprove of lyrics promoting murder, and are disappointed that his company, Gargamel Music, continues to publish such music by other artists.
How do these reggae fans follow reggae and not know anything of this long-standing issue with one of the most prominent acts? I knew this and I barely even follow reggae news. I thought I’d never say this, but these people need to put down the pipe and pay attention.
Even more wild is that a reggae promoter claims to be blindsided by this. Hoping people wouldn’t protest, maybe. But not knowing anything about an ongoing, unresolved controversy when your profession is promoting reggae shows? You gotta be kidding me.
Try googling "gay positive reggae songs." Nada. Somebody should write one.
"LGBT" by the Yogoman Burning Band probably counts.
I think you can hear it on their MySpace, though it’s not working for me at the moment.
Bellingham-based reggae, but still.
Eric, there is the one above, but also in live shows I have heard Niyorah explicitly confront the issue, his response is fiyah pon fiyah! Burn negativity! Lol, he approached the issue as a true rasta, with enlightenment. He may disapprove of it, but he doesn’t think anyone should be hurt over it, and that Jah will be the ultimate judge.
You would think that after listening to all the positive lyrics buju has put out over the years these guys would understand how contradictory he is.
As for limiting free speech or whatever, there is an in-depth discussion of the philosophical issues surrounding the boycott and cancellation. I think he crosses a line when he makes war with faggots and continues to advocate for their elimination and painful death.
"Try googling “gay positive reggae songs.” Nada. Somebody should write one."
Rastafari’s view homosexuality in the same way the Mormon Church does.Actually,there are a good number of similarities between the two groups.
I feel so frustrated by this whole gay issue. I am not homophobic at all. But you have to realize being a homo or lesbian is a crime a Jamaica they call it sodomy down in Jamaica. I personally have been blessed to see buju on numerous occasions and he has not sung boom bye in over four years. Also when i saw him the times that he didn’t perform that tune some members in the audience were requesting that song. It was a number one hit for him it also has over a million views on you tube. So are people homophobic if they like that song? Or is buju homphobic when he sing s that tune live. No. that tune was written and still is for child molestors and perverts. Besides. don’t we live in America where there is free speech? Buju should have every right to perform anywhere in the states! Protesting the show would have been fair. But to force Carol Bruno and the nocturnum to cancel a show from a reggae dancehall icon is downright cruel and unjust. Yes there needs to be more dialouge on both sides. But once again that was a cruel move!
So are people homophobic if they like that song? Or is buju homphobic when he sing s that tune live.
Well. Yeah.
saying something foolish is one thing, telling people they cant’t say something foolish is far worse….yes activists you managed to stop an Artist and a venue…and you are gloating and celebrating….but plenty of us see the hypocrisy and smallness you have acted with…this is step backwards for HumboldtNation….
Spencer,
It’s so easy for you to dismiss the threat of violence against gay people.
Would you be happy to have an "artist" performing in your backyard who as recently as 2 years ago had called for the death of, say, Asian people? Of course not! THAT’s hypocrisy.
Get some compassion. Gay people are tired of our mistreatment, the hatred, the colonial legacy called homophobia, and having our lives cut short and full of pain because of straight haters. We are a soical justice movement defending our brothers and sisters against hatred and babylon. Can’t you feel that? don’t you care?
One love!
Also to my gay lesbian bi trans brothers and sisters.
Jamaica–itself–is not homophobic. There are some wonderful LGBT activists and artists who’ve come from there. We cannot allow ourselves to buy into the notion that sexual minorities don’t come from Jamaica. Of course they do! And they are struggling against some of the nastiest legacies of colonialism of any of our people.
Jamaican Gay Watch is one site I read a lot: http://gayjamaicawatch.blogspot.com
I note that they are OF COURSE very much in support of boycotting buju.
Mitch, I think you are jumping to conclusions, about the Journal and about my writing on this subject. The post above simply relayed breaking news – it came directly from an email sent to me by Todd Larsen of Queer Humboldt. I later added Gil’s open letter and the half-assed apology from Buju, which came from a press release linked in a second email from Queer Humboldt.
If you pick up today’s paper, you’ll see I’ve devoted much of my music column this week to reporting on the Buju controversy and the history of the fight against gay-bashing in reggae. I’ve been researching, following and writing about the OutRage! campaign against "Murder Music" for over five years starting with coverage in 2004 of the cancellation of a show at HSU by Capleton.
http://tinyurl.com/ye39op4
When the Reggae Compassionate Act came around, I reported on that:
http://tinyurl.com/y8687hy
I’m not sure why you would call me a liar or accuse the Journal of "sucking up to our advertisers" on the basis of this post. And for what it’s worth, we did not run any advertising for the Buju show – no one submitted an ad.
Bob Doran,
I cannot speak to today’s Journal because I have not read it.
Talk to your advertising manager about carrying ads — I have. The fact that you say there is no ad in today’s paper is great, but the concert was canceled yesterday, and the controversy has been going on since at least late last week. I have my own opinion about whether the ad would have run if not for that.
Your post to the blog quoted the letter from Banton’s management, but did not reference even one of the reasons people might be in opposition to the concert.
Not the RCA and Banton’s subsequent denial that he’s signed it.
Not Banton’s gay-bashing assault in Jamaica in 2005.
Not his continued singing of Boom Bye Bye.
Not the lyrics.
Not the support from his label for other violently homophobic artists.
Not the "war with the faggots," that he shouts out on a youtube video from a recent concert.
You also either highlighted or included the existing highlighting of this:
“Despite the ongoing smear campaign against Banton…”
So without pointing a reader to a single reason someone might be alarmed at a Buju Banton concert, you allowed the promoter to call the alarm a "smear" campaign.
A minor additional point is that you refer to him as “Buju,” not “Buju Banton” or “Banton” or “Mark Myrie”.
“Buju,” your friend who wants me murdered.
Bob, it’s your post… you’re free to present or not present whatever information you want. But the rest of us are free to notice and point out what you say and what you leave out.
Aside from what I’ve pointed out, your post was nice and objective.
For anyone whow wants the truth, you can check out http://humboldtagainsthate.blogspot.com or simply search the web for “Buju Banton Boom Bye Bye”
To Mr. Doran’s credit, he has emailed me the text of several articles he’s written in the past, in which he has objectively covered the "murder music" issue.
I still cannot understand how he can justify the slanted contents of the "blogthing" post that triggered these comments, but there’s no question he has been objective in his coverage in the past.
Mitch, I’m really at a loss here trying to figure out what you find slanted about this post. The first part, the note from Carol Bruno to Queer Humboldt was also posted on humboldtagainsthate.blogspot.com, which I believe is your blog dedicated to this issue.
Part 2 is Gil Miracle’s open letter to the LGBT community explaining why he concurs with Bruno on canceling the show – it’s posted in full without comment.
Bruno’s note makes reference to a statement issued by Buju Banton, so I posted a portion of that, omitting a lot of it, cutting straight to what seemed the pertinent portion: a dismissive reference to the campaign against him (which is what made his management send out the press release) and his attempt at weasling out of responsibility for his past deeds.
I did not comment in any way on these press releases, which are clearly identified as such. So, where’s the slant? How do you justify calling me a "liar" because of anything in this post when it’s just a series of press releases?
I know this issue is extremely emotional, but I sincerely believe your anger with the Journal and with me is misdirected.
How can you ban freedom of speech/words lyrics???
What has our world come to??
I thought that was our only true outlet…music.
Things are changin’:/
U need to embrace all people as well …
I don’t practice hatred against any person … Nor do I practice hatred against freedom of speech … buju sings many songs about loving our brothers and sisters .. his shows speak for them shelf’s … his albums speak for themselves he has been nominated for 4 grammys one last year ..
do not place judgment unless U ur shelf have experienced hatred from this artist him shelf … come to understand a man be for placing judgment .. buju is a man a person a human just as U and i .. judge not en less U are ready to be judged ur shelf …As humans we travel down the road of life we humans evolve… we grow we learn we talk about the expercies in life which have lead ue to be the person we are to day.. some good some bad but none the less they have shaped us in to the person we are now .. U can not judge a man by something a boy did or said .. a song a boy sang about life experiences he was having .. this song was written about a child molester a man that was rapping little boys in Jamaica .. buju send him a message boo bye bye .. like u cant do this in Jamaican u cant rape little boys .. this song was not written about gay people … it was intended to one man a child molester raping little boys … I do not condone child molesting ether … This boy (Buju who was 19 at the time of this song) sent message to the whole of Jamaica that was welcomed … This song was never big in the us nor was it intended to provoke hatred against gays.. this song has followed buju well in to his adult life …. He has been dealing with the repercussions of this song for way to long .. he has serve his time and said his sorry it time to let him move on .. u can not keep jailing and man for a once committed crime over 15 years ago.. I do not believe what buju did was crime .. i feel he had every right to write and sing this song .. i think he should still be aloud to perform this song.. This song was a big deal to Jamaica and still is .. this song is one of many of his catalog of songs … buju has many songs that speak of a way of life a higher way of thinking .. about injustices to people and desecrations .. ab out living in system an we are all the victims …he has toured and collaborated with may artist such as john legend ,Wychelf , Jr Gong Marley , Ziggy Marley , Steve Marley , Beres Hammond , Gramps Morgan just a few of the many … Buju grew up on the streets of Jamaican with nothing fighting for survival fight for everything he has now …if any one knows oppressions and struggle it is buju… a black man in white mans world just like a guy in strait man world ..
come to understand a coulter before u place judgment come to understand a song before u place judgment come to understand a man before u place judment……
The struggle goes on we all fight for equal right and justice
I’m afraid Bob Doran and I simply disagree on this.
It was inappropriate of me to call him a liar based on the one posting, without getting in touch with him. I apologize for that, but I still feel the posting itself was very biased.
My understanding that the Journal would publish an ad for the Banton concert was based on an email exchange with the Journal’s ad manager.
When I feel threatened, I get angry and despite years of effort, I still lash out.
At the very least, I need to remind myself that there is no such thing as the Journal, just (maybe) the individual people who create the newspaper. My quarrel is with something that doesn’t exist: I shouldn’t generalize from that to all the individual people involved.
Here’s a sideline half-paying attention perspective…
Bob didn’t include his opinion in the post, and that’s the problem. Given the controversial subject matter and feelings that individual(s) might be being disingenuous, not fully remorseful or apologetic, or otherwise lacking in their issued statements, it’s the absence of Bob’s opinion that creates an impression of support for the performer.
In other words, there’s an expectation that his perspective, as a blogger and a music critic, is required, and in the absence of that opinion, there is an impression created that he’s sympathetic to Buju, Carol and/or Gil. I’m guessing Mitch wants to see a counter argument presented alongside the issued statements.
I receive this sort of reaction when blogging about something outlandish if I simply put information ‘out there,’ without my perspective. People assume I’m for or against an issue based on their own feelings on the issue.
Hi AJ,
Interesting perspective but, no, it’s not Bob’s opinion that I felt was missing from the post.
What was missing from the post — please go and read it — was any indication of why anyone might be upset at the performer, promoter, venue, or newspaper.
My comment at #30 sums it up. I don’t feel it’s honorable to say that a concert has been canceled and quote the artist about the (bold-face) supposed "smear campaign" without at least giving your readers an opportunity to see what people are so upset about, and to counter the lie that Buju Banton is being persecuted for something he did 20 years ago and has apologized for.
I should not have called Bob Doran a liar (or implied that he is), but I believe the post above is, perhaps unintentionally, very very deceptive.
http://ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/09/Oct/0701.htm
Ahh, well, is there a blog post on the subject besides the one at the top of this page? I didn’t see one skimming through old posts.
I don’t recall what this post stated prior to its update, but yes, placing the issued statements in context would make more sense. Perhaps it’s an matter of assuming too much about the readership.
Several other blogs have written on the subject and they are linked in the Journal’s daily blogwatch. As a writer, it’s easy to forget that not everyone knows what I know, and to assume information when writing about a subject.
I wouldn’t call the above post "deceptive" though. The more likely reaction is one of confusion. As in, what the heck are these three people reacting to? (Especially consider people reading this page a few months or years from now coming to it via a search engine.)
To someone familiar with the controversy, it’s a "one-sided" post, but if the post contained context (a description of the controversy or links to supporting material) then it wouldn’t qualify as one-sided. It would merely be an informational report.
As for withholding the opportunity for readers to counter the issued statements, well, that’s what this comment thread is for. If your messages haven’t been deleted, then you’ve been afforded the opportunity to share a differing perspective.
Oh, although, I only half-believe what I said about the opportunity for readers to submit differing perspectives. It’s true, but I know from the comments I see on my own blog that a lot of people don’t fully read a comment thread.
On controversial subjects, people often seem to jump from the article to the comment form. So, yes, it would be nice to see the controversy placed in its proper context as part of the main article.
http://www.jamaicancaves.org/boom-bye-bye-lyrics.html
Maybe I’m just dense, but I’m not finding the reference to child molesters and rapists in Mr. Banton’s lyrics. I need ta smoka spleef mon an type inna fake Jamaica accen ta unnastan dis?
Mr. Banton can redeem himself by opening for the Vagina Monologues, then getting hog-tied and violated by 300 lb lesbians with dildos on stage.
Censoring Buju Banton will have the same result as censoring 2 Live Crew. Prior to protests, radio censorship, canceled shows, and being arrested for obscenity by the Broward County Sheriff’s Department, 2 Live Crew was virtually unknown outside of their established fan base. After incidents of overt censorship, 2 Live Crew became a household name. Humboldt County has just participated in a nationwide protest which will thrust Buju Banton into the national spotlight much like 2 Live Crew was in the 1990s.
I apologize for the repetition as I made this same point on at the Humboldt Herald.
Bob can correct me if I’m wrong… 2 Live Crew’s controversy resulted in lower radio play, but MTV heavily promoted the video, catapulting it to success. The controversy was over sexually explicit lyrics, hardly the same issue in this case. Apples and oranges.
AJ, judge for yourself
2 Live Crew "Bulldagger stole my bitch," verse 3 (partial)
"I hate bulldaggin’ hoes with a passion
You motherfuckin’ right a nigga gave bashin’
You bitches need to get that gay shit off your mind…"
Apples and oranges? I think not. MTV didn’t need to promote 2 Live Crew, the censors did a fine job of that.
I am sorry for even posting that. I feel that the point needs to be made. The more involved people become with outright censorship of an artist, the more free publicity that artist receives.
I think the above lyric should be "gay" not "gave."
Kushboldt,
The lyrics to Boom Bye Bye are posted at the site thirdeye cites above:
http://www.jamaicancaves.org/boom-bye-bye-lyrics.html
The lyrics from 2 Live Crew are disgusting, no question. My personal opinion is that they are not comparable to the lyrics of Boom Bye Bye.
One says, roughly, "yes I bashed." The other recommends that you should get an Uzi machine gun, burn them, throw acid in their faces, and not interfere with anyone meting out divine justice against the abomination.
Both are foul. One is worse.
Wow. I just looked up the complete lyrics to the song Kushboldt mentioned.
There’s no point in comparing bad and worse.
I now feel very old thinking that this stuff gets airplay. I think I’ll leave this conversation to others from here on in.
Sorry, I sourced my 2 Live comment on Wikipedia which referenced a song called ‘Me So Horny’ as being controversial in 1989, not the once you quoted from 1996.
Do you have a link referencing the later controversy?
Mitch, the Buju Banton issue was already addressed at the same time as 2 Live Crew. I remember it well. The particular television channel where 2 Live Crew received the most airplay was called the "Jukebox Network." This channel allowed people to call a 1-900 number to play a particular video. Prior to being censored, 2 Live Crew received little airplay. After the arrest for obscenity, "Move Summin’," "Me So Horny," and the Doo-Waa Diddy song were on the Jukebox Network 24/7. It wasn’t MTV who were playing 2 Live Crew videos, it was people with $1.99 to spare.
17 years later, Boom Bye-Bye has over 1.5 million views on youtube. The video I posted to the Herald, Driver A, has just under 1 million views even though the Driver A youtube page is actively promoted via paid advertisements. "Boom Bye-Bye" has always been an unpromoted, unauthorized release.
Can we please learn a lesson from history?
The ACLU is against artist censorship. Maybe the community needs to take a step back and examine the logic put forward by the ACLU. This is the classic "I’m against censorship, but…" syndrome.
We can split hairs if you like AJ.
I used the bulldagger song to illustrate that 2 Live Crew’s lyrics were derogatory and not simply explicit. 2 Live Crew spoke of "busting" vaginas among other things prior to the controversy which censors claimed would provoke people to rape. The censorship issue was certainly not over the comparatively tame song "Me So Horny," it was over their performance of other material.
Censorship is what has occurred here in Humboldt. Putting out counter messages is one thing, but forcing the artist to be unable to perform is denying him free speech.
Do not try to tell me "I am for free speech, but… this is different." It is not.
If you are wondering, I am pro-gay rights and hold no religious belief about gay people.
Here is an article I found when searching for ACLU and censorship from the 2 Live Crew period.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=em4VAAAAIBAJ&pg=5060,6156240
"…forcing the artist to be unable to perform is denying him free speech."
How’s that? He can still speak.
Freedom of speech has always come to this point. Should songs about killing people be considered free speech? Should the KKK be allowed to recruit members and talk about the purity of the white race? Should rap artists be allowed to talk about raping women? It’s a complicated issue and we all have different ideas about it. I know that for me personally, being a lesbian woman who likes reggae, the lyrics alone make me really sad:
(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!)
He’s talking about burning a gay man and watching his skin peel off. He’s talking about shooting them in the head. Hes calling them batty. Pretty much all people in the LGBT community are going to feel something when reading those lyrics. Some of us have experienced or do experience the fear of verbal/physical assault due to our choice in who we love. All of us want to feel safe in our community and have a sense of solidarity. It goes beyond freedom of speech. Yes Buju has a right to perform that song, everyone has the right to buy the CD and listen to the song anytime but as far as our community goes…canceling the show was a good move. It shows solidarity and support, it ensures that gay people will still go to People Production events and it sends the message to Buju that hate is not welcome here. I would be against the lyrics no matter who he was singing them about. So it’s a little inconvenient that you have to miss a Buju show…oh well. The issue is so much bigger than that. Gay people in Jamaica need our solidarity as well! I’m proud of Humboldt for sending out the message that “one love” should include everyone.
Kush, I’m not splitting hairs. It’s a miscommunication. Your original reference to 2 Live was vague, so I googled to determine what you were referring to and came up with the sex song. This situation can be avoided in the future by providing more specifics when you are referencing an historical event.
AJ, sorry for the miscommunication. I let my passion for the First Amendment get ahead of making a coherent and referenced statement.
Pandallin:
Yes they should.
As Americans, we cannot judge free speech as something to be upheld when it is convenient to do so. History has taught us this much.
Solidarity against a particular form of speech can be expressed with free speech alone. To forcefully deny anyone the ability to speak their mind through artistic expression is a fascist tactic.
Step back from the specifics here and consider that there are people out there who wish to silence any pro-gay voices. These people are not musicians and they are certainly not Buju Banton. Consider how far the dialogue has come in this country from homosexuality being a taboo subject to it being openly discussed. This dialogue is a direct result of the powerful right we call freedom of speech. To ensure the continuation of productive dialogue, we must accept the "good" with the "bad" speech. Making any exception is an extremely slippery slope.
There is no study anywhere showing a significant correlation with exposure to violent artwork and physical violence. Censorship-minded people have tried for years to show a link between pornography and violence with no luck. A case in point is Japan which has a much less violent society than our own, yet they have comic books which depict women being raped by aliens, cut into pieces, and stuffed into suitcases. If that does not incite violence, can you really think that mere existence of a song which was not going to be performed would incite violence in our community?
The most surprising aspect of this controversy is the local politicians who have come out in support of censorship. I take this to mean that they would not mind if their own messages were censored and their campaigns shut down as being unfit according to community standards.
How’s that? He can still speak.Banned Books A-IBanned Books J-Z
I’m assuming most of these authors could still speak.
Take note of the tactics employed to ban these books.
by Philip Roth
Several libraries and librarians throughout the U.S. were harassed and threatened for carrying this book on their shelves.
Does this sound familiar?
Banton has the right to sing whatever he wants. The rest of us have the right to respond. We responded. The government did not shut him down. We were planning to make use of our own rights of expression and the businesses involved chose not to be associated with him.
I have mixed feelings about the goal being to shut down the concert. But nobody forced the cancellation.
The First Amendment guarantees the right to speak. It does not guarantee protection from the consequences of that speech.
Nobody forced the cancellation??Get real. Only repeated ugly threats to the venue owner and his family. Yes my friend this was a FORCED cancellation. Sad to see the Humboldt activists make excuses why in this case it is ok to ban free speech and the tactics they employ to achieve THEIR goal…i wonder if they would even know who they should target if it weren’t for the internet
Nobody forced the cancellation??Get real. Only repeated ugly threats to the venue owner and his family. Yes my friend this was a FORCED cancellation. Sad to see the Humboldt activists make excuses why in this case it is ok to ban free speech and the tactics they employ to achieve THEIR goal…i wonder if they would even know who they should target if it weren’t for the internet
Threatening to boycott one’s business due to one’s decision to make a profit over ethics is not an ugly threat.The cancellation very well could have been a business decision and it wasn’t unlikely that there would be as many people standing outside the venue expressing their free speech rights as people inside attending the show,listening to Buju’s free speech.Hosting a show like this at best would have reaped a decent financial profit,but the possible pending boycotts of the venue,and of People’s Productions would have a far greater impact.
It was definitely a business decision, but very few people were talking about a boycott. Most of us simply let our views of the situation be known. They were afraid of the protest, not an organized boycott.
If Banton wants to come out from under this, it’s very simple. All he has to do is renounce the violence in the song and pledge to stop singing it. He’s had numerous opportunities and he ends up spitting in peoples faces.
Humboldt County has this weird value system which puts the party above all other considerations. It’s the power of the moment. The kids (and some chronological adults) go to a concert and get a good feeling for the artist. That feeling trumps everything else. Kind of like some young people initially confuse sex with love, or their drug experience with some time of spiritual revelation. They feel good at the concert, and how can their feelings be wrong? Therefor, there must be some misunderstanding about an old song he allegedly doesn’t even sing anymore. It’d be disillusioning, and who wants that at a young age?
Well, the kids can take it as a wake up call, or they can grumble about how their good vibe party plans were frustrated by a bunch of ignorant activists who just don’t understand what Banton’s music means to them.
But what is being argued in this thread is that we should all keep quiet because our words might have a material effect. Personally, I wasn’t looking to have the event shut down. I’d much rather that the hall be empty when he came up to play. This way some will spin Banton as the victim. Kind of disappointing in a community which prides itself on progressive values.
Here’s the thing. Everyone is approaching this as a gay issue and it’s not. It about an artist, talented though he may be, who used his art and public platform to advocate the extermination of a specific group of people. If the song had referenced any other group…do you believe the African American, Jewish, Asian, Hispanic, Muslim, etc..communities would calmly dismiss this? Believe me, you would hear them. In fact, we would all be crying foul…and rightfully so.
I am a very strong supporter of free speech and artistic expression but, even the Constitution excludes Free Speech protection for hate speech and calls to violence.
Mr.Banton is a very talented artist and, admittedly, he has affected a lot of good, as part of his humanitarian involvement with poor and ill people of the Caribbean. However, this isn’t like a report card..you can’t do extra credit and cancel out your F in math with an A+ in history. His humanitarian efforts should be acknowledged and respected, but his
Here’s the thing. Everyone is approaching this as a gay issue and it’s not. It about an artist, talented though he may be, who used his art and public platform to advocate the extermination of a specific group of people. If the song had referenced any other group…do you believe the African American, Jewish, Asian, Hispanic, Muslim, etc..communities would calmly dismiss this? Believe me, you would hear them. In fact, we would all be crying foul…and rightfully so.
I am a very strong supporter of free speech and artistic expression but, even the Constitution excludes Free Speech protection for hate speech and calls to violence.
Mr.Banton is a very talented artist and, admittedly, he has affected a lot of good, as part of his humanitarian involvement with poor and ill people of the Caribbean. However, this isn’t like a report card..you can’t do extra credit and cancel out your F in math with an A+ in history. His humanitarian efforts should be acknowledged and respected, but his
Here’s the thing. This isn’t a gay issue. It about an artist, talented though he may be, who used his art and public platform to advocate the extermination of a specific group of people. If the song had referenced any other group…do you believe the African American, Jewish, Asian, Hispanic, Muslim, etc..communities would calmly dismiss this? Believe me, you would hear them. In fact, we would all be crying foul…and rightfully so.
Mr.Banton is a very talented artist and, admittedly, he has affected a lot of good, as part of his humanitarian involvement with poor and ill people of the Caribbean and those efforts should be acknowledged and respected. However, this isn’t like a report card..you can’t do extra credit and cancel out your F in math with an A+ in history. Indeed, he has performed the song recently. In addition to the videos making viral youtube.com rounds, a Dancehall magazine interviewed him on his last tour, and had reported that,unfortunately, the song was performed. So, the apologies ring hollow..and, more than likely, issued by the agency (not the artist) in an attempt to curb the increasing cancellations.
Final note, I WISH he apologized or no longer performed "Boom Bye Bye".
I own a venue and had contracted, with an outside production company, to rent the facility for a concert. Buju Banton was to play at my venue next week. The cancellation of this show equals a minimum $20k loss in contract obligations and event income..and in this economy..it could very well be the breaking point which forces me to close. So, I would have loved nothing more than to find that this artist had long ago expressed regret and that the protests against him were the misguided efforts of some overzealous activists.
And when all else failed, I pleaded with management for a direct apology from Banton..even one which stated that although he believes homosexuality to be a sin, he rejects anything which encourages violence against homosexuals and disavows the views he once expressed in "Boom, Bye Bye". No chance.
I am a very strong supporter of free speech and artistic expression, but even the Constitution draws the line at free speech protection for calls to violence. As well, it is important to remember that actions lead to reactions and those who disagree have rights to express that disagreement, as well.So, while an artist may have the right to express and spread hateful rhetoric through his music, I have the right to deny the use of my stage and microphone, as a supportive platform to do so.
Oh..and PS….I’d like to give a BIG middle finger to Microsoft for the nightmare known as VISTA. It froze my computer, made me redo my whole post..then posted the unfinished post twice and the finished post has someone else’s name? WTF?????????
Write a hate song about VISTA!
“im a big supporter of free speech and artistic expression but” – But WHAT? just not for Black Carribbean males?
Gosh, it’s great to see such diversity in the bigot community.
so many lies and distortions by LGBT supporters here, most of them parroting the “official” gay line.
where to begin?
mitch t., #4: “Buju Banton signed the Reggae Compassionate Act.”
not according to Peter Tatchell. actually, Tatchell says Banton signed it and also says he didnt sign it.
“his American tour is being canceled,”
actually, just some dates.
“he still sings a song saying we should be murdered”
categorically untrue. he didnt perform that song in humboldt in 2005 or 2006, why would he do it now? just to piss you off?
“Buju Banton may hate me and want me dead”
there’s a difference between metaphorical and literal meaning.
9, mr. nice: “Buju Banton, whose lyrics contain references to throwing acid on homosexuals.” again, this is sensationalistic, making it seem like every lyric buju has ever sung has been about throwing acid on homosexuals. that’s like saying that every freddie mercury song advocated machine-gunning people.
13, mitch t.: “Have you actually gone to any of the sites that discuss Buju Banton’s history? That show he’s been involved in an assault in Jamaica that damaged someone’s vision and cost him his livelihood as a landscaper? That show him raging against gay people well into the 2000’s?”
1) he was cleared of assault. “show” involves more than speculation, it requires proof of guilt. 2) not only do you need to cite those clips, but you need to define “raging.” if you’re not actually referring to a call for violence or incitement to riot, there’s no merit to your claims. merely disagreeing with homosexuality on ideological grounds—or more likely, referring tot he 17-year long campaign by gays against buju—isn’t really as big a deal as you think it is.
“No one creates bigotry by standing up to people who advocate their murder.”
you are dead wrong here. not only have you resurrected a 20-year old song which doesnt even appear on any of buju’s official studio albums, but gay activists have engaged in hate speech against buju and club promoters across the country—and riled up pissed-off jamaicans who have reacted with hate speech. in actuality, this campaign has created a lot of bigotry on both sides. deal with it.
15 mitch t.: “A strong statement has been made about “murder music” in our community, and it looks like Banton won’t get a paycheck out of Eureka. For people willing to listen, they’ve learned more about Banton.”
you mean the statement that someone who no longer performs a 20 year old song, and hasn’t in your community in over four years, can be censored by self-righteous queers obvlivious to their own hatred, bigotry and racism, at the expense of buj’;s otherwise positive social commentary? uh, yeah, that’s a win.
18, mitch t.: “Many Humboldt reggae fans, not having known the extent of Banton’s continued assault on gay people,”
“continued assault”? are you serious? this is pure hyperbole. name one antigay song BB’s done other than BBB. just one, if you can.
19, mr. nice: “I knew this and I barely even follow reggae news.”
somehow, that doesn’t surprise me that you know next to nothing about reggae.
27, not spencer: “Would you be happy to have an “artist” performing in your backyard who as recently as 2 years ago had called for the death of, say, Asian people?”
this is completely untrue. i challenge you to show me anything which supports this. it’s true that in 2007, buju said he doesn’t like gay people. but it’s a blatant distortion, if not an outright lie, to say he called for your death two years ago.
28, not spencer: “Jamaica—itself—is not homophobic.” not according to Time Magazine. or the UK press. or amnesty International. Or the Jamaica Gleaner. or JFLAG. or GayJamaicaWatch. or prime minister Bruce Golding.
30, mitch t.: “the support from his label for other violently homophobic artists.”
Banton owns his own label, Gargamel Music. it’s independent. none of the other 2 or 3 artists on there have antigay material.
“For anyone whow wants the truth, you can check out http://humboldtagainsthate.blogspot.com” interestingly enough, this site has a link tot he 2006 article which stated that Banton played humboldt in 2005 with no problems, also it reports incorrectly states that “Batty Rider” is an antigay song (it’s abut women in biker shorts).
35, mitch t.: “When I feel threatened, I get angry and despite years of effort, I still lash out.”
this sounds like an admission of irrational homosexual hatred.
37, mitch t.” counter the lie that Buju Banton is being persecuted for something he did 20 years ago and has apologized for. ”
now we need to counter your lie. the song is 20 years old, 21 actually. buju has apologized on at least two occasions, in 1993 and 2007. he’s also said he “doesnt advocate violence against anyone, including his gay brothers and syisters.”
perhaps what you are reacting to is an orchestrated smear campaign which plays on yur fears of homophobia.
40, thirdeye: “I’m not finding the reference to child molesters and rapists in Mr. Banton’s lyrics.”
a “nasty man” is a child molestor. and the song was written in response to a case of man-boy rape.
43: kushboldt: ““I hate bulldaggin’ hoes with a passion You motherfuckin’ right a nigga gave bashin’ You bitches need to get that gay shit off your mind…” ”
this is a good example of figurative metaphor, not meant to be taken literally. i’ve seen the 2 live crew perform private shows with female dancers who got naked and licked each other’s vaginas. apparently, they’ve done this onstage too. after the group broke up, luke continued this practice.
62, juju: “Everyone is approaching this as a gay issue and it’s not.”
i’d strongly disagree here. there was a ten year period when buju was completely off the gaydar and made no antigay songs. he even performed in humboldt in 2005 after the campaign against him had been resurrected, with no issues. were it not for the smear campaign, no one would care about a 20 year-old song.
mitch t., it’s interesting, but not that uncommon for one gay man to cruise gay websites and then make numerous references to buju’s alleged homophobic murder music which are simply unfounded or exaggerated. almost every single one of your claims can be easily disputed.
also, your bigotry is at this point is possibly greater than buju’s ever was. just something for you to think about.
whoops, sorry about the big fonts. dont know how that happened. i blame Vista. and Buju.
Hey hey! Buju got it wrong. Romney da real Battey Boy. He got is man up last night, talking about stickin it to some birds, get it, because dey got inna way a suckin de oil.
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