Political correctness refers to the concept that one should avoid expressing ideas that marginalize, offend, or insult others, usually on the bases of race, religion, sex, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and the like. The term became prominent in response to widespread concerns about discrimination and other forms of social injustice, and restraints on speech and expression deemed inconsistent with these concerns became popular. Campus speech codes epitomize the effort to enforce “political correctness” in the academic setting, and some argued that such codes were justified to implement laws against discrimination in education.

Ultimately, the courts and most academic institutions came to realize that restriction of free speech rights, even in the name of such a laudable goal, was problematic. As a result, laws and regulations defining discrimination more clearly define the distinction between action (engaging in unlawful discriminatory conduct) and expression (thinking or expressing an idea that others may find noxious or offensive). . “Politically incorrect” speech, like other speech, is generally entitled to protection under the First Amendment. In only limited and extreme situations does speech, standing alone, constitute a form of discrimination or harassment.

“Politically incorrect” material is still challenged by groups that perceive themselves the object of continuing discrimination. For example, some in the gay and lesbian community tried to get “Dr. Laura” off television because of her views of same-sex relationships; civil rights groups have challenged books like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for it’s use of the word “nigger,” which they consider inflammatory; Jewish groups have opposed as “anti-semitic” an exhibit by a Palestinian artist, Islamic groups have protested certain references to Arab Americans, and Catholic groups have tried to deny government support for theater and art exhibits that they claim contain “anti-Catholic” views.

See also hate speech.

» Latest Round in Conflict Between Free Speech and Religious Sensitivities: "The Da Vinci Code." Columnist John Leo considers recent allegations against The Da Vinci Code, as the film ignites religious passions and some call for a boycott. Leo considers "hate speech" legislation in Europe, and the climate of self-censorship surrounding satire or criticism of religion.

Boulder, CO 2/7/05
Hamilton College, in Clinton, NY, cancelled a talk by University of Colorado Boulder Professor Ward Churchill because of threats of violence. Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., and Eastern Washington University, where Churchill was also scheduled to speak, followed suit. The anger directed at Churchill is based on views he expressed in an essay published three years ago, in which he suggested that the 9/11 attacks were retribution for U.S. foreign policy, for which the victims shared some responsibility, and particularly for his use of the phrase, "little Eichmans," to refer to WTC victims.
Related:
» Ward Churchill's essay: Some People Push Back » Ward Churchill Responds to Criticism of "Some People Push Back"

» New York Regents Fail Test on First Amendment Issue #86: Summer 2002

» Scholar's View: Letter from Cathy Popkin, Lionel Trilling Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University, to NYS Education Commissioner Richard Mills on 5/16/02 (Regarding the New York Regents Exam)
Issue #86: Summer 2002

» Hyde Park, New York (posted January 25, 2002). Background: One year ago the Hyde Park post office started hosting the Artist of the Month program, giving local artists the opportunity to display their work for an entire month in a place that draws hundreds of people per day. The works were on display in a special window in the building's lobby.
Letter to Postmaster John Viola to Restore the Artist of the Month Program to the Hyde Park Post Office

» Reparations Ad Inflames Campuses Issue #82: Summer 2001
College campuses erupted recently over a controversial ad that appeared in some student newspapers. The ad, written and paid for by conservative activist David Horowitz, opposes reparations for descendants of slaves. Students who considered the ad racist destroyed thousands of newspapers at Brown University, protested at Duke and burned papers at the University of Wisconsin. Apologies for running the ad were issued by the University of California at Berkeley and at Davis and Arizona State, but Wisconsin's editor refused to apologize, saying to do so would hamper free speech. NCAC is among the free speech groups that have expressed concern. Executive Director Joan Bertin said, "While student protests are an appropriate way to explore controversy, when students take it upon themselves to suppress ideas that they find objectionable they fail to meet the challenge of a free society-to counter offensive ideas with more persuasive arguments of their own."

» It's Not Just About Huck Finn by Joan E. Bertin
Issue #81: Spring 2001
We recently received a request for help responding to a proposed policy to ban "racially offensive" books from the high school curriculum. As readers of CN know, Huck Finn is a perennial target for censorship because the word "nigger" repeatedly appears in it. It's hard to convince some people that this 19th century classic is still important enough to make students encounter this provocative word. So I started looking for contemporary books that had been challenged on similar grounds. In short order, I had found more than 60-and the list was growing.

» Why Stop Dr. Laura? by Joan E. Bertin
Issue #78: Summer 2000

» Is Harry Potter Evil? by Judy Blume Issue #76: Winter 1999-2000

» All About Art: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Issue #76: Winter 1999-2000 The new director of the Detroit Institute of Arts padlocked the doors of an art exhibit, turning a show which was planned to display controversial art into a victim of censorship instead of its antidote. The exhibit, Art Until Now, was closed two days after its November opening by Director Graham Beal because some of the religious and racial artworks may offend "important parts of our community."

Amherst, Massachusetts. (Posted December 1999) A high school production of West Side Story was recently canceled in response to protests about its portrayal of Puerto Ricans and use of racial slurs. (Newsday, 12/9/99). (insert anchor) /action/alertsarchive.cfm

» Cry Racism, And Watch Knees Jerk Issue #72: Winter 1998-1999
by Clyde Haberman, excerpted from The New York Times, December 4, 1998.
"A well-intentioned third-grade teacher, who happens to be white, gave her mostly black and Hispanic students a critically praised book about a black girl with kinky hair. Then parents came to Public School 75, which is in Bushwick, Brooklyn."

» Censorship and Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles Issue #70: Summer 1998
Eighth-grade English teacher Gina Corsun, of Edison, New Jersey selected for teaching, Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles, for its relevance to the science and social studies curriculum. In preparation, she read articles on science fiction, critical essays of Bradbury's work, and teaching materials from the Center for Learning for use with the novel. Excerpts from her letter follow:
"Of particular concern to me was a chapter entitled Way Up In The Middle Of The Air about a racist man, Samuel Teece, and his treatment of African-Americans who want to leave Earth and form a new society on Mars. Because of its use of the word "nigger," I briefly considered skipping the chapter, but I felt that was a cowardly thing to do. ...Knowing my students...I knew that my skipping the chapter would prompt many (if not most) to read it to find out why I omitted it. After talking...with colleagues, I decided ...to do a guided reading of the chapter. I am also aware that students will be reading books such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Huckleberry Finn, and others which use "nigger" in high school."

» Contested Histories Issue #71: Spring 1998
by Miles Unger, managing editor, Art New England, reprinted from June/July 1998 issue.
"As I write, a controversy is raging over a Boston Magazine headline for an article about Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates that read, "Head Negro in Charge." The phrase, which according to magazine sources is sometimes used among blacks themselves, was deemed racist by many in the context of a magazine whose readers are primarily white. The controversy is but one of many instances in which language or an image used within a particular group to describe itself - perhaps with irony or even bitterness - is judged racist when used by others outside the group...."