Destructive Messages: How Hate Speech Paves the Way For Harmful Social Movements, Volume 778

Alexander Tsesis

NYU Press, Aug 19, 2002 - Law - 246 pages

Destructive Messages argues that hate speech is dangerous not only when it poses an immediate threat of harm. It is also dangerous when it is systematically developed over time, becoming part of a culturally acceptable dialogue which can foster the persecution of minorities.
Tsesis traces a causal link between racist and biased rhetoric and injustices like genocide and slavery. He shows that hate speech and propaganda, when left unregulated, can weave animosity into the social fabric to such a great extent that it can cultivate an environment supportive of the commission of hate crimes. Tsesis uses historical examples to illuminate the central role racist speech played in encouraging attitudes that led to human rights violations against German Jews, Native Americans, and African Americans, and also discusses the dangers posed by hate speech spread on the Internet today. He also offers an examination of the psychology of scapegoating.
Destructive Messages argues that when hate speech is systematically developed over time it poses an even greater threat than when it creates an immediate clear and present danger. Tsesis offers concrete suggestions concerning how to reform current law in order to protect the rights of all citizens.

Contents

• Historical Lessons about the Dangers of Hate Speech: 9
• Endearing Racism in American Minds: 28
• The Politics of Savagery and Indian Removal: 49
• A Glance at Contemporary Hate Speech: 66
• Hate Propagandas Socially Destructive Force: 81
• Spreading Group Hatred: 99
• Legal Response to Hate Speech: 119
• Reconsidering Supreme Court Precedents: 129
• Out of the Quagmire: 148
• Destructive Messages Threat to Justice and Equality: 166
• But Will It Work? Regulation of Hate Propaganda: 180
• Regulating Hate Speech: 193
• Notes: 211
• Index: 239
• About the Author: 246

About the author

Alexander Tsesis is Assistant Professor at at the Loyola University School of Law, Chicago.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Destructive Messages: How Hate Speech Paves the Way For Harmful Social Movements, Volume 778; Volume 27 of Critical America; Destructive Messages: How Hate Speech Paves the Way for Harmful Social Movements, Alexander Tsesis
• Author: Alexander Tsesis
• Publisher: NYU Press, 2002
• ISBN: 0814782728, 9780814782729
• Length: 246 pages
• Subjects: Law / Civil Rights; Law / Discrimination; Political Science / Civil Rights; Political Science / Human Rights; Political Science / Political Freedom; Political Science / Political Ideologies / General; Political Science / Propaganda; Social Science / Discrimination; Social Science / Discrimination & Race Relations; Social Science / Ethnic Studies / General