words by Dr. Jason Nichols

Cancel Culture has been decried from many segments of society. Important figures from President Obama to Dave Chappelle have warned that it’s getting out of hand.  The political right blames so-called “wokeness” of the left, which involves virtue-signaling one's values rather than working toward actual constructive institutional changes (which they also oppose).  However, whether a culture exists around cancellation is questionable - and whether widespread condemnation for an act that transgresses the normal boundaries of decency is tantamount to censorship.

Cancel Culture is defined as “Cancel culture or call-out culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – whether it be online, on social media, or in person. Those subject to this ostracism are said to have been "cancelled".”  The word “cancel” in this context has roots in hip-hop culture, with Nino Brown, a fictitious Harlem drug pusher in the 1991 film “New Jack City” calling for someone to be canceled, a euphemism for murder.  Since then, it has been used to describe social media outrage that can lead to measures like boycotts.  

Hip hop has dealt with so-called cancel culture since before the advent of Al Gore’s internet. The Reverend Calvin Butts of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, famously attempted to steamroll cassettes of 2Live Crew, the Geto Boys, and NWA, calling their music filth. Eminem faced backlash for his lyrics that were deemed homophobic and misogynistic. There is a lesson to be learned from these incidences.  Most of these groups and their individual members only got more popular from the controversy.  Rapper Rick Ross was heavily criticized for a lyric that many allege was a reference to sexual assault on a song called “UOENO.”  While Ross lost some economic opportunities at the time, he has fully recovered, even making an appearance in the wholesome “Coming 2 America” sequel. The same happened when the CEO of Goya foods backed then-President Donald Trump despite the latter’s inept and arguably disrespectful response to Hurricane Maria.  Some called for people to “cancel” Goya.  The opposite happened.  People who would have otherwise never bought Goya products did so in protest and in support of the MAGA movement.  

The vast majority of the people who have been canceled have at most been sidelined for a short period of time and reappeared. What they usually experience is social media thrashing. There are some cancellations that are questionable and a few that have been downright wrong for sure. However, as comedian Katt Williams stated eloquently, there are speed limits and when you exceed them, there can be consequences.  If you enter into public discourse, you open yourself to criticism and critique in an era of unprecedented media democratization.  I’m saying this as a person who has been “canceled” by the right (who ironically claims to be against cancellations) on several occasions.  From people hashtagging “fire Jason Nichols” and tagging my job to calls and emails to my superiors - all for having the audacity to have a differing political opinion.  There will always be some that abuse the power that comes with an amplified voice, but boundaries are useful.  Social boundaries can be pressed, but comedy, rap, and even political commentary become less edgy without them.  There is nothing edgy about pushing nonexistent boundaries.