Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” George Schuyler was a journalist who didn’t fear writing about controversy; he was a man who embraced it. Schuyler was known to give a fresh and sincere view on topics during a time when freedom of speech was most vulnerable. Although many embraced his conservative outlook on topics, his peers often scrutinized him for this very same trait. On March 18 1944, Schuyler wrote an article in the Pittsburgh Courier condemning the government for pressing charges on Lawrence Dennis and others for violating the Smith Act of 1940. This page long editorial helped arouse a nationwide debate as to whether or not the government was acting within its rights when indicting individuals who expressed their ideas and opinions about Communism and/or Fascism. Articles from the New York Times, the Washington Post, and a plethora of renowned journals continued this debate for decades to come.
George Samuel Schuyler was born in Providence, Rhode Island to Eliza Jane Fischer and George S. Schuyler. He grew up in a middle-class neighborhood in Syracuse, New York. At the age of seventeen, Schuyler enlisted in the army where he served with the black 25th U.S. Infantry. He spent seven years with the unit before finally being discharged with the ranking of First Lieutenant (Schuyler 72). Upon his release, Schuyler later moved to New York City where he began writing. Ira F. Lewis, manager of the Pittsburgh Courier, saw one of Schuyler’s works, and after writing a few articles part time, they subsequently agreed that he would write a weekly column for the Courier titled View...
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...nd Dan Georgakas. Encyclopedia of the American Left. New York: Oxford UP, 1998. Web.
"Dennis v. United States." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2011. Web.
Douglas, William O. Dennis v. United States. Diss. LII | LII / Legal Information Institute. 04 Dec. 1950.
"Free Speech Is Not At Stake." New York Times 22 June 1951, Editorial sec. Print.
Grantham, Dewey W. The South in Modern America. Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas, 2001. 81. Web.
Schuyler, George S. Black and Conservative; the Autobiography of George S. Schuyler. New Rochelle, NY: Arlington House, 1966. Print.
Schuyler, George S. "Views And Reviews." Pittsburgh Courier 18 Mar. 1944. Print.
William O. Douglas." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2011. Web.
Hall, Kermit L, eds. The Oxford guide to United States Supreme Court decisions New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss how Chief Justice John Marshall affected the American Judicial System. The reader will therefore first find a brief biography of John Marshall. Then the paper will explain in detail the origins of the Judicial Power to subsequently...
"Amazon." Encyclopædia Briticanna. Ed. The Editors of The Encyclopædia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2013. .
Ironically, in the land of the free, one’s rights can be compromised if Congress feels there is any “clear and present danger.” In his essay, “The Trial of Arthur Miller”, John Steinbeck defends Arthur Miller, while criticizing the actions of Congress and the House of Un-American Activities Committee using various historical comparisons. In the 1950’s, when the threat of communism was spreading throughout the U.S., Congress charged Arthur Miller for refusing to state the names of people associated with communism, as they claimed he was hindering their investigation. Steinbeck, a famous writer in his own right, praised Miller for protecting the lives of innocent individuals under the unjust pressure of the government: “I do not know what I would
Remy, Richard C., Gary E. Clayton, and John J. Patrick. "Supreme Court Cases." Civics Today. Columbus, Ohio: Glencoe, 2008. 796. Print.
"UNITED STATES v. JONES." Legal Information Institute: Cornell University Law School. 19 Nov. 2013 .
One hears about censorship of free word happening all the time in other countries, but did it ever happen in the United States of America? Not many people know that restriction of free speech and personal expression did in fact occur in America, mainly during the 1950s. During this tumultuous time, newfound fears of threatening outside influences, mainly political in nature, had set in and as a result the government tried to protect the American public from these “radical” ideas through the use of censorship, or a restriction in the flow of information or ideas. Working feverishly to control what they deemed inappropriate, they launched multiple programs to combat these influences. Unfortunately, the government’s reasonably good intentions warped and changed over time, and they wound up actually preventing the spread of culture and knowledge in America. This in turn had a lasting impact on the United States, both immediate and long-term. In essence, the 1950s was a time of fear, despair, and even disorder in the United States of America, as a desire to protect America led to a skewed witch hunt shown especially by the creation of the House un-American Activities Committee, censorship of literature, and censorship of music.
Emma Goldman’s Free Speech Fights served to not only emphasize the problems with the time period, but also served to illustrate her true character. Censorship and repression were large themes of the century. Goldman worked hard to attain equality through speech rallies and demonstrations, despite the charged hatred that she was met with. Nevertheless, Goldman was not the immortalized martyr that she is portrayed as. Through the time period, even she felt censored. She felt as if she could not speak her mind in regards to her emotions. Thus she liberated herself emotionally through her letter writing to her closest confidants. But Goldman’s struggle to uphold the first amendment begs the question: if this country is built on the foundation of equality, then how free really is free?
As outlined in the film, “Berkeley in the 60’s,” the direction of the free speech movement was not concretely defined right from the outset.
A V Dicey, Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution (10th ed 1964) 40.
Herbeck, Tedford (2007). Boston College: Freedom of Speech in the United States (fifth edition) Cohen vs. California 403 U.S. 15 Retrieved on March 2, 2008 from http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/comm/free_speech/cohen.html
From the opening sentence of the essay, “We are free to be you, me, stupid, and dead”, Roger Rosenblatt hones in on a very potent and controversial topic. He notes the fundamental truth that although humans will regularly shield themselves with the omnipresent first amendment, seldom do we enjoy having the privilege we so readily abuse be used against us.
"Tim O’Brien." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 17 Dec. 2013. .
“Everyone loves free expression as long as it isn't exercised” (Rosenblatt 501). In the article, We are Free to Be You, Me, Stupid, and Dead, Roger Rosenblatt argues for the people’s right to freedom of speech and expression, that is given by the U.S Constitution. Rosenblatt argues that freedom of speech is one of the many reasons the Founding Fathers developed this country. For this reason, Rosenblatt believes that we should be tolerant and accepting of other’s ideas and beliefs. Even if one does not agree with someone else, they need to be understanding and realize that people have differing opinions. Everyone has the right to free expression, and this is what Rosenblatt is trying to get across. The necessity of freedom of expression and the important values it contains is a main foundation for this country, therefore, Rosenblatt’s argument is valid.
The Young Reader's Companion to American History. Ed. John A. Garraty. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1994. 384+. Print.