SIGNIFICANCE: JONES V. FCC

Case Name: Jones v. FCC (The Sarah Jones Case) 
Citation: No. 01 Civ. 693 DLC, 2002 WL 2018521 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 4, 2002)
Topics: Indecency

After a radio station played Sarah Jones’ rap song “Your Revolution,” (see below) the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued to that radio station, but not to Jones, a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) for broadcast of an allegedly obscene song. Enforcement of the NAL would impose a fine of $7,000 on the radio station. The radio station, with Jones, made an administrative appeal. Sarah Jones nonetheless also sued the FCC in federal district court on the claim that the issuance of the NAL violated her First Amendment rights.

The Court dismissed her claim, finding (1) the FCC had not made a final ruling on the propriety of the NAL issuance, and judicial review will be available only after such a ruling; and (2) the Court lacked jurisdiction.

The Court dismissed the claim without a ruling, and the FCC has since rescinded its issue of the NAL against the radio station, finding that the song is not indecent and ending censorship of Jones’ song (see www.sarahjonesonline.com).

Your Revolution
Your revolution will not happen between these thighs
Your revolution will not happen between these thighs
Your revolution will not happen between these thighs
Will not happen between these thighs
Will not happen between these thighs
The real revolution ain’t about bootie size
The Versaces you buys
Or the Lexus you drives
And though we’ve lost Biggie Smalls
Maybe your notorious revolution
Will never allow you to lace no lyrical douche in my bush
Your revolution will not be you killing me softly with fujees
Your revolution ain’t gonna knock me up without no ring
And produce little future M.C.’s
Because that revolution will not happen between these thighs
Your revolution will not find me in the back seat of a jeep
With L.L. hard as hell, you know
Doing it and doing it and doing it well, you know
Doing it and doing it and doing it well
Your revolution will not be you smacking it up, flipping it or rubbing it down
Nor will it take you downtown, or humping around
Because that revolution will not happen between these thighs
Your revolution will not have me singing
Ain’t no nigger like the one I got
Your revolution will not be you sending me for no drip drip V.D. shot
Your revolution will not involve me or feeling your nature rise
Or having you fantasize
Because that revolution will not happen between these thighs
No no not between these thighs
Uh-uh
My Jamaican brother
Your revolution will not make you feel bombastic, and really fantastic
And have you groping in the dark for that rubber wrapped in plastic
Uh-uh
You will not be touching your lips to my triple dip of
French vanilla, butter pecan, chocolate deluxe
Or having Akinyele’s dream, um hum
A six foot blow job machine, um hum
You wanna subjugate your Queen, uh-huh
Think I’m gonna put it in my mouth just because you
Made a few bucks, 
Please brother please
Your revolution will not be me tossing my weave
And making me believe I’m some caviar eating ghetto
Mafia clown
Or me giving up my behind
Just so I can get signed
And maybe have somebody else write my rhymes
I’m Sarah Jones
Not Foxy Brown
You know I’m Sarah Jones
Not Foxy Brown
Your revolution makes me wonder
Where could we go
If we could drop the empty pursuit of props and the ego
We’d revolt back to our roots
Use a little common sense on a quest to make love
De la soul, no pretense, but
Your revolution will not be you flexing your little sex and status
To express what you feel
Your revolution will not happen between these thighs
Will not happen between these thighs
Will not be you shaking
And me, [sigh] faking between these thighs
Because the real revolution
That’s right, I said the real revolution
You know, I’m talking about the revolution
When it comes,
It’s gonna be real
It’s gonna be real
It’s gonna be real
When it finally comes
It’s gonna be real