This blog below was written by Claire Brooks, a junior at St. Mary's College of CA:
Moraga, CA – Last night at Saint Mary’s College of California, the Hip Hop and Social Justice Series hosted a performance by the hip hop artists Kiwi and DJ Owlboogie. Kiwi was brought because he raps a lot about social issues in the community, differing from a lot of mainstream artists.
Kiwi’s performance was energetic and up-beat and DJ Owlboogie did a fantastic job with the music. Kiwi was a very likable performer, engaging the audience at every possibility. He kicked off the performance with a piece that hit home for all of the students present in the audience, about the government taking away funding for education. It was obvious that he really feels passionately about the lyrics to his songs.
Kiwi’s enthusiasm during the night never died down, as he constantly encouraged the audience to cheer, put their hands up in the air, and sing along by repeating the lyrics. He periodically stopped in between songs to discuss their meanings and say a little about who he is as a hip hop artist, and graciously thanked the audience for being there.
At the end of the performance, a short question and answer session was held for students to ask Kiwi and DJ Owlboogie any questions. One student asked Kiwi what he would say to the students who are involved in a protest that are camping out on the chapel lawn at the school. Kiwi was well-informed with his answer, stating that he had read the students’ list of demands, and that their requests for greater diversity and equal opportunities should be implemented not just at the school, but everywhere, and that he supported them in their endeavors.
Kiwi and DJ Owlboogie were a great choice of a performance as part of the Hip Hop and Social Justice Series at SMC. Kiwi’s lively and passionate performance and insightful commentary were an excellent addition to the night.
This was written by Claire Books, a junior at St. Mary’s College of CA. Note: this is also being published in the April 20th edition of the school newspaper, “The Collegian”:
Moraga, CA – On Wednesday night, The Hip Hop and Social Justice Series of Saint Mary’s College of California hosted a movie screening, where the documentary film Estilo HipHop was shown. This movie follows the lives of several hip hop artists from Latin American countries, such as Cuba and Chile, as they struggle to succeed against their adversaries.
All of the artists featured are involved with social activism, such as doing community work with teenagers to keep them off of the streets and off of drugs. These artists make music and rap with a purpose, unlike many mainstream hip hop artists that perform just to make a buck. Eli Efi, a rapper from Brazil, raps about racism, and discusses his role in the hip hop group Defenders of the Black Movement (DMN). The film stated that in Brazil, the average income of white families is 125% higher than that of black families.
Magia, a female hip hop artist from Cuba, wants to defend the role of women in hip hop. She teams up with her husband and other artists to produce hip hop events in her country and writes songs about the problems and prejudices that women face in society. Her and her group are shown working with CDs in the film because they stated that they can’t afford turntables, and even if they could, they are not sold in Cuba, most likely due to the trade embargo that causes shortages on virtually everything, even necessities such as medicine.
One of the artists featured in the film, Guerrillero, from Chile, insisted that instead of just trying to raise awareness for the issues that the people in his country face, he wanted to raise consciousness. The difference, he said, was that although we are already aware of poverty, racism, and class division, with consciousness we aim to ask why these things are present in the world. Rap, for him, is his “political weapon of choice.”
All of the artists in this film are shown speaking and performing in their native languages with subtitles shown beneath. Rather than detract from the film for the English-speaking viewers, it enhances the experience, because we are able to see the artists rapping in their own languages and hear how their lyrics and music flow together magnificently.
This documentary is a great choice for anyone who is interested in learning more about social activism in the hip hop community around the world.
Note: the following was written by a PR group, for a PR class, called Image 360 (of which I, Jenn Kennedy, am a part of).
The Hip Hop and Social Justice Series at Saint Mary’s College of CA is bringing Kiwi and DJ OwlBoogie, two Bay Area hip hop artists, to Saint Mary’s on April 20th for a free performance.
Unlike mainstream groups, independent performers, such as Kiwi, use hip-hop to further discussions on social justice issues such as issues of race and class. Kiwi is a Filipino community activist and hip-hop artist. His music, according to SpeakoutNow.org, combines “the fierceness of Chuck D, the poetics of Talib Kweli, and the rhythm and swagger of Kanye West” and carries a message of “self-determination, anti-imperialism, and community pride.” He has used his music to raise awareness about the human rights crisis in the Philippines. He also helps run the Hip Hop Workshop series for young people in San Francisco at the Filipino Community Center. Kiwi has performed at concerts of bigger names, such as the Black Eyed Peas and Common. He is a former member of Native Guns, the Filipino Hip Hop group, which captivated audiences nationwide with its “hard-hitting beats, machine-gun lyricism, and unapologetic critical content” (as found at Native Gun’s Myspace blog). You can read more about him at Speakoutnow.org.
DJ OwlBoogie is a Bay Area DJ. He has been performing since 1990. OwlBoogie works as both a back up DJ for Kiwi and opens for other artists such as Total Devastation. He, also, posts on Mixcrate, which is a site for DJs’ mixes. (All of this information and more about him can be found at http://owlboogie.com/bio.html).
Again, this performance is free and will be held on April 20 from 7:30-9:30 pm in the Soda Center at St. Mary's College of California. This event is just one of several the series has planned this semester – I encourage you to check them all out. Spread the word and hope to see you there!
Here is a review of a movie about Krumping called "Rize" written by Claire Brooks, a junior at St. Mary's College.
“Rize” is a raw and emotional 2005 documentary film produced and directed by David LaChapelle. It chronicles the lives of young people who use a form of hip-hop dancing called krumping as a form of artistic self-expression and as a way to overcome the hardships in their lives.
This movie mainly focuses on people living in the Los Angeles area, complete with in-depth interviews with key players in the krumping world, such as Tommy the Clown. The film includes stunning visuals of dance competitions as well as explanations of how this type of dance has helped the young people featured stay away from a life of gangs and substance abuse.
The interviews in “Rize” are so honest and sincere that after viewing this film you will come out with a new understanding of what exactly it means to “get krump” and you will feel as if you knew each of the featured dancers personally. You will cheer for them as they go against the mainstream and conquer the twists and turns that life in their neighborhoods constantly throws at them.
The people that are interviewed in the film give us a very personal and real view into what life is like for them and how important this style of dance is for them. Even a person with no prior knowledge of hip-hop dance would be able to enjoy this documentary and learn the significance of krumping after watching the film.
“Rize” will surely keep you entertained and enthralled while at the same time revealing new insight into the realm of hip-hop dance culture as you watch the people in the film “rise up” to face their challenges.
The following blog is from a contributing writer, Mark Freeman, who is a senior at Saint Mary's College and an Economics major.
The People vs. Sexy Bitch – a battle for Hip Hop’s soul
By Mark Freeman
“Can’t leave rap alone, the streets need me / Hunger in they eyes is what seem to feed me,” raps Common on his song, “The People.” The song, one of the few bright spots in mainstream hip hop is a rarity – it combines a positive message, “Good days have come, now we are one” Common says, with a connection to people on the street, as opposed to people in the clubs.
Common is hardly alone. There are plenty of artists, including Bay Area based BRWN BFLO and Kiwi who try to use the genre to promote social justice. Kiwi’s song, “Imagine,” for instance, is spliced with clips from speeches of Martin Luther King Jr.
Other hip hop artists use their music to showcase the ugly reality of life on the street. Ise Lyfe’s “Beautiful” talks about those whose lives are cut short too soon. “She was so beautiful, she was here, now she’s gone,” he sings. The video for “Beautiful” even depicts a drive by shooting – “They tryin’ to get they life right / stay out of the night life / but haters on the block hate to see him get his life right,” Lyfe raps. This is the kind of music that tugs at heartstrings and forces one to critically think about society.
If only all hip hop were that way. Let’s now move to one of most popular songs in rotation right now – David Guetta and Akon’s “Sexy Bitch.” It’s hard not to miss this song – its thumping bass line makes it a favorite among club-goers. But the song only reinforces mainstream hip hop’s reputation as degrading to women.
The song seems to start innocently enough, as Guetta checks out a girl in a club. As he gets closer he sings, “I’m tryin to find the words to describe this girl / without being disrespectful.” But he gives up. “Damn, you’s a sexy bitch, a sexy bitch,” he chants.
Unfortunately, Guetta’s song is more typical of mainstream hip hop – a mindless club tune with little substance.
But if you hunger for a more alternative hip hop scene and wan the music to inspire you, we have just the event. The Hip Hop and Social Justice Series at Saint Mary’s College is bringing Kiwi and DJ OwlBoogie to the campus on April 20 from 7:30-9:30 pm in the Soda Center. Stop by for an evening of entertainment and enlightenment.
Why does being a man mean you have to sleep with as many girls as possible?
Why does being a man mean you have to call other guys Fag or Sissy if they are “not macho enough”?
Why does being a man mean you can’t be feminine?
Why does being a man mean you put women down?
Why does being a man mean you have to have a lot of women after you?
Why does being a man give you the right to lead women on?
Why does being a man give you the right to treat women like your property or toys?
Why does being a man mean you have to be stronger than the woman?
Why does being a man mean you have to be more intelligent than a woman?
Why does being a man give you the right to have sex with a lot of women?
Why does being a man give you the right to dominate?
Why does being a man give you the right to call someone a “slut”?
Why does being a man give you the right to decide if someone is a slut?
Why does being a man mean you get to make the decisions?
Why does being a man mean you get to decide who I am?
Why does being a man mean you can technically be a “slut” and it’s okay, but a girl can’t?
Why does being a man mean you have the right to treat me as less than I deserve?
We see images of this across our culture; in the media, in our friends, and in social settings including clubs, bars, & parties. It’s prevalent across all main steam media and music including mainstream hip-hop. We hear the word “no homo” or hear girls being called “bitches” and “ho”s. Even women learn to degrade themselves. Kesha’s new hit “blah blah blah” says “shut up and show me your dick” as if to say everything is all about sex and my brain doesn’t matter; just my body and how I please you. We’ve all learned to conform to these definitions of masculinity and femininity when really we should be challenging what these words mean. Who is to tell us if we are man enough or woman enough? We are who we are. So go ahead and challenge what society tells us to be.
ATTN SMC students, faculty/staff, alumni, and community members in the area:
The Hip Hop and Social Justice Series has many great events coming up for Spring of 2010 that you should check out. Here is a calendar of their events. Feel free to contact me for more information at the Series' email at hiphopsmc@gmail.com.
“Piece by Piece” movie screening, a documentary on graffiti in San Francisco. This event will also include a free raffle drawing for a chance to win your own copy of the movie.
When: March 25th from 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: Hagerty Lounge, Saint Mary’s College, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, Moraga, California 94556
“Estilo Hip Hop” movie screening: a movie about the hip hop activists Eli Efi, Guerrillero Okulto, and Magia from South America
When: April 14 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: Hagerty Lounge, Saint Mary’s College, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, Moraga, CA 94556
Kiwi and Dj Phatrick Performance: Kiwi is a Filipino hip hop artist, who, also, helps run the Hip Hop Workshop series for youth in San Francisco at the Filipino Community Center. He is performing with DJ Phatrick, who co-started the Bay Area Music Project, which is a recording project for youth. They are both former members of Native Guns. More biographical information can be found at speakoutnow.org. This performance is free of charge.
When: April 20 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where: The Soda Center, Saint Mary’s College, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, Moraga, CA 94556
Note: this blog entry has been written by Mark Freeman, a Saint Mary's College student, a senior, and an economics major:
It’s been said that graffiti is one of the pillars of Hip-Hop culture. Indeed, this lyrical and controversial art form has a storied history in San Francisco. This month, the Hip-Hop and Social Justice Series is bringing you a screening of Nic Hill’s 2004 documentary Piece by Piece, which artfully captures the energy of the city’s graffiti artists and the underground culture of the city.
Piece by Piece reveals how graffiti artists in San Francisco took an existing art form and transformed it into one not seen in other parts of the world. The film also looks at how one establishes credibility in the graffiti community and also gives voice to law enforcement agents, who are often at odds with the artists. Praised by Variety as “dynamically assembled” and an excellent look at 20 years of urban culture, Piece by Piece is a film not to be missed.
Date: March 25
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00 pm
Place: Hagerty Lounge in De La Salle Hall
For more information visit http://www.piecebypiecemovie.com
I started talking about this back in December… but I really want to get a discussion going on the idea of what it means to stick to your feminist beliefs. As I said in December: “I sit here stuck with this diluted sense of what a woman is. Society tells me one thing and my feminist beliefs tell me another. But then what am I supposed to actually do? How am I supposed to resolve this conflict?”
It is February and these ideas are still bothering me. It is one of the things I think about quite often. So please take a second to sit back and think about things you do or observe and think about these questions that follow. Please share with us all by commenting to this blog.
Questions to think about…
Am I a feminist if I like to get guys to buy me drinks?
Am I a feminist if I conform to the consumerist ideal of needing make-up to be hot, beautiful or sexy, and wear make-up on a daily basis?
Am I a feminist if I love to wear mini skirts, dresses, heels, tights?
Am I a feminist if I shave my legs?
Am I a feminist if I get guys to pay for things for me?
Am I a feminist if I flirt to get someone to help me with something?
Am I a feminist if I get self-conscious every time I don’t wear make-up or look “cute?”
At times I wonder how can I get mad at the way women are presented as sex objects in the media if I myself am using my femininity to get my way and if I am conforming to a cultural standard of beauty in the fashion I wear and the make-up I put on my face. What do you all think about this conflict women face? How can one be a feminist?
I am back from Ireland. It was quite an amazing trip. While taking a history class, we got to travel all over the Island from Dublin to Trim to Belfast and Derry to Galway and Waterford, not to mention a few other towns. We saw lots of castles and cathedrals as well as megalithic tombs such as New Grange. I highly recommend visitng Ireland if you have the opportunity. Go visit New Grange, a giant megalithic tomb that you can actually walk inside of. Visit the Guinness Factory in Dublin of course and get your "free" pint. Go to the National Art Gallery in Dublin to see Irish art. Try Bulmer's pear cider. Go to the archeology museum in Dublin to see dead people who have been preserved by a bog. And don't forget to check out dancing and live music at local pubs and to talk to the locals. However, as amazing as all of these things were, the best part of the entire trip was taking a tour of the housing in Belfast to see the peace walls that divide the Catholics from the Protestants. Here are some pictures of a large one on Shankill Road that has remained longer than the Berlin Wall did. Enjoy and stay tunned for more blogs coming soon....
Hi everyone, I'm visiting my family for the holidays and then will be off studying abroad for the month of January. I'll be back in February. Look for my new blogs starting February. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Peace & Love.
Supposedly we’ve come such a far way in women’s issues since women got the right to vote and all. Some people seem to just accept that men and women are equal now. But in reality we are so far from it. Our society sees men as having the power still for sure. But I feel as if it is even worse now, because it doesn’t feel as obvious. Women are in the work place and in college, so there is this illusion that women are treated equally. But the reality is something different…
I’ve witnessed women being seen or talked about as the ones who have to worry about rape and sexual assault, but men do not. Women just shouldn’t get drunk or wear that skirt. When seriously, when the hell are men going to start taking responsibility?! Why should I not be allowed to drink, but a guy can get blacked out drunk?! Why should I have to chose what to wear based on what people will think of me because of that piece of clothing?! Don’t I have a right to dress how I want to dress for me?!
Plus, women are also often asked to take on conflicting roles. We’re supposed to be sexy and act “promiscuous.” At times that’s the only way a girl gets noticed. But yet, women are supposed to be proper and innocent. How the hell can you be both?! You dress one way or dance one way and you’re a slut and you dress another way and you’re boring or a prude or innocent or whatever. It feels like society wants women to be the impossible, instead of letting us be who we want to be.
Also, the whole concept of dating is sexist. The guy is supposed to pick you up and pay. And yet, we like it. Am I supposed to like this? I don’t even know what to think about it? Because do we actually want a guy to pay or are we taught to like it? Why isn’t it proper for the woman to pay?
On the street women are whistled at, advertisements turn women in to sexual objects waiting to be had, women’s ass and boobs are looked at before their eyes, and so on.
On the other hand, women get what they want with their sex appeal as a result. Shoot, even I do this. And when I sit back and realize that I use the fact that I am a girl to get things, is it wrong? Am I violating all things feminist that I stand for? I’m essentially playing into the role of what society deems it means to be a woman to get someone to do something for me. At the time, it seems normal, but then I sit back and realize, how much is what I just did engrained in me from society? Should I really be doing this?
I sit here stuck with this diluted sense of what a woman is. Society tells me one thing and my feminist beliefs tell me another. But then what am I supposed to actually do? How am I supposed to resolve this conflict?
In searching around in Google, I came across this interesting article by Jeff Johnson for CNN. Here is a preview of it:
“Hip-hop's alleged vulgarity, sexism and misogyny have been formally and informally challenged from the halls of Capitol Hill to the streets of Sugar Hill. Those outside the black and Latino communities, as well as those inside the hip-hop family have challenged it. Despite over a decade of engagement, many would argue that the images of women in hip-hop have become progressively and destructively more negative than at any other time in history.
Lyrics that were at one time provocative and merely suggestive are now blatant and overtly obscene. Music videos have become machismo fairy tales that have more "ogre and ass" scenes than the Shrek trilogy. These images attempt to pass off the objectification of black women specifically as "true beauty" in the name of entertainment. These images and lyrics, while acceptable for adults, are targeted to a demographic made up of young people ages 12 to 16. Studies have shown that these images, and more importantly these lyrics, play a role in how young people view themselves and process sex and relationships.
During the production of a documentary for BET, which focused on sex and hip-hop, I interviewed a panel of high school students. One of those students, a 15-year-old girl, stated that she was not satisfied with how she looked because she wanted to be like the girls in the videos. After all, the boys want to be with girls in the videos. One of the young men followed up by saying that the girls in the videos were cool to sleep with, but not to take home. In that very brief snippet of conversation, we get a sense of the negative impact that these sexist and misogynistic images have on hip-hop's biggest fans. Even with all this evidence, can we place the blame entirely on hip-hop? I say unequivocally, "No."
Hip-hop must accept a level of responsibility for the destructive reality played out in the lives of many young people as a result of the music. Hip-hop is one of the most vocal and visible delivery mechanisms for the language and imagery of sexism and misogyny. However, many politicians, pundits and haters demonize the art form, and more importantly, the young people that are a part of it, without putting the issue in its proper context…..”
Johnson ends his article with: “If we are to honestly deal with the real issues of sexism and misogyny in hip-hop, we cannot start and stop with hip-hop. Let's challenge the industry to be responsible for the images it produces and distributes, but simultaneously deal with the far-reaching and pervasive social and cultural deficiencies America has related to the protection of women.”
This is exactly what I’ve been feeling and talking about in my previous blogs. Elements, representations, and artists in hip-hop may be sexist or exemplify sexism, but hip-hop is not the only sexist aspects of our society. We should instead be critiquing aspects of it, but not attacking it directly. And as Johnson said, we cannot look solely as hip-hop. We must look at hip-hop and critique it, but we must go beyond hip-hop to look at all aspects of society that are sexist.
Another interesting discussion about this was on Bill O’Reilly’s show a few years ago, as was shared by my professor for Social Justice and Hip Hop class on our class’s blackboard. O’Reilly had Camron (rap artist) and Damon Dash (works for a record label) and a school principal on his show. The principal had a problem with rap/ hip-hop because of the lyrics and the music videos. Yet, Damon and Camron argue that it is no different than what is in the movies. This is just like what Johnson had mentioned before, in the sense that sexism, etc.., goes beyond hip-hop and rap. Damon and Camron also mentioned how there is more to hip-hop, such as the business success they are having. Bill O’Reilly seemed to take the side of the principal and say that hip-hop is a negative influence. To continue to watch the video go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnhUYWbW3jQ&feature=related
What do you think about both the video and the article?
Anna looks hot in full attire topped with a knowing smile
About the poet: "I am a Toronto based poet with a passion for classic literature and history. My poems have appeared in Canada in Authors (1995) and Quills (2009). They encompass keen observations on people and their environments and reference pop-culture." -John
Every where we turn, women are portrayed as nothing but sex objects. Our culture often puts the blame on and attacks Hip-Hop for this, but the image is everywhere (in advertisements, movies, and other images). Yet, in Hip-Hop, as I have blogged about before, black women are predominately the ones objectified and found in the music videos. What is most upsetting to me is when women artists, objectify themselves or other women in their own videos. This image is so prominent in the media and our culture that women should be speaking out against it or at the very least not participating in it themselves.
I recently watched Beyoncé’s newest video for “Video Phone” and with as big of an artist as she is, it was upsetting to see how she portrayed herself in her video. She has a lot of influence on people due to her popularity but she is not using it to her own advantage. The video begins with Beyoncé walking in front of four men. Initially it would seem to empower her because she is walking in front of them. Yet, they are all dressed the same, which takes the attention off of them and on Beyoncé, who is not fully dressed. One can argue that it is her video and it is empowering her to walk in front of the men and have the attention on her, but it could also be argued that she is becoming merely a sexualized object to stare at as she walks. She is, also, wearing a mask and thus hiding her identity, whereas the men are not. It could be read as she is a super-hero with body guards, but it can also be read that her identity is less important than her body image. There is then another scene where two men have cameras for heads and she is in a black dress and again has a mask. The men move there heads so as to take pictures of her but their focus becomes on her butt and her boobs. Instead of her beauty and identity being shown, she is masked and objectified by having her butt and boobs become the focus of the frame.
In another scene, a man is tied to a chair and masked. One would think that it puts the power in the hands of the other people in the frame. Yet, instead the man tied up has more power than Beyoncé. Beyoncé has her leg all over the man and has her hands rubbing down his shoulders sexually. Then in another scene she has a fake gun in her hand and two men have bags tied over their heads but heads are positioned towards her and are moving their heads as if to check her out. In every image Beyoncé presents herself as something sexualized to be stared at.
In one scene, Beyoncé is crouching next to a gun and rubs it up and down insinuating something sexual. She then pops her butt and grabs her boobs. Later on with the same gun, she is thrusting her body at it and has a look on her face as if to insinuate sex.
The only image I see that can be somewhat empowering is when the man with the camera head is now getting shot with arrows and is stuck to a dart board. It could show that Beyoncé is not tolerating what he did. Yet, she has sexualized herself the entire time, staring straight into the camera as if to tell the audience to watch her and want her.
Beyoncé is one of the most popular women artists out there, yet she presents herself as a sex object throughout her entire video. She is not empowering herself or women through this video.
What do you all think of the way Beyoncé presents herself? Of the way other women artists present themselves? Do you think they have a duty to empower women in their lyrics and music videos?
"I am a Toronto based poet with a passion for classic literature and history. My poems have appeared in Canada in Authors (1995) and Quills (2009). They encompass keen observations on people and their environments and reference pop-culture." -John
“one woman every 45 seconds is sexually assaulted.”
After watching the movie Beyond Beats and Rhymes that statistic stuck with me. One woman every 45 seconds... One woman every 45 seconds....
Thus, I'd like to get a discussion going... What is your reaction to this? Why does this happen? Is it reflective of our culture? a lack of education? How do we change this? How do we stand up for women? What is our responsibility?
You are welcome to respond anonymously or with a fake name if it makes you more comfortable.
On October 29th, Deborrah Cooper was on Hard Knock Radio talking about the recent gang rape case in Richmond, CA. Through this episode, I found out who she was and heard about her website. Cooper writes advice columns as Ms. HeartBeat and has a blog at survivingdating.com. She discusses on this blog topics surrounding relationships and dating. For example, some of her more recent entries include: "Why rejection hurts" "When he won't take 'No!' for an answer" "Why men want submissive women" "What black women need to be happy"
This movie combines interviews with people critiquing Hip-Hop as well as artists themselves and aspiring rappers from places such as Spring Bling weekend in Florida. The movie discussed stereotypes of men such as being strong and tough, having lots of women (being a player), and being dominating. Byron called this being “in a box.” If men differ from this they are called “weak.” The documentary, also, looked at homophobia, sexism, and violence in Hip-Hop music (particularly how it relates to masculinity in Hip-Hop).
Jackson Katz had an interesting explanation as to why there is violence in hip hop. He said that the one thing people own and control is their body. People who have money have power through that money. Yet, poor people and minorities use their bodies to exert their power (or to have some sort of sense of power). Thus they portray themselves as tough both through their actions and presentations of their bodies.
Nelly was used as an interesting example of masculinity in Hip-Hop. Nelly tries to give back to the community and wanted to do a bone marrow drive at a school. Yet, because of how he objectified women in his “Tip Drill” video, he received resistance. In this video, one scene shows a credit card getting swiped down a woman’s butt.
Early on in the documentary, one of the people interviewed called Hip-Hop a “response to systematic violence” and a “reclaiming energy.” Yet, look at the images artists like Nelly portray. They show men as people who have sex with a lot of women and they show women as sex objects to be used and thrown aside.
The movie showed the effects of representations of masculinity and femininity through statistics:
“one woman every 45 seconds is sexually assaulted.”
“1 in 4 black women are raped after the age of 18”
“black women are 35% more likely to be physically assaulted than white women”
“61% of victims are under 18”
Why do Hip-Hop artists then continue to portray these negative images of women? Is making money really more important than the safety of women?
One of the aspiring rap artists interviewed in the movie said that rapping about things like police brutality does not get them record deals.
Yet, I can’t help but respond that the record labels wouldn’t be able to objectify women through the music they sign and sell if there wasn’t a single artist who would record an objectifying song. Why does making money have to always be the most important thing?
To hear more on this topic, check out the documentary on Google Video.
This poem is dedicated to any girl who has taken abuse from an abusive boyfriend/girlfriend or parent or relative, to any girl who has thought she deserved to be raped or assaulted or who has ever blamed herself for what has happened to her, and it is especially dedicated to the 15 year old girl who was gang raped in Richmond outside of a school dance in October 2009.
Be Strong
You are beautiful
You deserve a man who sees that
You are strong
You deserve a man who respects that
You are independent
You deserve a man who allows you your space
You are worthy
You deserve a man who respects you
You are special
You deserve a man who shows you that
You are not a whore
You deserve a man who proves you are not
You are intelligent
You deserve a man who appreciates that
You are a sexual being
But you deserve a man who can wait
You are sexy
But you deserve a man who likes you with your legs closed
You are allowed to party and drink
You deserve a man who takes care of you when you’ve had too much to drink
You are unique
You deserve a man who loves everything about you
You are talented
You deserve a man who brags about it
You are loving
You deserve a man who can love you with his words not his touch
Gwendolyn D. Pough in “Check it While I Wreck It,” has a section in her book in which she talks about the representation of women in Hip-Hop, particularly African American women. She says Black women are represented as “bitches, hos, stunts, skeezers, hoochies, and chickenheads” (93) as well as “Black mothers or dear mamas… and Black queens.” As Pough says, “These kinds of representations help remix the classic madonna/whore split” (93). Yet, Pough, also, brings up another aspect to representation of Black women in Hip-Hop that is not often talked about. This is that “woman” is often used as a symbol for Hip-Hop. She says that this type of representation has been used throughout time, not just in the Hip-Hop world. For example, “Theorist Mary P. Ryan writes of early American women who were not allowed to speak publicly but inspired public speaking. These women were the center of toasts and honored at civic celebrations, but they were not allowed to command the public space and speak. These women were also used as public symbols: they stood for and represented liberty and civic virtue and served either as outcasts or ornaments but never as wanted and validated speakers. So, basically, we can have a woman Statue of Liberty and a statue of a goddess of justice each representing the key virtues of public sphere, but women were not free to formally get up and argue for liberty and justice in the public realm. These national symbols and virtues can be compared to the practice of gendering Hip-Hop feminine” (94).
Gwendolyn D. Pough then uses Common’s “I Used to Lover H.E.R.” to explain how this occurs in Hip-Hop today. In this song Common talks about his love for Hip-Hop and uses “her” to refer to Hip-Hop. Here is a youtube clip of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y12YgEIFcAY. Pough points out that in the music video a woman is shown, but the women’s body is shown and focused on more than her face. Plough said, “The clothing she wears and the situation she is placed in represent the key stages of Hip-Hop culture. However, Hip-Hop gendered feminine has no agency. She is something men rappers love, something they do. She does not act; she is acted upon. She does not do; she is done” (94). Plough tells readers to not be confused by what appears to be a positive image in this video because “it does nothing to encourage women’s agency and participation in Hip-Hop” (94). The Hip-Hop industry is seen as a man’s world and Hip-Hop itself is seen as a woman. Neither of these aspects makes it easy for any women to break into the Hip Hop industry.
Plough concludes this section of chapter 3 in her book with: “The struggle to claim a space in the masculine sphere of Hip-Hop leaves women fighting not only the historical stereotypes that plague Black women but also the negative images and misconceptions attributed to Black women in Hip-Hop culture. In an effort to claim a space for themselves, Black women involved with Hip-Hop culture must continuously bring wreck” (97).
Plough’s chapter led me to think about how Black women are represented in Hip-Hop, particularly Hip-Hop videos. The most common image I see is half naked women wearing something very tight shaking their ass. Honestly, off of the top of my head I cannot think of a single other image which says how limited all other images are. This is very objectifying and places women as nothing but sex objects to be desired by males. They are not desired for their intelligence, but for their sex appeal. Even Common, who has some meaningful songs and lyrics, as Pough shows, presents problematic images for women.
Jamie Foxx (feat. T-Pain)’s “Blame it” video is an interesting one to look at, as far as a more recent popular song that presents a negative image of Black women. One of the first images of a woman is of her walking towards the camera, the lighting is poor or strategically placed so that one cannot see her face and thus the focus becomes on her boobs. The camera then shifts to focus on her backside and the focus becomes her ass followed by the legs of many women standing to the sides. This image compartmentalizes the women, turning her into many pieces to be desired instead of a whole beautiful and intelligent person. She becomes merely a piece of ass, or boobs. The next image is of a woman dancing in a cage, but due to the lighting she is merely a black silhouette. She is no longer a person with an identity, but a thing to be desired. Then when Jamie Foxx is on the dance floor with a woman, she is 100% focused on him and not the camera. This, thus, gives the power to the man and takes it away from the woman. These types of images plague Hip-Hop music videos. It not only is a horrible representation of women, but it objectifies and stereotypes Black women in particular. It is ridiculous how much women are overly sexualized and objectified. We shouldn’t have to stand for this any more, but yet how can we change it? How does it make you feel when you see these images?
Can you think of videos in which women are objectified, misrepresented, and so on? How do you see African American women portrayed in Hip-Hop videos? And what do you think of that portrayal?
Check out the National Women’s History project at nwhp.org. I used to volunteer with them in high school. They are a great organization, who is dedicated to getting women’s history out there and taught. Their webpage says, “The National Women's History Project, founded in 1980, is an educational nonprofit organization. Our mission is to recognize and celebrate the diverse and historic accomplishments of women by providing information and educational materials and programs.” Go to their webpage to get more information about them or to buy products from their store.
The following is the beginning of their about the NWHP section, but please go to their webpage to continue reading…nwhp.org:
“History helps us learn who we are, but when we don’t know our own history, our power and dreams are immediately diminished.
Multicultural American women are overlooked in most mainstream approaches to U.S. history, so the National Women’s History Project champions their accomplishments and leads the drive to write women back into history.
Recognizing the achievements of women in all facets of life – science, community, government, literature, art, sports, medicine – has a huge impact on the development of self-respect and new opportunities for girls and young women.
With an emphasis on positive role models and the importance of women from all backgrounds, the NWHP has developed a nationwide constituency of teachers, students, parents, public employees, businesses, organizations, and individuals who understand the critical link between knowing about historical women and making a positive difference in today’s world.
The NWHP is the catalyst, the content provider, the behind-the-scenes director of a myriad of activities promoting women as leaders and influential forces in our society. Over the past 25 years, the NWHP, founded in Santa Rosa, California, has established a nationwide presence as the number one resource for information and material about the unfolding roles of women in American history. The NWHP leads both local and national efforts, consults, publishes, distributes, inspires, advises, and networks with a wide variety of institutions and activists in the field.”
I went and saw Ise Lyfe’s performance over at Maxwell’s in Oakland tonight. It was an amazing show (besides that people were obnoxiously noisy so it was hard to hear at times and a few of the opening acts were drowned out by their bands during various moments). The location was perfect; a very chill venue. The show started with a rapper, followed by two female singers and a spoken word artist. The spoken word artist had a powerful piece about his one year old son that he is only allowed to see two Saturdays a month. When Ise came on stage, the crowd was definitely enthused, especially since the show took forever to start. Ise did an amazing job. He sang and performed his spoken word pieces. I highly recommend both checking out a show of Ise’s and going to Maxwell’s lounge on 13th street. Ise in his pieces was very energetic, took over the stage well, and propelled his emotions and passion into the audience. He is a very captivating performer. His topics are also very real and passionate. He talked about sexism in one piece: he talked about a specific girl (representative of all women) who took being called a bitch or a ho as normal. A lot of his pieces incorporate a critique on society or even just mainstream music artists. He, also, has a piece in which he creates an image of a woman who has matching shoes and handbag, but can’t feel her soul. He also critiques the images mainstream hip hop and rap artists portrayal of the African American community. He creates an image of a child years later asking his father about his history and what the father will have to show is music that uses the words bitches, ho, and the N word. Yet, Ise also has more comical pieces such a joking about his taxes going to pay for the bay bridge yet he stills has to pay money to cross it. He is serious, comedic, and a great stage performer. He is worth while to check out.
In an interview with Toni Blackman by Elaine Richardson in the book “Home Girls Make Some Noise: Hip Hop Feminism Anthology,” Elaine asked a question specifically about women in hip hop. The discussion follows:
“E: How would you describe the presence of Women in hip-hop and the music industry in general?
T: I think the presence of women in hip-hop, right now, uhm, it’s sorta strange. It’s strange for me to answer that question because I exist below the radar and I exist on the underground and I function in a community where women are doing most of the work, with regard to hip-hop organizing. However, when we step outside of this and we move to the music industry level, you see women doing work but not getting credit. You see women doing work but no getting recognized and then the artists you see in the public eye usually fit into a package of looking a certain way, of dressing a certain way, and fitting into a certain Hollywood stereotype, which had nothing to do with hip-hop music and culture. It’s not to discount their presence and their existence. But they don’t reflect my hip-hop and what I know hop-hop to be. So they’re there, but are they really?
E: Talk about it.
T: Are they really able to be true to themselves. And then for them, once hip-hop is show business. Once it’s all business to you, it’s not hip-hop anymore. Cause hip-hop is music, art and culture. So if this is just your business. You may as well just be selling toilet paper.”
What do you all think of what she has to say?
This led me to think about the females who are hit on the radio right now. Not necessarily just hip hop, but the really popular ones. The first person that came to mind is Lady Gaga. Her songs don’t help challenge the image of women as sex objects. Instead of, as a woman on top of the industry, challenging this, she sings about sex all the time and basically meaningless sex. Thus, she is not showing herself to be a strong and independent woman. Instead she is just fitting into the sexualized woman role that is true for most main stream women.
Her new hit Bad Romance:
“I want your ugly I want your disease I want your everything As long as it’s free I want your love .”
“Love Game” by Lady Gaga:
“I want to take a ride on your disco stick.”
Miss Elliot’s songs are also filled with graphic sexual lyrics.
Here are some of the lines from “Ching-A-Ling”:
“See my money maker, feel my money maker”
“Sex so good I ca freak you in my sleep”
“Pockets more bigger than a stripper booty cheeks”
“Let him hit it once and watch the dude come back”
These, women are not helping to empower women. I don’t think that they should be prevented from singing these lyrics. They are free to do as they please. But, in a society in which sexism is still found, it’s hard for me to only hear so many women singing about sex in such graphic ways. Men try to turn women into sex objects quite often. Women are taken advantage of, used, and not respected. There needs to be more messages out there and images of strong women who will not tolerate being sex objects!!!
“I do not hook up. I go slow. So if you want me, I don’t come cheap…”
How do you all see women in hip hop? And women in mainstream music? What do you think about their presentation of self and of women? Do they represent women? Do they have a duty to challenge stereotypes of women as women in the public eye? Do you see women who do that?
Here is some fun entertainment for you on a friday night. These are all poems or spoken word clips on YouTube that address the issue of sexism: First, here is a little poem by me (Jenn Kennedy):
Vow of a feminist
I will not be your possession
I will not be your drunken toy
I will not be your trophy on your shelf
I will not be an object of obsession
I will not be your doll you dress and move
I will not be your maid service
I will not be waited on like a princess
I will not be bought with your money
I will not belong to your definition
I will not be an object of your sexual desires
I will not be whistled at, toyed with, stared at, looked up and down,
Side swiped by you hand at my ass, or my boobs
I will not be paid less than you
I will not be something pretty to look at
I will not be considered less intelligent than you
I will not be your puppy on a leash
I will not be your bitch, your ho, your girl
I will not shake my donk for you
I will not tell you where I am at all times
I will not ask your permission
I will not be domestic
I will not do laundry
I will not clean
I will not stay at home with the kids
I will not be just another girl on that list
I will not let you use alcohol as an excuse
I will not let you buy me drinks
I will not be your honey
I will not be that girl you brag about to your friends
I will not be your baby
I will not be taken care of
I will not get you a drink as long as you have two legs
I will not wait for you
I will not come when you call
I will not worship you like a God
I will not be what you want me to be
I will not fit your definition
I will not be
No more
Now, here are some spoken word pieces by other artists:
Spoken word artist Ise Lyfe will be at Maxwells on October 23rd. Maxwells is in Oakland, CA on 341 13th Street. Doors @ 8pm show @ 9pm. Buy tickets at airbornetickets.com. Tickets are $20 at the door and $15 online.
"One of the nation's premier spoken word artists and emcees, an educator, grass-roots organizer, and role model - Ise Lyfe is garnering national attention both as a visionary artist and as a community leader."
"As an artist, Ise was named one of the Bay Area's Top 25 Under 35 by City Flight magazine and his 2006 debut album spreadtheWord drew national acclaim. Fusing spoken word and hip hop, Ise's unique style of delivery and powerful content grasps his audiences, deconstructing the facade of dominant narratives." -Speak Out (speakoutnow.org)
Check out Marc Bamuthi Joseph on November 2nd at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The address is 2025 Addison St. in Berkeley. the shows starts at 8 p.m., but doors open at 7. The tickets are $20. If you are 17 years of age or younger, the tickets are $10. However, if you are a group of 10 or more, a reduced rate will be offered. The organization Speak Out is responsible for bringing Marc to the Rep. Theatre and are recommending that you buy tickets in advance. For tickets fo to www.speakoutnow.org or call 5106010182. Call and ask about group rates.
Saint Mary's College students, if you see me around campus, ask me for a flyer.
Here are some youtube videos of Marc Bamuthi Joseph: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma5PKPwBtEI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWRD-4Ah2LQ&feature=related
You can also find out more about him at speakoutnow.org
Why does mainstream hip hop encourage sex while under the influence? Do people not understand that that is sexual assault?! Technically one cannot consent while under the influence.
In an interview I did with the old Coordinator of Sexual Assault, Awareness, Outreach, and Education at Saint Mary’s College of CA for the school newspaper, Joanna Snawder, she said that consent cannot be given for sex if one is under the influence of drugs or alcohol (she was specifically explaining Saint Mary's College's policy at his time).
According to California Penal Code Section 289: “(e) Any person who commits an act of sexual penetration when the victim is prevented from resisting by any intoxicating or anesthetic substance, or any controlled substance, and this condition was known, or reasonably should have been known by the accused, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a period of three, six, or eight years.”
This was found at http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/289.html
As I listen to the radio on my way to school and work, just about every song is filled with sexist comments. Yet, more and more I’ve been picking up on the prevalence of alcohol.
Check out some of these lyrics:
“Blame It” by Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain:
“She said she usually don't (don't don't), but I know that she front (front front) 'cause shawty know what she want, but she don't wanna seem like she's easy I ain't saying what you wanna do, but you know we probly gon' do what you been feenin deep in si-ah-ah-ide, girl let it out now
Know what you drinkin, go on let it sink in, Here for the weekend, thinkin, we can see where we can be if we press fast forward Just one more round if your down i'm for it Fill another cup up, feelin on your but what You don't even care now, i was unaware of how fine you was before my buzz set in, my buzz set in
Blame it on the goose, gotcha feeling loose Blame it on the 'tron, gotcha panties off Blame it on the ah-ah-ah-alcohol, blame it on the ah-ah-ah-alcohol Blame it on the vodka, blame it on the henny Blame it on the blue tap got you feeling dizzy Blame it on the ah-ah-ah-alcohol, blame it on the ah-ah ah-ah ah-al-co-hol”
Seriously?!… Jamie Foxx flat out admits to getting a girl drunk and having sex with her, but then claims that she really did want it, she just didn’t want to seem easy. WHAT?! You cannot assume anything!!! Excuse me! Alcohol is not an excuse for any behavior. And musicians should not be condoning taking advantage of a drunk girl. It is wrong!
“Buy You a Drink” by T Pain
“I know the club close at 3. What’s the chances of you rollin’ wit me? Back to the crib, show you how I live. Let’s get drunk, forget what we did.”
Again, why do you want to take advantage of a girl?! Seriously get some respect. You don’t want her to remember? And you don’t want to remember either? Seriously?! What’s the point if you don’t remember? Are you that desperate? Do you just think women are a piece of meat? What? I don’t get it.
“Lollipop” by Lil Wayne
“Shawty wanna thug. Bottles in the club. Shawty wanna hump. And oh I like to touch your lovely lady lumps. She wanna lick the rapper”
First, he has to get her drunk with “bottles in the club” and then she wants the rapper. And second, she doesn’t have a face, just “lady lumps.” Lil Wayne turns women into sex objects and is sending a message to the entire world that it is okay to get women to have sex with them by using alcohol and getting them drunk.
This continues to perpetuate sexism. Now, not only are women objectified and turned into property, but now we are seen as someone who you can get drunk and take advantage of. Women are portrayed as desiring that. Through the mainstream, women are portrayed as drunken sluts asking for it. This is far from the truth. Most women are not like the women in the videos. This is detrimental not only to women but men. It continues an image of women that can cause both men and women to misunderstand what it means to be a woman. These ideas and images are created in our heads about women from what is around us. Yet, how can we expect people to respect women and fight to end sexism if these are the images our culture is portraying to the general public.
I leave you with this, what do you think about the portrayal of alcohol and women in music and American culture? What specific examples do you see of this?
Every day I hear people talking about hip hop and everyone seems to define what it is differently and talk about it in their own way. Some only see it as the mainstream stuff (music, videos), the fashion that comes with that, and the commercialized dance that comes with it. While others see it as something completely different from that definition. As a result, I’d like to pose a question to all of you, how do you define hip hop and what does it mean to you?
I personally, growing up, had a definition of hip hop that did not expand much past MTV, mainstream hip hop, and all that comes with that type of music. For example, in middle school, when I thought of hip hop I thought of Dr. Dre, Eminem, Missy Elliot, Jay Z, LL Cool J, The Notorious B.I.G., Ludacris, P. Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Nelly, and so on… I did not think about hip hop as much more than music that then influenced fashion and dance. I definitely didn’t see the whole picture.
As I started to grow up, have more experiences, and meet new people, I slowly began to see more aspects to hip hop. This included learning about different dance forms of hip hop, although I would never call myself an expert or claim to know a lot. I, also, became aware that there were hip hop artists beyond the mainstream, who were underground and/or politically conscious. Although, I never really got into any of that music, I was more just aware of its existence.
Now that I am in a Hip Hop and Social Justice class, I have begun to see hip hop more and more as its own culture in the world. I have begun to see hip hop, as Ise Lyfe described in a visit to one of our classes, as “a reaction to poverty.” Hip hop results from a sense of being oppressed, of a lack of equality, and a lack of equal opportunity. Hip hop is more than just the mainstream music that everyone thinks of and hears on the radio day after day. Hip hop is social justice work in a sense. Hip hop encompasses much more than just the music. It is dance, it is graffitti, it is spoken word, it is DJing, and so on. The movie Rize about krumping is a great example of an aspect of hip hop. This movie is about the history of Krumping, and even features Lil C before he was famous for being a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance? In a community filled with violence and a history of riots and police brutality, individuals formed groups where they dressed up as clowns and did krumping at things like parties. (if you want further explanation comment me or rent the movie.) It was a way for individuals to not only express themselves but it kept them, in an environment of violence, away from doing other things. It was a way for them to form support communities to help each other remain in school and to keep away from doing other things that occur in the streets (including gang involvement and drug dealing). This is a part of hip hop. There are songs out like anything by Ise Lyfe, the Flobots (they are amazing live and worth checking out), Public Enemy, The Coup, and many more that raise awareness to injustices in the world and challenge or confront the main stream media and/or political system. This is what hip hop is. Graffiti art in an attempt to express themselves and at times even makes political statements. This is hip hop.
Thus, when you look at lyrics like I posted in my last blog that are very sexist, this is not all that hip hop is. We just generally only see this because we are outside the rest of hip hop culture. We do not belong to the culture from which it comes. Mainstream hip hop, on the other hand, degrades and perpetuates sexism, but this is not what hip hop is. That is what mainstream is. It is reflective of the American culture we live in and it must be addressed. Hip hop is a movement against conditions of poverty, but here the mainstream music is degrading women. It is something that must be addressed and must be confronted, but we must remember that hip hop itself should not be solely attacked. It is a part of American culture and thus is present in mainstream hip hop. It is the culture at large that must be confronted, not necessarily hip hop itself or hip hop only. If you are going to attack hip hop for being sexist, make sure to attack the American culture as well.
There are feminist hip hop artists out there. Check out some of these sites:
1) Sisterz of the Underground: ”(SOTU) is a community, network, and support system created by, and for, females who choose Hip-Hop as a form of expression. As an open Hip-Hop collective,SOTU aims to encourage the integration of different elements of Hip-Hop, use the elements as tools for education and social change, as well as provide opportunities to showcase the elements -- such as the annual Sisterz of the Underground event.” –according to their webpage: http://sisterzunderground.com/index.htm
I would like to leave you with the question I started with. How do you define hip hop and how has that definition changed over the years? (Please feel free to respond by commenting on the blog itself, or posting something in the forum on the right side of the page.)
Tonight, October 2, Gil Scott Heron and Ise Lyfe at the Regency Ballroom at 9 pm. Order tickets now on the Regency Ballroom's webpage. You can print your tickets on there. Because it is the day of they are $33.50.
Marc Bamuthi Joseph will be at the Berkeley Repertory Theater on November 2nd. order your tickets now at speakoutnow.org
To get this blog started, think about all the hit songs currently on the radio. You’ve got “Good Girls Go Bad” by Cobra Starship, both of 3OH!3’s hits “Starstrukk” and “Don’t Trust Me” (Although I personally don’t consider these first two artists hip hop, they are played right along with hip hop songs on hit stations like 99.7), Jeremih “Birthday sex,” Flo Rida “Be On You,” various Pitbull songs, various Lil’ Wayne songs, etc…
These are the lyrics that fill these songs:
“Just set them up to knock them down” -3OH!3 (Perpetuating the support of dating violence?!)
“I think I should know how to make love to something innocent without leaving my fingerprints” -3OH!3 (What?!! you want to like take advantage of an innocent girl and run? Seriously?!)
“I’ll make them good girls go bad” –Cobra Starship (as if it is a bad thing to be “good”)
“I wanna be on you” –Flo Rida (not I want to be with you, or around you, but “on” you)
“If you get it we can play…. Even got a king sized mattress we can lay” –Pitbull “I Know You Want Me” (one track mind?)
“Forget about your boyfriend and meet at the hotel. You can bring your girlfriends and meet me at the hotel.” –Pitbull “Hotel Room Service” (Not only does Pitbull encourage promiscuous behavior but he is encouraging cheating)
“She lick me like a lollipop” –Lil Wayne “Lollipop” (apparently girls are just sex objects?! And Lil Wayne can’t even use proper grammar.)
Now think about how little kids hear these songs from their older siblings, from the television, and so on. Is this the way we want to raise our children to think about women, men, and sex?
Why are these the popular songs out there? I’m not saying these artists should be censored. But honestly, the most hit ones are the ones most derogatory about women, about sex, about getting drunk and having sex, about women as objects, and so on. Shouldn’t there be a balance somewhere? Where are the positive hit songs?
The best songs out there are songs like Ne-Yo’s “Miss Independent,” but I’d honestly say he has more of an R&B mixed with hip hop feel to him then the traditional mainstream hip hop song.
I came across an interesting poem the other day that exemplifies exactly how I feel about these lyrics. It is titled “Angry Woman” by Elan Ferguson and is featured in “Home Girls Make Some Noise: Hip Hop Feminism Anthology” edited by Gwendolyn D. Pough, Elaine Richardson, Aisha Durham, and Rachel Raimist. Here it is:
“Let me explain something
About this male dominated mess:
The lack of positive feminine energy
Creates a profit driven market that thinks less.
No more can I twirl in this existence,
Concerning myself with concepts of male thinking
I am NOT here to promote male and female genital linking.
IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT THE SEX!
But corporate America continues to exploit this.
Men think pleasure is key
But only alone can you truly understand bliss.
Respect for ones self can be displayed by trying Not to be
The man who goes after women like a fiend.
Only concerned with getting in between.
Women should no longer be burdened with lust and greed.
Men need to practice keeping theirs urges fenced,
And their idol judgments of whore have no relevance.
‘Cause their ain’t no whore like male arrogance
Pimpin’ the concepts of sexy young girls on everything
Victimizing the concept of women’s worth in order to bring
Us to an era where predators we’ve taught there young men to be.
So they rape and they exploit as they see on TV,
So they lie and manipulate as they hear on CDs,
So they’re harassing and disrespectful as they see older men be.
1 in 3 young girls below eighteen
Can be statistically claimed to be a victim or survivor of molestation or a VD
Can you see 1 in 3 is too much?
These men that hurt women must learn to redirect their lust.
Cause despite what some blind folks like to say,
Disease in her body was not created through Life’s way.
Her dancing on tabletops for sweaty guys is not the best sway.
Having sex with people and then sending money your pimp’s way.
All practices of those that pray for their last day.
All due to someone wanting to play.
It takes a stronger individual to repress primal inclinations.
All people should be respected
Whether they are from first, second, or third world nations.
Women are too often burdened with shame and guilt.
While some men have chosen to walk the earth causing pain and filth.
It is time to make choices on how we will behave.
No one can place the burden on Jesus to be saved.
The right way for us has already been paved.
It is TIME to step up and be respectful.
It is time to think clearly and stop acting neglectful.
Because change is not any one else’s job to do.
If you want change then YOU MUST DO WHAT YOU MUST DO!”
My name is Jennifer Kennedy. I am a senior at Saint Mary’s College of California. I am a Communication major and a Creative Writing minor. Welcome to my blog "Jenn's Outlook: Gender Politics and Hip Hop." This semester, I am taking a Communication class about social justice and hip hop. This blog is apart of the experience as a member of this class. We have each chosen our own projects and our topics to partake in. I plan to discuss through this blog, linked to my school’s Women’s Resource Center (WRC), the portrayals of women and sexism in mainstream hip hop, how sexism is addressed through hip hop, and finally some of the positive images of women in hip hop, particularly in non-mainstream hip hop and politically conscious artists. I would like to provide a space for people to comment back to me about my blogs, so that my blog space can become a discussion board between viewers of the webpage, not just me rambling about my opinions. I want to welcome everyone to challenge my opinions, add to my opinions, bring up their own topics, and so on. I would also like to encourage people to submit any creative writing or spoken word pieces they have written regarding sexism or hip hop. I plan to attend some WRC events, particularly ones where students are encouraged to write or share their own work, so that I can find pieces to post on my blog. (By the way, you are welcome to post anonymously). You can submit your work to me at hiphopjenn@gmail.com (This is not my personal e-mail, but an e-mail set up specifically for this blog). Please spread the word to your friends if this is a topic of your or their interest.
Now after explaining what I am going to do, many of you may be wondering what interest does a “white girl” from Sonoma County have in hip hop? First of all, I have always had an interest in issues around gender and women’s rights. I volunteered in high school at the National Women’s History Project. Last semester, I developed a particular interest in all that the Women’s Resource Center on campus had to offer. As for the hip hop aspect of my blog, my freshman year of high school, a competitive hip hop dance group came and performed at my high school. Instantly I fell in love with the dance. I begged my mom for classes and I actually went to the same dance studio the group was from. Ever since then, I’ve been in love with hip hop, particularly dance. Now, since I’ve taken this hip hop and social justice class my eyes have been opened to even more aspects of the hip hop culture. I am, also, currently the Public Relations officer of a hip hop dance group on campus called Pulses. Although I may not be the most knowledgeable about hip hop and the culture surrounding it, I am interested and passionate to learn and explore. So please join me in my blogging...
For now check out the following artists: Ise Lyfe (particularly the song “beautiful”), Talib Kweli, and Michael Franti.
