Essence Magazine and Sexism in Hip-hop

Clap it up for Essence Magazine! This month they start their "Take Back The Music campaign" where take on the misogynist attitudes in hip-hop music and popular culture in general.

The editors write:

"The damage of this imbalanced portrayal of Black women is impossible to measure. An entire generation of Black girls are being raised on these narrow images. And as the messages and images are broadcast globally, they have become the lens through which the world now sees us. This cannot continue. We have debated this topic, often heatedly, at Essence. Some of us are fed up; others don’t see the big deal. But all of us agree that as representatives of the world’s foremost publication for Black women, we need to provide a platform for public discussion."

I'm glad that they plan to write honestly about this issue and not just bash Black men, which is the tendency of Black female culture critics. And though this is an encouraging step in the sexism in hip-hop discussion, as I pointed out to Lynne we need people inside the culture who have credibility to step up to plate (are you listening Mimi Valdez and Kim Osorio??)

UPDATE: Essence readers speak out.

Comments

[Bol]

Hip-Hop used to belong to women?

[Christopher Kendalls]

Essence might draw some attention to the mysoginism in hip-hop, but black feminists have done so since the very beginning. The only thing this article will accomplish is to bring the issue to the unitiated outside of both the feminist and hip-hop circles, which is primarily what Essence ends up attempting to do with most issues that plague the black community anyway, particularly when its talking about sexuality.

[Roni]

Thanks for posting this.

[Amayn]

My least favorite animal is the hippocrit. Damn didn't I just read this whole diatribe about how it's up to the leaders and not the hip-hop community, and music is for dancing blah blah blah. Now hip-hop is responsible for the mysogyny in the black community. GTF out of here. Please stop attacking the problem w/out looking at the symptoms my people. Art is a reflection of life. And get this, in case anybody missed it in 8th grade ed, sex is a part of life.

[Madison S.]

Well, I have worked in the entertainment industry for 10 years, directly out of college and the problem itself is not HIP Hop videos as a whole, the problem is the fact that we as a community always seem to find other races and other perceptions and perspectives more substantial than our own. We seem to denegrade our looks, bodies, background, etc in order to justifiy some inate need to belong. There was a segment on Access Hollywood where most of the popular magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, etc wouldn't use African Americans on the covers (with the exception of Halle Berry, Beyonce and Will Smith) and using the excuse that the covers wouldn't sell. This is ridiculous; the editor-in-chief at Glamour said that the issue where Queen Latifah was on the cover was one of their best selling features. Look at the European market; African American women are all over the TV, Movies, Billboards, print ads, etc..This train of thinking is the same way for years movie studios justified not making black or ethnic films and to this date there hasn't been one non-profitable black film because they don't cost that much in production and the stars are not paid in the 7 - 20 million per film category. Look at Hustle and Flow; the buzz around Hollywood is about the white actress in the film as being the next BIG thing; what about Terence Howard or the Black actress that was featured prominantly in the film? This is our fault because we don't write the networks and bombard the movie studios with our complaints and concerns. We just quietly seeth under our breath and allow this to keep happening. We comprise 13% of the population and that in itself is an awful amount of economic leverage, if we use it. Look at the Fall TV schedule, with the exception of Desperate Housewives with Afre Woodard, where exactly are any prominant African American women featured on the new shows? Now let us examine Ms. Woodards' character, I can almost assure you her character won't be fleshed out nor will it be substantial. At the ABC events most recently held, she wasn't introduced at the events, she wasn't spoken about, however Jolie Fisher was introduced as one of the new faces on the show. So this is a great indicator that Ms. Woodard's role won't be that valuable. Also her character has a teenage son; that will most assuredly mean he will either be a criminal or a playa; bet me on this. Also look at how during the NBA finals and playoffs; one of the Spurs is dating Eva Longoria and this was forced down our throats for months and my husband and brother brought up very good points. They said that if Tony Parker was dating say Halle or Beyonce, would that still garner as much hype or would Tony Parker be just another black man dating a black woman although both are much more famous, and successful????? Speaking of Tony Parker, lets not even open that door because in the words of my husband, he wouldn't even look at Halle or Beyonce once, yet alone date either of them because he has never knowledged at any time his African American heritage even though you see his father at the games.

The point I am trying to make is that we need to be more cohesive and less ashamed of our culture. The media manipulates us and the rest of the world with the images they want seen and the only way to prevent this is once again make our voices heard. Stop watching the shows, stop spending the money at the movies and stop buying the magazines because in the end, White America only hears and understands one thing; MONEY!

[Carmen]

I teach and mentor young girls ages 12-18. Some of their favorite past time is watching music videos.

There was a time that young women aspired to be teachers, doctors, lawyers even mothers. You know what I'm hearing now?!!

I want to be a stripper!!! and make money on music videos...

What the HELL IS GOING ON HERE?????
BRAVO Essence for taking this horrible mosgyny in the hip hop culture on!!!!

[carmen]

Why are women so complacent about misogyny in hip-hop music or any genre of music for that matter.

Can anyone answer that?

I don't care if you put a cool beat to lyrics that call women a bitch a whore or whatever..

Your still calling her a bitch a whore or whatever.

[kevin]

The problem is that parents are not communicating with their children. They are trying too hard to keep their children from viewing the videos and such instead of trying to educate them about what it is that they are looking at. Parents-your children will see these videos and listen to this type of music without you being there. One of the things that we as parents always say to our chidren is that where there is a will there is a way, and these children find a way. So educate them about what they are looking at on T.V. and stop trying to sensor what it is they look at. I know we can't all be at home we have to work; however you do cross your childrens paths at some point during the week. Take the time to sit down with them and ask them streight up"what is going on in the hip-hop world?" or "do you find it strange that you never see that much bling where we live sweetie"? I'll continue this later i have so much to say on this matter and i know my words are all over the place ladies and gentlemen, but i have got to go to class. out! G-sharp

[kevin]

The problem is that parents are not communicating with their children. They are trying too hard to keep their children from viewing the videos and such instead of trying to educate them about what it is that they are looking at. Parents-your children will see these videos and listen to this type of music without you being there. One of the things that we as parents always say to our chidren is that where there is a will there is a way, and these children find a way. So educate them about what they are looking at on T.V. and stop trying to sensor what it is they look at. I know we can't all be at home we have to work; however you do cross your childrens paths at some point during the week. Take the time to sit down with them and ask them streight up"what is going on in the hip-hop world?" or "do you find it strange that you never see that much bling where we live sweetie"? I'll continue this later i have so much to say on this matter and i know my words are all over the place ladies and gentlemen, but i have got to go to class. out! G-sharp

[Bruce George]

The International Hip-Hop Speakers Bureau Announces New Partnerships with HipHopCanada.com and Hip-Hop Japan
NEW YORK, NEW YORK August 02, 2007 Music: Rap and Hip Hop News

(PRLEAP.COM) NEW YORK CITY, NY – The International Hip-Hop Speakers Bureau announced today its expanded global reach through partnerships with HipHopCanada.com and Hip-Hop Japan. With relationships now expanding beyond domestic borders, the bureau has rapidly become the most sought-after lecture management agency for presenters of Hip-Hip and its related culture.

Armed with a roster of Hip-Hop executives, authors, artists, intellectuals and tastemakers, the bureau seeks to decriminalize Hip-Hop’s public image by providing speakers for lectures, keynote addresses, presentations and panel discussions. "This is simply my innovative offering to elevate Hip-Hop one mic at a time," said Saideh Browne, President of the bureau. "Because of our independence from record labels and other corporate interests, our speakers are free to address today’s hottest topics from a Hip-Hop perspective.”

With Bruce George, co-founder of Def Poetry Jam, serving as the Executive Consultant/VP of Business Development and Dee Dee Cocheta, President of A.B.C. Associates PR & Marketing Firm in Atlanta Georgia, serving as the VP of Marketing and Public Relations; colleges, universities, non-profit organizations and national associations can rest assured their speaker/investment is armed with more than “you know what I’m sayin’,” and that presentations will really challenge audiences to seek solutions to and question the ideals of many hot-button issues. The site will rotate its featured speakers on a regular basis; recently featured speakers include:

• Renowned Hip-Hop Photographer Ernie Paniccioli
• Professor Griff of Public Enemy
• Relentless Aaron who recently released a novel on 50 Cents’ G-Unit Books
• Djuan Coleon, Co-CEO, The Good Life Media Group
• Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers

Interested event managers and meeting planners are encouraged to contact the bureau’s global headquarters for the most updated roster of speakers and availability. For added convenience, many of our speakers can be booked directly through the website at www.HipHopSpeakersBureau.com, via email at sb@HipHopSpeakersBureau.com or by telephone at 212-330-9140.

About The International Hip-Hop Speakers Bureau
The International Hip-Hop Speakers Bureau is the leading lecture management agency for Hip-Hop and urban culture experts. Headquartered in Times Square-New York City, with affiliates in Japan, Canada and the UK, the bureau seeks to consistently offer a wide-range of speakers who address today’s hottest topics from a Hip-Hop perspective.

About Saideh Browne
After working as KRS-One’s personal assistant and seeking the truth about spirituality and metaphysics, Saideh made her exodus from the Hip-Hop industry in 2003. Since then, she has nationally released three non-fiction books; From Hip-Hop to Heaven, From Hip-Hop to Heaven for Girls and Can Hip-Hop be Holy? Saideh serves as the President of The International Hip-Hop Speakers Bureau and travels extensively throughout the country encouraging those who hear her voice to simply “rock your skills.”

Saideh Browne, Bruce George, Dee Dee Cocheta and most of the registered speakers with the bureau are available for interview .

~ end ~

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Saideh Browne
Speakers Bureau
Email Speakers Bureau
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[alex]

YOUNG BUCK IS THA HARDEST RAPPER I'VE EVA LISTENED TO