Hip-Hop Debate Focuses on Images of Women

[S. Fourteen]

same old shit, different date... but I thought I'd post it up anyway.

Wed Mar 23, 5:52 PM ET

By IMANI DAWSON, For The Associated Press

NEW YORK - A volatile topic inspired heated debate as several hundred people gathered to discuss the impact of misogynistic rap on black women.
*
Rapper Remy Ma, underground emcee Jean Grae, author and radio personality Karen Hunter (news), Essence magazine health editor Akiba Solomon and DJ Beverly Bond were featured on the panel, titled "Images of Women in Hip Hop," on Tuesday night at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

More than 300 people filled the auditorium to capacity, spilling onto the stage and into the aisles. Attendees listened raptly as panelists debated hip-hop's treatment of women before vociferously voicing their own deeply held beliefs.

The talk began with moderator Thabiti Boone, co-founder of the Hip Hop Political convention, condemning rapper Nelly's infamous "Tip Drill" video, which featured the artist swiping a credit card through a stripper's buttocks. Though nearly everyone agreed that the salacious video crossed all tasteful boundaries and blatantly disrespected women, the dialogue soon became chaotic.

Heated bickering between the panelists and the audience ensued, much to dismay of moderator Boone. On multiple occasions he was forced to quell catcalls, jeers or claps as the conversation addressed topics including parental responsibility versus community involvement in child rearing, the effect of rap videos on impressionable adolescents and even hip-hop's designation as a culture.

Remy, the lone female member of Fat Joe's Terror Squad clique, has many oral sex references in her raps on such hits as "Lean Back" and "Take me Home." During one exchange she declared, "I'm not here to raise anybody's children." Audience member and teacher Radha Blank retorted, "If you don't believe hip-hop is affecting young people, join me in the schools where junior high school girls are (performing fellatio) in the hallways."

Panelists occasionally interrupted or argued with each other. And the audience was equally divided — younger people repeatedly claimed that hip-hop's depiction of women accurately reflects the behavior of some females, while older folks insisted that rap's content negatively affects the behavior of both young men and women.

The program ran almost a half-hour long as panelists and audience members battled to articulate their opinions. It ended abruptly, with little solution-oriented discourse, leaving some frustrated and unsure about next steps.

"I really didn't think much was accomplished," complained Tanysha Chaffin, a youth specialist and caseworker. "It was an attack on hip-hop that didn't solve anything."

Others remained optimistic. "The campaign's goal is to open and further a dialogue on a sometimes unpopular topic," said panelist Solomon. "We observed tonight that this is an issue the community feels passionate about."

The panel was sponsored by Essence magazine and the Center for Communication, a nonpartisan forum designed to familiarize college students with the business of media. Inspired by the 2004 Spelman College protest of the "Tip Drill" video, Essence launched a yearlong "Take Back the Music" campaign in January, featuring articles in the magazine and town hall meetings around the country tackling stereotypes about black women perpetuated by hip-hop.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...=/ap/20050323/ap_en_mu/music_women_in_hip_hop

 

[roaches]

I just saw the video for that Lil Jon / Pitbull song. Whew.

"If you don't believe hip-hop is affecting young people, join me in the schools where junior high school girls are (performing fellatio) in the hallways."

Why did I have to go to the fucking gifted and talented middle school?

 

[Silleone]

if a woman will willingly go on a rap video and shake her ass then who the fuck is degrading her.

 

[Amara]

Audience member and teacher Radha Blank retorted, "If you don't believe hip-hop is affecting young people, join me in the schools where junior high school girls are (performing fellatio) in the hallways."

Well... to that.

Anyway, I think this is just another example of hiphop being used as a scape goat for deeper societal problems. Whether its crime or the degradation of morals...bla bla bla...quite simply what it comes down to is it is easier to target art forms that may be misunderstand rather than look for real causes. There are a great many reasons why youth behave the way they do (parental influence, education, the society they live in, and yeah sure, music and the media), but you cannot pin point and blame a single medium...it's just not that simple. We live in a modern society where there is freedom of expression and a liberated approaches to issues, that has good and bad effects, it's up to the individual to direct their actions as a result of that. I mean, I grew up in the same media environment as others, yet you wouldnt see me behaving like that in the school corridors, so there must be greater issues driving that behaviour.

 

[Tonio1986]

sticky icky

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

What age are junior high school girls? (excuse my dumbness, I'm British)

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

Answer my question please

 

[Foxmulder]

What age are junior high school girls? (excuse my dumbness, I'm British)

Give or take 13, 14 or 15.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

Oh right.

Well, I suppose the shock factor comes from the public nature of it.

 

[Amara]

Oh right.

Well, I suppose the shock factor comes from the public nature of it.

well yeah...naturally. Shit like that happen in the halls at your high school?!


btw, nice username, "fox mulder" lol. :thumb:

 

[S. Fourteen]

I wasn't part of it but things like that happend at a middle school near where I lived. Frances M. Grass Middle School, several reported rape cases and alot more unreported cases, 'things' happend under the stairs or any other place where it was dark. One of my good friends finger fucked a girl after school.

So yes, it does happen.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

well yeah...naturally. Shit like that happen in the halls at your high school?!

Nah it didn't but I thought part of the shock would come from the age of the girls (who I thought, due to the 'outrage', must've been like 10, 11 or that) but the ages given are normal so I came to the conclusion that it must've been the places in which it was happening that was so scandalous.

Check the brain on Calcuo!

Edit: After reading salty's post I just thought I'd mentioned, a dude I knew finger fucked a girl in class!! That was some nasty shit under the desk.

 

[Pezz]

Edit: After reading salty's post I just thought I'd mentioned, a dude I knew finger fucked a girl in class!! That was some nasty shit under the desk.

thanx for sharing that

 

[Amara]

I wasn't part of it but things like that happend at a middle school near where I lived. Frances M. Grass Middle School, several reported rape cases and alot more unreported cases, 'things' happend under the stairs or any other place where it was dark. One of my good friends finger fucked a girl after school.

So yes, it does happen.

Yeah I'm sure it does in some places, but you cant blame hip-hop for it like they were in the article!

btw, Calcuo, your quote says "Amaru" lol... nah im not named after tupac and dont wanna be confused with the woman who used to post as Amaru.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

Yeah, i wouldn't blame Hip Hop for what happened in that class either.

Pez, glad I could help.

Sorry, Amara, I've never fucked that up before & used to laugh at all the other dudes who did.

I'm going to fix it. I know you're not that weido (whoever she was)

 

[S. Fourteen]

^ Yeah, I'm not blaming Hip Hop for it. Hip Hop is not the babysitter, just like how TV, Rock music and the movies aren't the babysitters for kids, it's all up to the parents or the guardians to provide positive influence for kid. There is nothing fake about strippers stripping for money and there is nothing fake about women performing oral sex, if people have a problem with that, then they shouldn't raise a whore. (same goes for boys, raise a gentleman).

A busy road is dangerous for kids, so should we ban cars? or maybe we should lower the speed limit to a point where it would be faster to walk? NO, what you would do is to teach the kid how and why it's dangerous, and you teach the kid how to check for traffic and cross at a crosswalk.

 

[Tonio1986]

One of my good friends finger fucked a girl after school.

So yes, it does happen.

Was it sticky fingers, or shitty fingers?

 

[TG1 Ghetto One]

if a woman will willingly go on a rap video and shake her ass then who the fuck is degrading her.

Ya cant put it no better than that :thumb: they keep makin up these stupid debates like its actually gonna change somethin if anythin its gonna make the kids rebel again

 

[two187pac]

I just saw the video for that Lil Jon / Pitbull song. Whew.

Why did I have to go to the fucking gifted and talented middle school?

ahahaha