Tahjay Louis
Profesora Pabon
WOM-324
Blog Post #3
11 October 2019
While the intersections between feminism and hip hop has become undeniable with artists such as Lizzo, Princess Nokia and Angel Haze becoming more visible in the mainstream, hip hop has always been a platform for feminist activism since its conception in the underground. Whether being expressed through dance, visual art or lyricism, women, specifically women of color, have had no problem conveying their beliefs wants and needs in a culture usually seen as male-dominated and sexist. As stated in “(PH)eminists of the New School” by Marcyliena Morgan “Hip hop is dominated by young men hoping to become grown men, and in this setting every issue of masculinity and sexuality is in play”, given this context, it is hard to imagine how a platform seemingly synonymous with power, aggression, and pride in relation to black men, gives way for female artists to express themselves. However, in reality it is exactly these feelings and more that women artists are trying to convey, because it speaks directly to their experience and identity as women.
For example, later in the reading it is explained how black women growing up in the late 60s through the 70s learned what defines their role as black women. Whether it was through institutions like their local church, or more subtle influences such as music, movies and T.V., black women learned that they are meant to be self-sufficient, loving providers for their communities and families. It is this image of the “good” black woman that artists have to balance with their sexuality, lifestyle and personal image. Therefore artists are forced into a position where they have to embody and express those feelings of power, aggression and pride so often denied to them while maintaining that image of black womanhood. In other words, while hip hop may have originally been seen as a platform for black men to challenge white supremacy and privilege, its evolution in the underground has allowed women of color to empower each other.
Obligatory Music Recommendation:
