https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1AKW0XoVVBV8Fevcq0XWIIivd0WxLodKy
The quotes that I chose reflect what I believe was the most important things that I learned in this course. I learned about intersectionality, about the differences between feminism, hip hop feminism, and crunk feminism, and about where hip hop came (and continues to come) from. My quotes from Tricia Rose in “The Hip Hop Wars” address the dynamic between men and women, not just in hip hop but in our society in general. Gender inequality is embedded in our society, it is so abundant that sometimes we do not even notice it.My first quote by Tricia Rose speaks to the intersectionality of the identities of black women. The first people to fight for women’s rights were not doing so far all women, there was racist motivation. Since the beginning of American history, black women have needed a different kind of feminism, a kind that was inclusive to all of their struggles. Crunk feminism is this feminism. Like the quote I chose says, “Crunk feminism gives us the nerve to make our way off the dance floor, where we were shaking our asses just a moment ago. when a song comes on that dates to suggest that ass-shaking constitutes desire and consent.” Crunk feminism gives a voice to black women when feminism ™ does not, it speaks up and yells over the loud music in the club, to say just because I was dancing that way does not mean you get to touch me. While feminism ™ would often only shade the women who were dancing in that way.
My next quote from “The Crunk Feminist Collection” speaks to Jay Z creating an atmosphere where black womens voices are not listened to. He contradicted this notion by allowing his daughter Blue to speak her words on one of his tracks. This is problematic as every woman other than Blue and Beyoncé is not safe from being referred to as a bitch in Jay Z’s music. Although he may have helped start this narrative, it has continued far beyond his voice. Rappers have a habit of diminishing women (most often black women) into being just a voluptuous body to rap about, just a “bitch” or a “hoe”.
My quote from “Graffiti Grrlz” speaks to how girls often conform to the stereotypes and expectations that come with being female. Girl lessons start from a very young age, when we are handed our first toy, and it’s a baby doll that we are taught to take care of. Being a woman in hip-hop or graffiti is a revolt to these girl lessons. Writing your name on a wall is a way to mark your spot, to scream “I WAS HERE” and that is not what women are taught to do, we are taught to sit down and be quiet.
Hip hop came from the streets of the Bronx, it came from young Black and Puerto Rican kids. Both of my quotes from The Global Organizer focus on young people who create the music we love so much. “Young hip hop artists are heirs to rich legacies of struggle and resistance, including a multitude of efforts to use art and cultural work towards justice.” Rappers rap about where they came from, they rap about the struggles their family lives with. I truly believe that the best kinds of music are genuine and come from the artists own personal history. But before an artist can come to thrive they need to believe in themselves, and in the beginning of hip hop history, it was hard to get this support from anywhere else but in the streets. Because of where the music comes from, (it comes from the struggles of those who have always been struggling in our f*cked up American history!), it is difficult to decide when to focus on the contributions of white kids. When we listen to white rappers we have to understand that their music is coming from a different place. They most likely aren’t going to be pulled over, be shot or murdered for no reason. (It’s not actually for no reason though, it is purely based on skin color.)
Although all of my quotes do not exactly tie together, they do speak to certain themes. From this class the main things that I have learned are: it is important where hip hop comes from, support young artists, support women artists and stand for the black women who are diminished into being just a bitch or hoe, and real feminism is inclusive of all women and all their struggles. I did all of my pictures in black and white to focus on the words, but that does not mean that the pictures are unimportant or unrelated. The artists in the pictures are relevant and to me often represent what the quote is saying well.
