User:Raven J11/sandbox

"Soc 314: Finalize Topic and Sources Assignment"

Topic: How does hip hop and r&b have an affect on black women and how they are represented?

Sources: 1.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/beyonce-lemonade-black-women_us_571ccccde4b0d912d5fee4d2

2. BIZ/Music/03/03/hip.hop/

3. http://raprehab.com/what-hip-hop-says-to-a-young-black-woman/.

4. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/02/11/black-history-black-women/23266115/

5. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/02/11/black-history-black-women/23266115/

"Soc 314: Draft of Article Assignment"

Raven Jordan

SOC 314

April 13th, 2017

• Hip hop and R&B is one of the most influential genres of music currently.

• The genre of music has gone through multiple transitions and transformation; From the energetic and funky hip hop of “Sugarhill Gang”, Afrika Bambaataa of the Zulu Nation, to the more gritty conscious lyricists of hip hop such as Tupac Shakur, Biggie “Notorious” Smalls, Nas, and even one of hip hop’s most dangerous groups, N.W.A.
• But there has been a shift in hip hop and r&b. We went from discussing about social issues and the unjust system, to objectifying black women as sexual objects and projecting the idea that is one of the only purposes they serve.
• Also rappers of today uses terms that degrade black women, such as “bitch” or “hoe”.(What Hip Hop Says to Black Women).
• With the recurring themes in hip hop that still continue on today, it is teaching young black women to be okay with being sexual objectivied, be content being one of many women involved with one man, and to not fully pursue a  healthy loyal relationship, and even promote that it's okay to be promiscuous in the women's case so they can get the male's attention.
• The image of the stereotypical  black women is not shaped just  by  hip hop, but also shaped by other types of media such as television or movies.
• For example, on reality t.v shows such as “Love and Hip-Hop”, they show numerous times of women fighting over other men and being portrayed as the stereotypical  angry black women. Which has been noted a common character in TV shows directed by Shonda Rhimes; ABC called the director out that creating that profile of that character in her own image is one of the only reasons why she’s successful.
• Shows:How to Get Away with Murder, Grey's Anatomy, and Scandal
• Even though there are rappers that objectivity and degrade black women, other rappers and r&b singers are trying to repel that mindset inside of young black women and remind them that their important.
• Influential  Female Artists: Queen Latifah, Lauryn Hill, TLC, Solange just to name a few.
• But the artist that helps put black women in a positive is Beyonce Knowles.
• Point 1: Beyonce’s most recent body of work: ‘Lemonade’ has embodied the essence of black women.
• She reminds black women in this album that we are important, strong, and that we’re unique in multiple ways.
• “Lemonade” was a visual album that contained 12 tracks, and even premiered on HBO as a world wide viewing opportunity.
• What made this album stand out was the outstanding visuals and imagery that seemed to paint what ever emotion or feeling that the song embodied. She also ties in the issues that black women face while living in america and how we deal with it.
• Ex:  One of the most profound songs on the album is “Freedom”, which features a verse from pro- black artist Kendrick Lamar. “The song, which talks about blackness in America, includes man amazing visuals of various fierce black women who proudly rock picked-out fros and other dynamic hairstyles in scenes that reflect and reaffirm black beauty.”-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/beyonce-lemonade-black-women_us_571ccccde4b0d912d5fee4d2
• In the visual for “Freedom” as well, it contained powerful soulful lyrics, and mobing images of black women who have lost black men in their lives, including Gwen Carr, Sybrina Fulton,and Lezley McSpadden, the mothers of Eric arner, Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown respectively.
• Other influential women hat appeared in Beyonce’s visual:Serena Williams, Zendaya, Amandala Stenberg, Winnie Harlow, and Quvenzhane Wallis.
• After the release of this album, Beyonce definitely made her mark not only music as well, but left he mark on black women.
• Through the album, she was able to tell her story and other black women’s experiences. Not only did Beyonce remind black women that they are valid and important as well, but we don’t have fall into the cycle of what a stereotypical black women should be.

Sources:https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/02/11/black-history-black-women/23266115/

http://raprehab.com/what-hip-hop-says-to-a-young-black-woman/