SOHH ATLANTA
The daily pulse of the Atlanta hip-hop scene
SOHH Gyant Randomness: D. Banner Flips Out Talking About Hip-Hop And It's Influence On Woman, But Did He Miss The Point?[Video]
Posted on June 26, 2008 10:05 AM
[COMMENTS ARE DOWN FOR THE MOMENT. THE TECH DEPT IS WORKING ON THE ISSUE, SORRY!]
BET’s Hip-Hop vs. America II ‘Where Did The Love Go’ aired last night. Panelists from all corners of the media touched on the much heated topic of how black women are portrayed in the media. David Banner, Michael Eric Dyson, Esther Armah, Allison Samuels, Lola Ogunnaike Ali Le Roi and others all got down to address their individual takes on a wide range of topics. One segment that caught my attention in particular was the discussion on the demoralization and exploitation of African American females in today’s society.
Nobody can deny that women, particularly black women, are not valued in this country. I see exploitation and demoralization of females virtually everyday. Are some of the stereotypes that women receive self inflicted â€" yes! If you look at the demographics females purchase a large percent of the music they claim disrespects them. However, do I also see black men disrespecting females regularly â€" yes! Because we are the oppressors in hip-hop, and in our own unique ways, perpetuate societal stereotypes of black people in our society.
The images and representations of black women are powerful and pervasive and they're EVERYWHERE! So I find it fair to say that the hip-hop community has to take responsibly that the culture contributes to the perpetuation that black women and women as a whole for that matter are lesser than us. That is a lesson that is taught early on. And with the decrease of black men raising our black sons and even our black daughters when are we as a people going to get it!
Personally I find it particularly interesting that everyone seems to point the finger at any one thing. Some take the historical route, while others reach for moral ideology. I personally think that the answer is quite simple and my opinion is two-fold. If women, particularly black women, would make it their priority to respect themselves others will follow suit. And if society [particularly the black community] would adopt the old adage that “It Takes A Village To Raise A Child†then a lot of the conversations would cease. It is my belief that we are a selfish people. We think about ourselves and only ourselves. The idea of struggle, and “not having†overrides our innate ability to lock arms with our brothers and sisters and perform acts of righteous [i.e. what is morally right].
So until we truly start to analyze why we fail to ban together unlike our pigmently challenged counterparts [AKA white people] well will never overcome as a people.
And that’s real!
Just my two cents.
And David, [and I luv you brutha] you got to be open to LISTENING to other peoples point to of view in order for them to LISTEN to yours. It’s not a debate if you’re screaming over everyone to make them hear you. You come off more like an ass. I’m just sayin….
Talk to y'all lata,
SOHH Gyant
Email:sohhgyant@gmail.com
[Update]
I know that our comment section is down but a female reader emailed me such a great comment that I am posting it for you all to check out.
I watched this last night. hip hop does have responsibility and David banner (since he's not a woman and makes money being a rapper who AT TIMES writes song that can be degrading or objectifying to women) missed the boat completely. he was so angry he could not listen and he was so focused on all the stuff he felt like he did right as a black man he could not be humble and quiet enough to see what he could so better. he is so mad about how black men are treating in society that he isn't able to focus on his equal counterparts (black women). he is afraid someone may take the little power he has in the industry to date (his music) and doesn't want to hear that it's wrong or negative. such a smart man who many times is well spoken lacks the power of patience. how sad.
yes he is powerful when he speaks out on political issues but why not one up David and take another high road and speak out for black women too. since he is fairly smart when he talks folks will listen. he just has to calm down some. boy gets so dang mad and ignorant when he rants.
another point he tried to make that was off the mark was when he compared the Quintin Tarintino's and Arnold Schwarzenegger (violent movies) who kill and then they are hero's and become governor, etc. the reason his point was not valid is bcz white kids normally don't respond to that type of violence in such movie in a negative or personal way. they see the movie (as do plenty of black and white adults) and then that's it. the movie does not become a part of their lives. most of those kids don't pick up a gun a blow up their high schools (i.e. columbine). BUT with the influential black children who are looking for hero's bcz most of them are not raised by their own personal hero's (absent of a father or strong male role model) they look to what is popular and that is hip hop and rap and make that their standard and what is cool. the rappers look cool, happy, rich, respected, and sexually powerful so the kids say, "hey i wanna be like that" or "hey this is my way out of the hood". some kids have mothers that work all day long or are just emotionally tired so they are not as able to give to their kids as needed. and I'm not saying that that's my fault (i don't have kids) or a rappers fault and that it's his ENTIRE responsibility to raise everyone's kids BUT i am sayin they have to start to see that there is power in their words bcz their words are all over television and radio and those powerful images are what kids watch and are influenced by. HELLO! DUH! if that were not true and rappers had 0% responsibility than why when a dance comes out do kids follow it (i.e. Soulja Boy) or how do kids know the words to all of Jeezy's song? Why does T.I. have so many MALE groupies who just wanna be around him and be like him? Influence because of the position of power they have. Their power is almost stronger than that of the government on a very personal level because they directly speak to the black youth and relate to them unlike the government can. I don't think they have to stop all songs that have a cuss word in it BUT please be more mindful. Music will still sell if that is the direction that most people go. Hell the way music is now most aint selling any damn way so what the hell do you have to loose.
It does take a village to raise a child. Maybe if David had a little girl he'd better understand. Possibly then he'd be less defensive and not take the exploration of his "craft" to betterment as such a personal diss. (which i can understand to an extent but dag boy, chill out for a second. just cuz it's not an issue you don't believe in as strongly doesn't make it less of a real issue. if the black women is not built up better than the black man will ultimately suffer right along with her.) It is up to parents and teachers to influence kids BUT others have some power also in their words and images that they and the record labels perpetuate and create that gets into our children's minds.
boy i can go on and on about how women's bodies have to be nice and slim with fat round booties BUT a man like rick ross can come out at the BET Awards on stage with his undigested food infested belly poking out as he saunters proudly around the stage. ewww.
some women are wrong and allow men to treat them this way or present themselves this way and YES even support such degrading music but for the women that don't, we also should be considered and protected. white men sure as hell protect their damn women (including marry them if they get knocked up.). man black people (NOT ALL) are so pleasure driven that they are selfish and think only of THE moment. (this effect takes place in sex, and money such as savings and living beyond one's means just to be satisfied with the illusion of wealth for the moment.).
now that's my rant from the mouth of a educated, analytical and secure female.
ciao.
--Miesha White
I just would like to comment on the Hip-Hop v America and respond to Miesha White.
First off, I would like to say that I am a 29 year old black male who was raised by both mother and father and that I grew up on rap music heavily. But I have always been told by both my mother that 90% of the stuff that I see on t.v are just an illusion and really don’t apply to the real world. Yes, I grew up with my pops, but it was like he was never around because he was always at work trying to support us. So in fact, my father really only provided financial security and that was it. It was my mother who truly raised us.
Now with that being said, the truth of the matter is that rappers are not obligated to anyone but their consumer. There are so many rappers in the game who’s music are 100% positive that talk and hit hard about issues such as; race, politics, black single mom households, government, education, and why you should stay in school and out of the streets. But the consumer chooses not to listen to that type of music.So why are we as black people still coming down hard on the rappers who seem to exploit women when we know and knew from the beginning that, that is what they were about from the start. Today’s consumer has and always have had a choice of different styles of music and it seems that they prefer to listen to gang banging, exploitation, sex-filled songs. And lets not forget that 80% of today’s rap music are being bought by white folk and women. So what does that tell us? I really do believe that people that use “not having a father to raise me and teach me from right from wrong†are using an excuse and a cop out for a reason of why they went down the wrong path. That’s the only time that you hear that excuse anyway is when someone has went to jail or is living the fast life. The point of the matter is, stop looking at these rappers to be our fathers or leaders when it is not their responsibility. Now, I do agree the the black man needs to take responsibility into raising his child if helps make one. But all these holding rappers responsible for how black women are being portrayed on television is non sense. What’s the difference when you watch football and see the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders in their skimpy outfits dancing and gyrating. Nothing. The reason why black women catch so much flack is because they are more full figured black women who possess bigger, fuller, more attractable assets than their white counterpart. That’s all it boils down too. If black women didn’t possess these beautiful, full, curvaceous bodies unlike their white counter parts, ‘THIS WOULDN’T EVEN BE AN ISSUEâ€.
BOTTOM LINE, with all the major problems the U.S are having ie: high gas prices, food hikes, growing unemployment, current recession, record of foreclosures on middle class, EXPLOITATION OF BLACK WOMEN, is the best that we can debate on.
-Chris Foster
