This is a topic that was brought forth to us by our Women's Issues Club sponsor. She wanted us to discuss the images that are portrayed in todays music videos of African American women vs. Caucasion (sp?) women.
At the end of our discussion we had concluded that this music industry is run by the white population. The African American population in this country is a little over 11%; so for an artist to be in the top list, the white population would have to buy their cds. So why are so many African American are being degraded in these music videos. Well, the music industry is run by the White male population; these people will sell what they want to sell, and what brings in money. So, we know sex sells, so why is it only the African American and Latino women in these music videos stripping. Well, we dated the cause back to slavery. During slavery, white masters have raped thousands of black slaves. Their defense was that these women were originally seductive and sinful, and that is why it was not their fault. Thier wifez were respected and put in the pedastal, yet they raped the slaves because they were seductive and sinful. So that is exactly what is happening in these videos. African American are being stripped off their dignity and pride. These women, (I am not saying they are not choosing to this) are used as sexual objects; as at the time during slavery.
The Caucasion relationship are portrayed as an one on one relationship. It shows how precious their relationship is to them. However, in the African American music videos, there are 50 women per men. It only shows what the corporate America thinks of the relationships carried out by the African American community.
I also want to point another thing out is that the other than words to a song, everything else is designed or produced by someone other than the singer.
Also, if you have ever heard of India Arie, you know that there are thousands of African American artists out there like her. Yet, they are not promoted because they do not appeal to these White American male corporate officers.
Does this logic not make sense?
One thing I noticed are rap videos. They tend to have African Americans dressed rather inappropriate. Now like you said it is not the artist that chooses what goes on in the video but they do have the right to refuse to take part in it.
Yes you are right, and I mentioned that briefly in my post. However, I also mentioned that sex sells, and they are paid a whole lot of money.
---------------------------------------------------
I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
Yea I guess it is a sacrifice they are willing to make. Money or racial respect? Like most things greed always will win.
I am not surprised, the whole world runs in money and greed.
---------------------------------------------------
I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
Its not even an issue about being racist or im not going to say anything because im not black. Look im a young african american woman myself and i feel as if these females are crossing the limit and its getting worse. Soon they'll probably be completely NUDE. Because up to this level it seems like the just dont care. And they should, because then the rest of us have to suffer because of their actions. They dont seem to understand that we live in a bias world. People get judged by titles and get grouped with the rest of the group. Another thing is being that this country is dominated by whites, the blacks are seeking more attention. But their going by that in a very negative way. Yes the artist do have a opportunity to say yes or no to those kind of video themes but they dont obviously because their for it. They can protest all they want about their music harming no one and telling us not to watch because sex sells. But what about the things that actually matter in life. What about all those other positive videos out their. Is it so wrong to dress decent now days. You tell me.
Have you read "Confessions of a Video Vixen"? It represents everything that is wrong in today's hip hop.
I have heard of the book, but have not read it yet.
---------------------------------------------------
I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
Women dancing around half naked and being disrespected is the reason I rarely ever watch music videos.
"We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us." -Marcel Proust
There are thousands of music videos out there, that are not sexual, with great tunes and lyrics. The only problem is they are not being promoted.
---------------------------------------------------
I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
I realize that labels seem to stick, and when we see African American women or Latina women in these videos we want to think of the whole race as that. However, I wanted to point out that a lot of these "dancers" are poor women who are trying to make a quick dollar. They don't get paid a whole lot, but it is some money that they can use to get ahead for a day or for a week. Poor women need to be given other means of making money, but society makes it hard for them to get ahead, because we look down upon people that are not like the "average" middle class person.
I know much of the hip hop industry is engineered by those who hold the purse strings, but I'm sure the artists have something to do with the lyrics in the songs. Think about how incongruous half dressed women would be in a video for a song that lauds a woman's brain. If the songs weren't always about shorty gettin' low low low low, then maybe there would be fewer videos like that.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman