Prose & Politics Angelika Peacock, Producer/CEO, speaking about Hip Hop & Feminism on WBAI 99.5 FM Hip Hop Takeover Weekend
Response to Sean Bell Verdict April 28, 2008 Never Enough!
I can’t think straight. All before I had my morning tea, I’ve received phone calls, emails, and text messages full of despair, anger, and fear about the Sean Bell verdict. Every morning since Friday, my day begins with an overwhelming tension and hopelessness. I’ve tried to listen to motivational music and prepare myself to do what’s expected of me; make breakfast, take my daughter to school, go to work, remind adults and youth about meetings, attend meetings, etc.
I work at Queens Borough Hall through a partnership with the Child Center of NY and the Queens Borough President’s Office running ACT for Youth. ACT for Youth is a community initiative that promotes collaboration between youth, adults, parents, organizations, churches, businesses, etc. I train young people to be leaders, how to advocate and how to work with elected officials to work towards community change. I train adults to communicate better with young people and increase understanding of youth culture and the best practices in youth development. But today it doesn’t seem like enough.
Why am I hosting an event about world hunger, campaigning for summer job funding, and planning events such as steps shows, health fairs, and youth conferences when young men in my neighborhood are dying from violence and all my friends and colleagues are calling me looking for answers?
Today, I started my morning listening to India Arie and just as I was about to get focused and motivated as a result of listening to her song “There’s Hope” my roommate asked me to stop the music so I could hear about what people were saying on the radio and what we really need to do. He spoke of writing letters and a list of demands that we should make about improving our schools and changing the way we select and train police officers. I said “Tell people! You need to tell people!” I needed peace and quiet. I needed to act like it was just another day around way so I could go on and do what’s expected of me. Just go to the office and sit at my desk and do paperwork.
But my voice is my power, so I need to speak! I’ve been afraid to speak out on this issue because I wasn’t surprised by the verdict. There is a history of police brutality and racism in this country. I was disappointed that so many people were shocked because when you’re shocked, hurt, angry, and disappointed then we can’t respond accordingly.
But then again aren’t Black people always angry? Haven’t we always afraid of police officers? Don’t we always feel like we’re under attack? Don’t we always have our guard up?
We are distressed and oppressed, but we’ve survived. We are resilient.
I feel like running in the streets screaming “I’m raising hell for Sean Bell! Stop police brutality! Stop the inequality! This injustice effects us all! United We Stand! Divided We Fall! No More Marching in rainy Weather! ACT Now Write A Letter! ACT Now Write a Song! ACT Now Make a Film! The world must see what’s going on! What’s going on! What’s going on! What’s going on, It’s so Wrong. We can’t go on without a fight. It’s only right if you value life”
I need to calm down and clear my head. May be if I listen to “I Find It Hard to Say (Rebel)” by Lauryn Hill I’ll have some ideas, some solutions. This is a complex issue and I don’t have the answers. Thinking to myself isn’t enough. Writing about this isn’t enough. Talking about this isn’t enough.
We march because we don’t know what else to do. This issue isn’t brand-new but we need a breakthrough.
We need strategic plans & action steps not marches and rallies. We need a think tank. We need strategic alliances.
We need for people to realize that this is not just an issue for Black people but it is a Human Rights issue.
We need youth and adults to unite! We need to protect one another.
We need to use our anger and fear as fuel. We need to be creative about what we need to do.
And whatever we do, we must continue . . .
Get Organized for a Great '08! | Women's History Month March 2008
Forming Goddess Rising: A Union for Women of the Hip Hop Generation In December 2007, Rosa Clemente, Makeda Voletta, Nida Khan, Janna Zinzi and I spoke about Hip Hop and Feminism as part of a Goddess Rising Union project on WBAI 99.5 FM. Thanks to DJ Chela we played a mix of music by female hip hop artists, such as Roxanne Shante, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Salt-n-Pepa, and more. The kindred spirits talked about the different roles that women play in hip hop, the history of hip hop, women's history, women as the backbone of hip hop and other movements throughout history, when female rappers were mainstream, the impact of the entertainment industry on hip hop as a culture, the lack of a real liberation movement for women of color, debated whether or not there is a lack of sisterhood in this generation, and highlighted the sisterhood amongst female hip hop journalist. Future discussions with cover spirituality in hip hop, female sexuality, working class women uniting for collective economic power, and "how to make women's economic and health issues sexy!" Suggested Reading: 1. When ChickenHeads Come Home to Roost by Joan Morgan 2. Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics by bell hooks 3. Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Women's Guide to Why Feminism Matters by Jessica Valenti 4. Third Wave Feminism: Critical Exploratons Edited by Stacy Gills 5. Home Girls Make Some Noise: Hip Hop Feminism Anthology Edited by Gwendolyn D. Pough
Don't Blame the Music! But . . .Do Turn Off the TV & Talk to Kids! In May 2007, the Office of Student Life at LaGuardia Community College in Queens, NY held its first Hip Hop Elements & Social Activism Conference where Angelika facilitated a workshop on sexual health and the hip hop generation. The workshop was designed to: Educate youth about hip hop as a culture and generation Educate youth on the difference between rap music and hip hop culture Increase awareness of the sexual health issues facing youth Increase awareness of a public health study on the effects of rap music videos black teenage girls in Alabama in 2003 & discuss Analyze the sexual messages within rap music and videos Discuss ways thay elements of hip hop can be used to promote sexual health
The majority of the attendees were students of latino descent who attended the college and had very little knowledge of the facts about STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases), but knew all the lyrics to "Buy U A Drank" by T-Pain. According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health by professor at Rollins School of Public Health Ralph J. DiClemente, PhD, young black girls from non-urban, lower socioeconomic neighborhoods who watched at least 14 hours of rap music videos per week for one year were: I do not think we can blame rap music or rap music videos for sexual promiscuity of young girls or the spread of STDs. However, there is an inbalance of information and messages being sent to young people. There's more music about sex than there is talk about sex in schools and homes and frankly it seems that young people are more likely to learn about sex by listening to the radio or watching music videos than they are to have a discussion with a positive adult about sexual health. I'd like to encourage adults to turn off the television and talk to their kids about sexual health. Adults and parents need more support and resources to have the proper information and preparation to teach children about sex. In addition to providing more resources for parents to feel more equipped to discuss sex and sexual issues with their children we need more health and sex education in schools. Finally, youth programs should provide young people with information about sexual health and then encourage them to create graffiti art, dance, and music projets to promote healthy sexual behavior. We do have some programs such as the Child Center of NY's Teen Impact Prevention Program (TIPP), but we need more programs. Call 311 to let NYC government know that you want more sex education and sexual health programs in your neighborhood now! Suggested Reading: 1. How to Talk with Teens about Love, Realtionships and Sex: A Guide for Parents by Amy G. Miron and Charles D., Ph.D. Miron 2. I Want to Talk to My Teen about Love, Sex and Dating by Karl Wendt and Shannon Wendt 3. I Want to Talk to My Teen about Music, Movies by Waly Mueller 4. Safe Sex 101: An Overview for Teens by Margaret O. Hyde and Elizabeth H. Forsyth 5. The Real Truth about Teens & Sex: From Hooking Up to Friends with Benefits - What Teens Are Thinking, Doing and Talking About and How to Help Them Make Smart Choices by Sabrina Weill 6. Who's Raising Your Child? Battling the Marketers for Your Child's Heart & Soul by Laura J. Buddenberg and Kathleen M. McGee | Black History is American History February 2008
Beyond Beats & Rhymes: Review & Reflections In February 2007, I was a featured panelist at the NYU Wagner School of Public Service NY Local Organizing Committee of the National Hip Hop Political Convention film screening of Beyond Beats & Rhymes by Byron Hurt, which examines images of manhood in rap music and music videos. The film touches on issues of violence, greed, sexism, sexuality, profane language and more. I am especially passionate about the rights of women, black people, and artists as a former active member of the NY Local Organizing Committee of the National Hip Hop Political Convention and Young Women's Sexual Health Program Coordinator, I was invited to be a panelist. In my opinion the film presents a wide spectrum of issues related to rap music, black men, sexism, racism, and capitalism. It features Busta Rhymes, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Michael Eric Dyson, Kevin Powell, and Chuck D. Although, there is an inbalance of female commentary in the film, former Def Jam President, female student organizers and a professor from Spelman College, Sarah Jones, and Toni Blackman were included. Ten Thoughts 1. There is a lack of sisterhood as a result of sexism. Generally speaking, women perpetuate sexism by not sticking together, by "hating on" one another, and by making men think it's all about them by acting like a women's life revolves around being some man's girlfriend or wife. Women have been desensitized to sexism and thus fail to realize their power as women. Men only do what women allow them to do. Sisterhood is very important. We must regain our trust in one another as women and rebuild our relationships. 2. Masculinity and manhood can not be defined without defining Womanhood and feminity. We are of each other; one can not progress without the other. 3. Racism can not be addressed until sexism is abolished. We won't be able to begin to respect differences in physical makeup based on geographic origin and culture until we respect gender differences and honor one another as women and men; both with strengths and weaknesses, both equally important.
4. The images of men and women portrayed in rap music/music videos are a reflection of America's obsession with sex, crime, and violence in general. It's bigger than hip hop.
5. Artists must stop perpetuating negative messages just to get a record deal. However, as an artist I believe it is important to protect creative and freedom of speech rights. And that artists alone can not address or abolish sexism because sexism is a larger world issue beyond beats and rhymes.
6. Hip Hop just like human beings can be good or evil. Hip Hop can be a therapeutic outlet or it can be a detriment that doesn't break the psychological chains of systemic racism.
7. With freedom comes responsibility. Yes, women have the right to wear whatever they want, but women have to make better decisions about when and where to wear what they're wearing and who's going to be where they're going.
8. Music & Music Videos are entertainment. Sometimes based on the reality of the artist, but that doesn't mean anyone else needs to immulate that reality. What happened to the days when children and parents discussed entertainment, music and television in their households?
9. In the film, Toni Blackman says "I say I'm in recovery from hip hop. It's like hip hop is your home and your man beats you" This brings me to stress the importance of watching our words because there is a major difference between hip hop culture and rap music. Just like every other industry/movement there's sexism in hip hop.
10. How can the hip hop generation progress to another level without starting another movement that is torn apart by sexism?
The dialogue this evening inspired me and I am hopeful about what may come next. Dialogue is the first step. Now it's time for some action, not only a political level, but at the root of the problem . . . our psychological and spiritual health. Suggested Reading:
1. The Will to Change Men: Men, Masculinity and Love by bell hooks
2. Black Men & Depression by John Head
3. Hip Hop America by Nelson George
4. The Hip Hop Generation by Bakari Kitwana
5. Rock My Soul: Black People and Self-Esteem by bell hooks
6. Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A History of the Hip Hop Generation by Jeff Changand DJ Kool Herc 7. Hip Hop Matters: Politics, Pop Culture, and the Struggle for the Soul of a Movement by S. Craig Watkins 8. Hip Hop Decoded by Black Dot and Grandmaster Caz 9. Hip Hop Street Curriculum by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu 10. Stand & Deliver: Political Activism, Leadership and Hip Hop Culture by Yvonne Bynoe 11. Rap Therapy: A Practical Guide for Communicating with Youth and Young Adults Through Rap Music by Don Elligan 12. Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Comtemporary America by Tricia Rose ****All articles are written by Angelika Peacock unless otherwise noted. |