Last night, I worked one of the tables at my school's production of The Vagina Monologues. It was a great production, and we raised a lot of money for a women's shelter in town. If you have the chance to see the show at some point or participate in other V-Day activities, please do so! Every little bit of awareness helps!
This past November, I presented at and attended the NWSA Conference in Atlanta. While there, I purchased Still Brave: The Evolution of Black Women's Studies. This is one of the most powerful women's studies anthologies I've ever read! With works by Elsa Barkley Brown, Angela Davis, Paula Giddings, and Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Still Brave serves as a testament to the fact that feminist/womanist ideology is alive and well. If you are looking for a book that will captivate you and teach you as well, this is definitely a book worth purchasing!
I have often had my problems with hip-hop. Having a feminist/womanist outlook almost inevitably means one will find fault with mainstream hip-hop and its misogynistic lyrics, degrading representations of women in videos, and its obsession with money and material objects above all else.
Lately, however, I recently discovered this new female hip-hop artist named Nicki Minaj. She's bisexual, lyrically clever, and a breath of fresh air. Some of her lyrics may be problematic, such as her willingness to refer to women as "bitches" at times. Nevertheless, through her, I see a positive progression in hip-hop. It seems that women in hip-hop are reclaiming their own sexualities and challenging the male power structure of hip-hop that wishes to degrade and represent them simultaneously.
Nicki Minaj also represents something larger to Black femininity and Black female sexual empowerment. Because of this, she's by no means a victim of patriarchy in the rap industry. Instead, she's saying, "I'm here. I'm sexy, and let ME own that for a change."
Even though hip-hop's relationship with young women is turbulent at times, some women are making female rappers and hip-hop feminism more visible. Check out this clip from Rachel Raimist's documentary Nobody Knows My Name:
After seeing this, I'm happy that Lady Gaga doesn't consider herself a feminist. Is it now in style to be abused as long as you make it look sensual, sexy, and "fierce"?! Give me a break!
P.S. The whole "Black Widow" theme might not be the best way to show how much you "hail" men.
I've watched Family Guy a few times, and I find it hilarious. However, I'm not sure how I feel about them doing, or thinking about doing, a show on abortion. I'm very pro-choice, but I think abortion is NOT a laughing matter. This post isn't demonizing Family Guy, but instead trying to say that not all issues can be made funny...now matter how many talking babies are in the show. Simply put, something things can be serious and humorous at once. However, not everyone knows how to safely make those jokes, so why bother taking that risk?
P.S. I also have a few problems with the way the show jokes about disabled individuals and other minorities. Those issues will probably be discussed in later posts.
I think writing an extensive blog after this video would be pointless. I completely agree with Mr. Olbermann in his Special Comment to former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. I think that before she criticizes our goverment and our leaders' plans for it, she should find and throughly read a survey of American history and politics textbook. For someone who wanted to be Vice President, she sure seems to have a radical way of "playing" with the public. We all realize that Obama's plan includes no "death panels." The fact that someone who claims to be rational would perpetuate such propoganda makes me want to yell with joy when I think of the results of the 2008 presidential election. It is such a shame that a woman would be so anti-feminist that she cannot see the need for all Americans to have healthcare. Also, it is beyond sad to see the most prominent female of the Republican party spout such garbage. Mrs. Palin, do you not realize that with your power in your party and the amount of supporters (even though I know none) you have, you could be influential and turn a party that has been shunned into a party of rationale and equality? However, I am happy that you continue to relish in your ignorance because that means that your party will do the same and, eventually, bring about its own end.
