Week 12

Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhymes?
While watching the film in disbelief, I can not imagine why the women in the rap videos would belittle themselves while dancing half naked and also while attending the BET fest and being groped by the men. There has to be some level of very low self-esteem, to think that this is healthy attention from the men in the crowd. I also feel if the ones making the rap videos have no respect enough to know that they are exploiting the women in so many ways. I understand that it is a money making business like many other businesses who take advantage of many others but just in a different way. I also feel if more people are aware of the negative consequences then some of what happens can take a turn in a positive way. If we do not start educating our young women at home, in communities and in our schools, I feel it will just continue and poison our African American women who have so much more potential than to be a cloth less pawn for a rap video.
Watts Article
The idea from the article is a good start and to focus on the consciousnesses of the young African American males is a great beginning. To understand where their actions come from and what they lead to is an important part of oppression liberation. Once the focus is integrated into the communities, the homes and the school system, it may possibly change the way of thinking. We have to change the way we feel and see things to have a effect on the policies that effect our communities and its people.
Peterson Article
I feel the way African American women are portrayed in rap videos is a total disrespect to all mankind. As women we should teach our younger peers to have more respect for themselves, to have confidence and that self-esteem, that says I am worth more than just a piece of flesh. I also feel that this may be the reason for the rape in African American women, early teen pregnancies and the unhealthy relationships with many partners. Their has to be a way to get information out there about the negative portrayals of women in music videos and in some movies. We have to demand more positive portrayals in rap video and how those actions in some rap videos have an adverse effect on our society of African American women. I believe that the future of the African American people depends on the change in media, rap videos and how African American males treat women in their personal and public lives.