Much has been said regarding the treatment of African American women by entertainers within the Hip-Hop community. Most complain that women are constantly demeaned in lyrics and videos. The nonstop barrage of scantily clad women of color erodes the moral fiber of our community. At the same time, the critics of this endeavor are angered over the limited opportunities for African American women. There seems to be a conspiratorial attempt to hide the beauty of black women from the world, through various media outlets. As a young woman of color, I do recognize the need for more positive African American images in the mainstream media. However, I also applaud those artists who have utilized their platforms to celebrate the beauty of women of color. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the tactics of mainstream media to create barriers for African American women and illustrate how the Hip-Hop community has combated their efforts and instilled a greater sense of pride in them.
Anatomically Incorrect.
Full lips, wide hips, and ample behinds have always been the trademark of black women. These traits, that no woman of color can hide or deny, have linked them to their homeland of Africa. Yet with such beautiful characteristics, the African American .
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woman has always felt self conscious. This may be a result of the rape of the enslaved African females by their master or overseer.1 Because rape was used as a medium of control and subjection, it would be only be logical that the enslaved female would internalize these feelings of exploitation and abuse and indoctrinate future generations of black women with the same feelings of inadequacy.
Disregarding these feelings and the need for African American women to be affirmed as beautiful and desirable, the mainstream media did nothing to remedy a problem caused by the institution of white supremacy. Instead, mainstream media created two images that defined black women.