DISCLAIMER: If there are typos, understand I wrote this in sheer passion, in one sitting. So, don’t forgive me.
I mean this!!!
A lot of people know me; correction, I know a lot of people. I am close to only a select few. But those who do know me, know my spirit of optimism and progression.
It’s natural for me to be supportive, encouraging, inspiring and uplifting to people — the spectrum goes from family… to close friends… to strangers. Nonetheless, the background information about me is provided for the foreground.
People want to know, Talia, when are you going to come into your own. When are you going to let the world learn your message of revolution? And the appropriate answer is: Now! The time has arrived.
I live in Seoul, South Korea. I am a writer. I am a concerned citizen of the world. I am passionate. I am fearless. Most importantly, I am about TRANSFORMATION — NOT CHANGE. The difference is explained in my bio on my “myspace” page:
http://www.myspace.com/taliaelecta
To the point — Because I live in Seoul, South Korea. I cannot watch BET regularly, or so I thought.
A great friend of mine, “Thanks Ray from my ‘myspace’ page,” informed me that I can watch specific BET shows on their “on blast” website:
http://www. myspace. com/onblast.
Okay.
So, I logged on. In doing so, I got the opportunity to watch Hip Hop Vs. America part II. Wow! And here “we” go. They done let the dogs out. And I mean it, just like that. And I am an English Instructor, well educated I must add…praise God! But I had to say, “They done let the dogs out.”
This season’s special discusses the images of Black women via music video. And the panelists kind of touch on, the discussions of the images of Black women in all genres of entertainment, including television and film.
The prominent question asked is: “Whose responsibility is it, in regards to the negative images displayed of Black women?”
My answer…THE ENTIRE BLACK AMERICAN CULTURE!
It was often eluded to that the networks, men in management, video directors, artists, program directors, and the general powers that be, are to blame. There was even talk about early American culture being at fault, as a result of Puritan influence and the role women played at that time. Video director, Lil’ X, explained that women were not allowed to wear pants and that of they showed their ankles, during those times, it wa considered a form of stripping.
And he’s right! He is. This was true during those days. But how do you explain the rappers and singers calling women B_____s and H____s? However, what in the hell does that have to with “Tip Drill” today?
And I am not calling him out. I don’t know if he directed this video. I cannot say that he is responsible for it in any way. And this is not to disrespect him. But I am angry. And his comment is one of the most outstanding comments made, during the course of the show, in my view.
The bottom line of this is that those are excuses to me. If Puritan influence cause Black men and/or women to okay BET UNCUT in contemporary society, then what the hell are we doing wrong today?
This is illogical, in my opinion. No one school of thought, should take on power to that magnitude, unless it’s divine.
And I don’t know who prays to Puritans in the hip hop culture. I pray no one does. But that’s just me.
However, the question should be posed: “Does art imitate life? Or, is life imitating art? The only logical reason I can understand, which would explain the reason we see negative images of Black, other minorities, and some white women, though the white race isn’t up for discussion right now — is the fact that artists and their cohorts make attempts to “keep it real” in their terms.
In the hood, artists an dtheir cohorts would often see day-to-day men trying to be the big boys on the block with the tricked out vehicles — old or new. They would see women wearing next to nothing clothing — trying to look good for whomever is the king on the block at that time.
Basically, on any hood corner in America, you’ll see the makings of a typical hip hop and sometimes, R&B, music video.
The question again is posed: “Is art imitating life or is life imitating art?” What came first? The chicken? Or, the egg?”
Easy — The egg. “The egg is the hood.”
Most rappers have wanted to live out the Big Willy dream they saw when they were younger, if they were in such environments, where Big Willy was real in certain sets across the hoods of America. They wanted to be that.
A perfect reference for what I am talking about is the movie “Paid in Full.”
I saw this lifestyle played out, as a child, growing up in Miami.
Rappers, Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, Trina — and the like — rap about a society which truly existed in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s of Miami — and perhaps today — that I knew about. And in music videos, rappers really are portraying a life of past modern day anti-heroes, of which many people want to be like, even today. This happens more often than we discuss.
We talk about studio gangsters. But where does it come from? And why do people want to glamorize the gangster life? That’s another discussion.
But the point is thus, in that studio or real gangster life portrayed, women are typically objectified in the most negative realms. And I say, ultimately it’s by choice.
It’s all of Black America’s fault because we allowed it to get this far. We have allowed it to the points where the DON IMUS’ of the world feel comfortable calling black women out our name, and only because we do it to one another, publicly.
And we have even gotten to the point where pseudo journalism companies, like FOX NEWS, can satirically mock us because we insult and disrespect one another all the time.
It’s like having the white friend in the black neighborhood be cool with everyone, in the begiining and for a little while; and then he gets so comfortable with his black buddies and feel it’s okay to start telling NIGGER jokes.
Hell no!
Black people wake the HELL up! As I stated, I live in Seoul, South Korea. And…when I first arrived last year, I went out for the first time with my manager (Korean) and another colleague (Korean.) We were having casual conversation and my manager made the statement, “Oh, I thought Black American culture is the same as White American culture.” I looked up at her, stunned.
She then proceeded to say that she knows about our dancing, singing, hip hop, and Jamaican style food. And this is all she knew. We are one-dimensional, maybe two. Or, we don’t exist, globally.
Black people wake the HELL up!
Of course, her Black American knowledge has progressed tremendously after befriending me, ’cause I couldn’t have that. She even knows about my beloved historically Black institution – Albany State University in Albany, Georgia — but that’s neither here, nor there.
The point is thus, we are a minor blip on the radar, in terms of modern-day contribution to the world.
Our greatest contribution, in terms of the world, in the last 20 years is HIP HOP…and OPRAH! And how positive is this now, when you turn on the networks like BET, MTV, VH1, TV-One and ARE THERE ANYMORE?
The mainstream networks like NBC, ABC, and CBS, either typecast us, give us token roles, and don’t cater to us, at all.
After reading this, before I cleaned it up from typos, a friend of mine, named Cliff, told me this, “Talia, we have more doctors, lawyers, teachers, and etc. We have made quite a few transitions into positive realms in the last 20 years.”
And he is right. This is true. I cannot argue with him here.
But I say this, someway somehow, we continue to be well-noted for entertainment and sports, mostly or only. And the reason is this. We don’t have much of a say, and sometimes no say, in how we are depicted. And if we do get that voice, how often do we use it to request the most positive and substantial portrayals of us. Sure, I agree to the messages of realities. Everything in life isn’t filled with rainbows, sunshine, and bunny rabbits. But it’s not all T&A, guns, violence, hate, bling, fancy cars, fancy vacations, and shiny suits either.
We need more of a voice. We need more of a balance. We need to take our culture back, with authority. And stop being so damn laid-back because the race isn’t over — pun intended!
In my opinion, this question must be asked. In the race for education, substance, progress, and quality work, where do we place in the last 20 years? And…why am I asking so far back? What about in the last 15, 10, or 5 years?
We typically make our greatest achievements — based on history — as a human race, in our youth? If this is the case, where do Black Americans rank?
If I am wrong, tell me! Please…, but I don’t think so.
Black America, besides Obama to be proud of, what the HELL are we doing?
And I mean this from the depths of my soul.
Ya’ll done started somethin’.
Changing blood types,
Talia E.Ashley
Founder, HIP HOP GROWS UP, Inc.
HIP HOP GROWS UP, INC. 