“Why Negotiate?”

“How do young African American females negotiate stereotypical representations of African American culture, gender, labor, and sexual values in rap music videos?” (Richardson Pg 791). To evaluate or estimate the nature, quality, ability, extent or significance of something is the value of something. Values and standards are two very important traits to have. In legal matters negotiating may be a positive choice, but when it comes to representation, modesty, respect and let’s not neglect being our sister’s keeper, we must take a stand and stand for what is right! A common phrase always said is if you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything! I don’t plan to allow myself to fall or my sisters; for this reason we must all take a stand! Stand for respect, stand for lady life qualities and attributes, stand for literacy and intelligence! Take a stand! A music video should never define who we are as women or dictate to the world around us who we are and how we act! Instead we should show this in our every day actions and attitudes. We must stop settling for less, we must stop degrading ourselves for money, male attention, or self gratification, we must take a stand! We always hear that when we entered the gates to Spelman we made a choice to change the world! I say take a stand that will inspire a desire for what is right, ignite a fire for respect and dignity and educate others to change the world!!

"Reel Women: Black Women and Literacy in Feature Films"

This article explains the portrayal of black women's literacy in mainstream film. I thoroughly enjoyed the article because it made me think more in depth about how black women are viewed by white society and how this image is paralleled in motion pictures. An interesting fact that I obtained from the article was that a recurring theme in movies with a black female lead is that a black woman can only succeed with the assistance of a white benefactor. A majority of black women on screen are illiterate or posses minimal literary capabilities. Dowdy explains in the article that a particular character's literacy in a film can be determined by who the character surrounds themselves with or what type of situation they are in. For example, if a character surrounds themselves by drug dealers and prostitutes this particular character is most likely a high school dropout. Another example, is if a character is facing a pending eviction notice they probably have not attained a high school diploma. Dowdy continues with explaining nine films that were released over a sixteen year period. Each film has a black female lead but no character is without a major flaw. Most seem to have slight literary proficiency to none at all. (With the exception of a teacher who eventually commits suicide. So I have come to the conclusion she doesn't count.) However I do disagree with Dowdy's critique on how Celie from The Color Purple did not posses much literacy in the film. I highly disagree because in the film and in the book the main character learns how to read and write through her sister Nettie. Also when she was unfortunately separated from her she faithfully wrote letters to her sister on a weekly basis.
When reading the critiques on each film I found that all were indeed very similar. A majority of black women portrayed did not have a college degree nor were interested in pursuing higher education. Most seemed to be determined but helpless without the assistance or support of a white benefactor. Many abandoned their responsibilities to help a white person in need. After reading this article I feel like I will become more critical of films and the filmmakers intent. I never realized that nearly every black woman in film was heavily burdened by the woes of illiteracy. I might not notice the situation this of a black female character but someone of a different culture might think that all blacks are this way in reality. Through this article I have realized that film perpetuates the stereotypical views that white society has about black culture. In addition I have realized how important it is for black people to get involved in the media to reverse the stereotypes presented in films. Until then I feel as though black women in particular will be portrayed distastefully. -Maya Dixon

She was Workin Like Foreal Blog

Rap and black music videos have recently undergone major criticism. All at once, parents, students, professors and media personalities appeared to be concerned with the content used by these hip hop artists. More specifically I recall uproar at Spelman College. Rap artist Nelly visited the school to perform some of his latest hits and to find a compatible bone marrow donor for his sister. Spelman students used the opportunity to question Nelly face to face about his Tip Drill video. Anyone who has seen the video would definitely understand the concern these students had. He defended the video by explaining it was simply a form of entertainment. For obvious reasons the meeting did not go well and the situation spiraled out of control with news clippings bashing the Saint-Lewis artist. It is hard to pick a side in this story because both sides made convincing arguments.

I am certain that Nelly’s intentions for visiting the school outweighed the importance to bombard him with an unscheduled and inappropriate meeting about his video. How can we change the world if we are always going against the grain with inappropriate offensive techniques? My mother always tells me you can get more bees with honey than you can with vinegar. The all or nothing mentality will not work every time and in the end you are making enemies and not forming alliances for the future. Not only did we burn bridges with a major artist who could have helped our school make major changes in the presentation of hip hop but we made it harder to work with any other major artists in the future.

After the incident there was a small symposium at Spelman College. During this time we looked at pictures of black women to identify our ideas of beauty. We analyzed rap lyrics and videos that degraded black women. There was a Spelman student there who told us about a party she went to and her experience. She told us that while she was on the dance floor a guy pulled his penis out and attempted to have sex with her. Everyone in the room immediately turned in her favor without thinking about the entire encounter. I asked her how was she dancing and she looked at me and started laughing. My point to her was you cannot provoke a person and be completely surprised by their reaction. Sure he was wrong but at what point will women take responsibility for their own actions. The biggest issue is a lack of morals, priorities and self esteem among many of these women. We look at celebrities and expect them to be the role models and world saviors in our communities. Ok and that is fine but we should hold those same expectations for ourselves.

"Building on a Firm Foundation"

“African American women were inspired in a context of resistance, as Stewart implores, to show forth to the world that ye are endowed with noble and exalted faculties” ( Going Against the Grain Pg 110). Wow! What a firm foundation that has been set before us! The aim of these African American women, through acquiring different forms of literacy was to gain the knowledge that they knew would help them in their future endeavors. Despite there conditions, they rose above and decided to claim what was rightfully there’s, and that is an education. Today, in my generation, I feel that instead of my peers taking that sturdy foundation and building on it, and taking this world by storm to change it, I feel as though we have stayed in the same mindset of inferiority and degradation causing a drop in our graduation rates and a rise in things not pertaining to the advancement of our society. I feel as though if every individual desired on the level that our ancestors did to become educated and to show our society that we are great contributors, I feel that this mindset would benefit all as a whole. During this time many, “… the acquisition of literacy by African American women is very much a story of struggle, resistance, and resiliency” (Going Against the Grain pg 114). With this being said, it is important to note that the acquiring of literacy today compared to the struggle and hardship of acquiring literacy back then can not compare. This generation had been allotted far more opportunities to advance themselves in such ways so that now we can become not only strong women who take care of the household duties, which is an awesome job by it self, but we also can be executives and CEO’s of huge companies, Doctors, Lawyers, inspiring teachers and dynamic writers! We are capable of so much as a people, and I feel that it is time for us to take our place, walk in who God created us to be, and plan to change the world!

"Going Against the Grain: The Acquisition and Use of Literacy"

This article described how black women prevailed in gaining literacy despite being oppressed. I found this article very empowering and I felt it was one of the most positive readings we have read so far. My favorite part of the the article is when the author described how oral storytelling is one way in which women prevailed in regards to literacy. Even after the post slavery era woman have been second class citizens making it more difficult for women to receive a proper education. Especially in the south, black women were shunned from educational opportunities and did not obtain equal education as whites. I found most interesting that in the article African Americans had an easier time finding an education in urban areas rather than rural. In the article a woman named Maria W. Steward is described as one of the pioneers who was a trailblazer for African American women and literacy. Steward began to advocate for African American women’s rights when her husband died and she was left with almost nothing because of her status as a black woman. She published a collection of her writings which were used to show white society that blacks were under served and uneducated. Steward used her writings to create an interest to educate black women. Her writings inspired many women to strive for education to dispel myths about African Americans by becoming literate.I think that today we still have problems with African American children in school not becoming literate because of the negative way whites view African American. Despite many obstacles black women overcome to obtain the literacy even when it is denied to them. Even today the journey is not over for literacy among African American women. Women of African descent are the least educated worldwide so something must be done. I believe that there needs to be more advocate for African American women and literacy.