The Black Informant | African American Commentary, News and Community Building

As always this is about money not art. Young people have are visually stimulated and this stuff sells. I personally don’t have a prolem with this album cover. If these woman want to be protrayed as a sexual objects, I just hope that they are being well compensated. Not that you did. but far too many times woman are allowed to play the victim. They claim explotation and feelings of being degraded. But I am willing to bet that the line for the casting call on this photo shoot was a mile long. These women are making a quick buck using something that they won’t have for long, looks.

Keep in mind, ‘art’ is the world we live in cast through a different prism. I

I’m not sure why you see the cover photo (perhaps the CD’s

lyrics?) as especially demeaning to women or saying that interpretation’s necessarily incorrect. My comment is commerce — especially ‘free market’ capitalism — is often irreconcilable with morals.

Like you guys, I am all for commerce as well. The problem is that “commerce” in hip hop usually involves the exploitation of Black women. I especially agree with Saudia’s comments about women and their claims that they are “victimized” in that industry. My only problem with that when WE put this perception of our women out there, it always comes back to haunt us. Then WE call it racism. Here is a 52 second video of someone who went to China to see how Blacks are portrayed in toys.

I wonder where they get their inspiration??

I was unable to watch the viedo but I am sure it was bad. However, I think that black people are to sensitive when it comes to stereo types. Why is it sexy when Britney Spears is sprawled out naked and explotive when a young black woman does it.

Okay, I found it.

Saudia, here is a link to an article that talks about the effects of what WE pump into the airwaves:

Overseas, I Made Them Respect Me as a Black Woman

This is the story of a young Black American Muslim student who went overseas to study and what she encountered on the racism front.

Well… I do have a problem with this picture, the fact that the women are positioned at this guys feet is degrading in itself. Even though these young women willingly put themselves in these kind of “positions” and they do get paid for it…sometimes… it STILL does not make it, shall we say edifying to our race or gender.

We need to stop making excuses for folks and just tell it like it is. I often wonder what Beyonce’s father and mother think when they see her doing some of the suggestive movements that she does. Now before you think that I’m picking on Beyonce, let me say that I think she is a very talented and beautiful young woman, but I can’t understand how her father espescially, can condone and even encourage his own flesh and blood to do some of the things she does, has the almighty dollar become more important to us than developing dignity and character in our young people?

In answer to Saudia’s comment on Britney Spears (see above) first of all we’re not talking about Britney we’re talking about our black women. And yes when Britney “sprawls out” she is being nasty too! But the focus should be kept on the issue here: What can WE do to encourage character, integrity and high self esteem in our young black women?

Oh please that is a bunch of crap. Why is sexuality also so deemed as nasty. Everybody is having sex. And yes money is the corner stone of this country and many others. That is why they came here, why slaves were brought here , why the civil war was fought, why we are in Iraq, etc… As far as Beyonce or other female entertainers are concerned have you been to a concert. They are electrifying. It is feel good music. Hell even the gospel artist have started to do a little 2 step. Every women in the world wants to feel and be sexy. Each woman shows her sexuality in a different way. And while you claim it is degrading for these women to be laid at his feet remember this. In the bible, Ruth laid at Boaz’s feet and he married her, many woman laid at Jesus’s feet and he healed them.

Sexuality is something that should be reserved for the bedroom. A woman’s beauty can be appreciated without her having to show off her assets. I don’t want to see your nipples or how low you can cut your pants before you reach your pubic hair. That is for your husband’s eyes. The thing here is while you are expressing your sexuality openly, there are kids who see that as well–all while you are feeling sexy. And let’s be honest here, any woman that dresses in this manner wants to be noticed–not just about “feeling” sexy. While I am not calling for a return to Victorian-era clothing, I do think that a little modesty is the best path with results. While it is the role of the parent to help kids through puberty, folks who dress in a way that highlights their assets don’t help the process.

Before you start quoting scripture here, make sure that you are keeping it in context. You know good and doggone well that Ruth was not wearing a thong nor was it anything like this album cover.

I’m a little surprised that you as a Muslim woman would not see any problem with this. I thought modesty was paramont in your religion.

seen all your views very nice.but racism towards blacks is not only by whites towards blacks but its also done by blacks towards blacks. am a german with a senegalese wife i know it.for example i have had about 2 encounters with black men looking at me and my family have go thru’ this. this is especially from the so called black elite businessmen from africa. example simon karuki a kenyan i think and another ougandese guy i met a hongkong hotel called silsa munabi.