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Lil' Kim, the Notorious B.I.G., and rap videos were some of the topics addressed by hip-hop journalist and feminist Joan Morgan, who spoke to Boston College students Thursday about the role hip-hop plays in everyday life, particularly in the lives of black women.
"I think that if we're going to see any change in the representation of women in hip-hop it has to be accompanied by activism led by women and supported by men who care about making a change," she said.
Morgan grew up in the center of hip-hop culture and has watched it move from the streets of South Bronx into present day pop culture. She has written for Vibe, Spin, and Essence as well as her own book When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: Life As A Hip Hop Feminist.
She started writing about hip-hop because of the role it has played in her life. Morgan described the first time she heard the Sugar Hill Gang on the radio as the first time hip-hop culture entered the world as something unique and representative of black culture in America. For Morgan, hip-hop sends a message in an "in your face" way, a quality that no other form of music really captures.
As a true witness to its birth, Morgan described herself as "protective" over hip-hop. Many people asked her how she can be a feminist and still support hip-hop where women are referred to as "bitches and hoes" in many songs. She explained that women should not distance themselves from that language and tell themselves "well they aren't talking about me." Instead, women need to critique that aspect of hip-hop and focus on the message it sends to society.
Even though it may seem that rap artists live a carefree lifestyle, in reality, their lyrics are plagued with desperation. Morgan referred to Notorious B.I.G and his Ready to Die album, which is filled with the guilt and depression of everyday struggle that ended in his suicide.
What discourages Morgan the most about hip-hop is that she has to shield her young son from most of it because of its contents.
"I've divorced hip-hop and remarried it about 50 times," she said.
Despite the language and sexism, she is constantly drawn back in by artists such as Nas, Eminem, and Lil' Kim. Morgan spoke of the respect she has for Kim for getting out into the predominantly male hip-hop world and telling her story, instead of being one of the 50 barely clothed, silent dancers in the background.
Although there is a strong voice behind hip-hop today, there are a lot of counter messages that take away from that power. She explained that change would only occur if women bonded together and spoke out against what was going on in music videos or in hip-hop there would start to be a response.
"We do nothing and as long as we do nothing we deserve everything we get," she said.
The event was enjoyed by most of the students who attended.
"I was glad that the AHANA Leadership Council [ALC] brought her here to talk about an issue so pertinent to black females," said Kendra Clark, A&S '06.
Charles A. Grandson IV, ALC president and A&S '05, and Seye Akinbulumo, ALC co-director of student and community issues and A&S '07, brought Morgan to BC to celebrate black history month, but particularly to celebrate the role that black women play in that history.
"This year we wanted to bring someone who affects the everyday lives of students and students of color," said Grandson. "Hip-hop is the framework that affects people's everyday lives more than academia. This is a topic that is current and has black history and women's history tied in with it."
Akinbulumo said black history month should not only be a time of celebration, but also reflection. "In the spirit of black history we need to celebrate the leaders but we also need to criticize the community and what we need to do to make it a better place," said Akinbulumo. "Our unity will only come from insight."
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