Spelman, Essence and Hip-Hop
 

i just love my alma mater and my Spelman sisters. i'm really proud of them right now and i think we all should be:D
i also have to say, this is just one reason to miss ATL. i would have loved to have been there:(
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Taking back the music

Sunday, February 27th, 2005

When Bill and Camille Cosby donated $20 million to the historically
black Spelman College in 1988, consternation went through the black
community because the size of the check was so shocking. No one, even
Bill Cosby himself, could have imagined that within two decades the
young black women at Spelman would spark what is easily the most
important American cultural movement in this new century.
In April of last year, under the leadership of Asha Jennings, who now
attends New York University as a law major, the Spelman women gave
voice to the fact that they had had enough of the dehumanizing images
of black women in rap. They went after the rapper Nelly, who was
scheduled to appear on campus, for the images in his "Tip-Drill"
video.

Nelly hid under his bed and chose to stay away from that female ire.
Maybe it would blow away. It did not.

On Friday, Atlanta was set afire by the emotion and the hard thinking
of black women. Spelman and Essence magazine presented a hip hop town
meeting at the Cosby Academic Center Auditorium as part of their Take
Back the Music campaign. The campaign is a response across generations
that Essence has covered in its last two issues and will continue to
address as long as necessary. One can easily see that many women find
the overt hatred of females and the reductive, pornographic images of
the worst hip hop quite disturbing.

The overflow audience filled three additional rooms. Michaela Angela
Davis, an editor at Essence, was the moderator. The panelists were
Tarshia Stanley, assistant professor of English at Spelman; Moya
Bailey, Spelman senior; Kevin Powell, author and activist; Michael
Lewellen, vice president of BET public relations; Brian Leach, vice
president of A&R, TVT Records, and hip hop artist and actress MC Lyte.

The event lasted three hours. Said Davis: "It was most heated and most
uncomfortable for those representing the companies. Lewellen and Leach
received the most fire from the audience. These women are in pain and
are confused. One woman asked, 'What did we do to make you all
seemingly hate us so much?' There was a great silence, and a feeling
of collective pain filled the air."

This mysogynistic and brutal turn in music is damaging the image of
black American women to the point that they are approached outside of
the U.S. like freelance prostitutes.

The Spelman women made their voices heard and have inspired thinking
young men to fight the stereotypes and question the images. This is no
less than an extension of the civil rights movement. But true change
will only come when white females begin to identify with the dues
their black sisters must pay as this hostility and exploitation
continues to be splattered through radio and television. White women
have to open up on white men, who buy four out of five rap recordings.
Once they declare it uncool for white guys to support the
dehumanization of black women, we will see much more than a sea
change.

I'm an optimist. I think the tide is about to turn.

BRAVO! BRAVO!

It seems like events like this are long overdue! Academics have long taken up this subject in research, but the topic really needs to hit the pop culture and mainstream society.

I do tend to think this issue is not just limited to blaming the record companies, cable stations, etc. This issue, and related ones such as rape and aggression in the black community, are ones that call upon everyone (schools, parents, churches, record labels, civic-social groups, broadcast & cable, etc.) to get involved and take responsibility.

I hope this event @ Spelman is the first of many on that campus and others across the country. Job well done and the women of Spelman should be proud.

pNc

I'm am so proud of them!

From Black America Web:

Essence Magazine Editor-in-Chief Diane Weathers Resigns
Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2005
By: Monica Lewis, BlackAmericaWeb.com

With the sale of Essence Magazine to Time Warner Inc. now final, readers of the popular monthly publication must now face yet another major change.

Diane Weathers, editor-in-chief of Essence since 2001, announced her resignation this week. Weathers, whose journalism career has spanned three decades, cited personal and professional reasons for the move, stressing that she needed more time to focus on her family. She and husband, New York Times reporter Ron Smothers, are the parents of two teenage daughters.

Weathers’ resignation comes at a time when Essence, long known for providing insightful and inspiring material that reflected black women and their lives, is undergoing a major transition._ Last January, Time Warner sealed a deal acquiring 51 percent of the magazine’s parent company, Essence Communications Partners. The finalized deal is rumored to be valued worth close to $170 million when considering Essence’s brand power, as well as ancillary businesses like the popular Essence Music Festival, a book publishing company, plus hosiery and eyewear lines.

Also this year, Essence announced suspension of the magazine Suede, their effort to reach a younger audience. The magazine had only been in production since last September. It is reported that Weathers did not leave because of the failed project.

The largest publishing company in the world, Time Warner purchased 49 percent of Essence in 2000. The magazine now joins Time Inc.’s distinguished publication family, among them Time, People, Sports Illustrated and Fortune.

In Essence, Time Inc. now gets a product that has a monthly circulation of one million and an overall readership of 7.6 million. It is the second-largest black publication behind Ebony.

Nyja Greene, a 32-year-old TV producer from New York, told BlackAmericaWeb.com that she’s disappointed that Weathers was stepping down now.

“It’s upsetting that she would resign at such a time as this,” said Greene, an Essence reader for more than 10 years. “She was a leader, and women looked to her every month to direct the magazine and make sure their issues were addressed.”

With new ownership and now a new editor, Greene is fearful that something could be lost.

“I’m hoping that the magazine will continue to educate and empower African-American women of today, as well the girls coming up,” Greene said. “Whoever is selected, I hope that they are taking the helm of Essence seriously. It has been such a staple in our community for so long.

“I hope that they have a sincere dedication to the mission of Essence,” Greene added, “and aren’t taking the helm just to be a part of Time Inc.”

MarvaLisa Scott, an IT consultant in Philadelphia, was also disheartened by Weathers’ resignation. Since the Time Warner acquisition was announced earlier this year, Scott, 49, said she’s been concerned about potential changes to a publication she’s subscribed to for more than 20 years. In her opinion, the magazine's already adopted more of an entertainment focus.

“I ask myself, 'Will people of color have much impact at Essence?'” said Scott. “As the changes continue, I’m afraid that we will see more of other cultural influences.”

Both Greene and Scott agree that Weathers had a hard act to follow in former editor Susan L. Taylor, currently the magazine’s editorial director. Even though Monique Greenwood was Taylor’s initial replacement when she stepped down in 2000 after nearly 20 years in the editor’s chair, readers can’t help but think of Taylor when Essence comes to mind, Greene said.

“When it comes to Essence, everyone associates Susan Taylor with it,” Greene said.

Scott was actually surprised that Weathers had not left earlier. Her predecessor, Greenwood, lasted about a year.

“Even though Susan Taylor stepped down as editor, they created a new job for her,” Scott said. “Just like anybody else starting a new job, that can be a difficult situation to be in.”

Industry rumors are that former Heart and Soul editor Corynne Corbett will be tapped as the next person attempting to fill Taylor’s shoes.

BlackAmericaWeb was unable to contact an Essence spokesperson at press time.

Whoever takes on the responsibility, Scott hopes that, in finding their own voice, that they are able to continue being a leader for black women.

“I don’t think you ever got the sense that [Weathers] was the editor,” Scott said. “But Essence still has very pertinent issues to address for Black women. I just hope that whoever takes charge, they will be able to keep those issues on the forefront.”