Spelman Students Protest: Don't like the music? Should you ignore the cause?

[Marie]

I am so proud of the women of Spelman for taking a stance on this issue. I think that the concept of separating the "person that you are as an artist" from the "person that you are in actuality" is ridiculous. If a white rapper had a video about the KKK, no one would support him coming to an HBCU to raise money to send black kids to college. His "cause" would just seem like a farce. Now I do believe that Nelly really cares about Bone Marrow, esp. since his sister was in need of a transplant. However, entertainers need to begin taking responsibility for the images that they project. Singers and rappers are "supposed" to be talking about their experiences, and portraying their beliefs. Therefore, it is an insult to expect the same people that you degrade and dehumanize to support you and something that you care about.

JMHO,
Marie

[delph998]

I saw the video on accident too. It was so vulgar, I turned the TV off. I was very disappointed in Nelly for degrading women so badly in the video. I applaud what the women of Spelman are doing. Musical lyrics and videos have absolutely gotten out of control...I don't even watch music videos like I used to.

[Kimmie1913]

Originally posted by Conskeeted7
Just to play devil's advocate for a minute...why turn down Nelly's bone marrow drive if it's the music that you have a problem with? And I bet he didn't have to beg any of those strippers to do what they did in the video. They are probably proud of their performances and would do it again in a heartbeat. True, it is not a good image to have of any woman, but if he is trying to redeem himself through a good cause, why knock him for it? Maybe he's just doing what he knows will make money so that he can draw attention to better causes like bone marrow. If those strippers weren't dancing for him, they'd be dancing for someone else. He just gave them an additional venue.

From what I have read, it seems that in the end, Nelly and the foundation pulled out of the drive. The students said we want the drive but not the artist. The foundation said you cannot have one without the other.

I unfortunately came across that video during about of insomnia and was horrified. It was actually the worst video I had ever seen on uncut (which I do not watch but of the ones I have come across it took the cake). I do not by the "if the women were not willing to participate, it would not happen" argument. It takes two to tango. Even if they are willing, there is nothing that requires a man swipe a credit card down her @$$. Videos and other images like this of Black women are what teach our young girls that this is acceptable behavior. This is how they are being socialized to think that sexual favors are how you get boys to like you and all you have going for you. Have you heard about the jelly bracelet game? What would ever convince a child that a game that requires her to perform sexual favors is okay? It also teaches our boys to emulate these men and to believe that it is okay to treat women as sex toys, to degrade them and to swipe credit cards in their butts!!! Nelly's foundation is not the only game in town and not the only organization working to wards increasing the number of African American bone marrow donors. I do think they made the right decision, they tried to still have them come but at least engage in a dialogue about this foolishness. The more we sit back and stay quiet about these things, the more prevalent they will continue to become and the more society will be come convinced of this image of all of us as Black women.

[Conskeeted7]

Yes, there were strippers in the video and they were doing things that I wouldn't be caught dead doing. But you also have to acknowledge the fact that it came on at like 3 in the morning. So, if children were watching television at that time, we have an issue with parenting, more than with the video.

We cannot say that because an artist makes a vulgar song, our children are forced to look at these images. We CHOOSE to have cable and CHOOSE to pay for it. We CHOOSE to buy cds and concert tickets. If we are concerned about the state of black women in the media, let's start there. Don't subscribe to cable, protest BET, don't go to the concert. I just don't believe that the best way to exercise our right to protest is when the artist is actually promoting a good cause. Sure there are other organizations that promote good causes, but that's not the point. His organization was invited and scheduled to appear. He was not there to perform or sell records.

Now, if he was cancelled because he refused to discuss his videos or reason for vulgar songs, I have to ask why was he even invited in the first place? That's like me inviting someone to my house to sell Mary Kay, but I tell her that she has to discuss her views on abortion with me. She refuses and I make a big deal about her not coming to my house. Well, I didn't make it known from the beginning that we were there to discuss abortion.

Parents have to take responsibility for educating their children and instilling pride and self esteem. The problem is not Nelly teaching children that it's ok to swipe credit cards in a woman. The problem is not letting our children know ahead of time that we are better than that and don't have to stoop to that level.

[itsmesteph08]

See, when ladies stick together we can do some thangs!!! I like to see people take a stand especially since no one seems to stand for anything these days. . .

Cause or not, this sent a message, 'Not cool, Nelly. Not cool!' There are other ways for artists to express themselves creatively than to pull from the 'vulgar' and 'ignorant' file (which we seem to have down to a science)(hence, my signature uh, um yep )

I think this was a small step forward ('cause we sho haven't "arrived"). It won't stop record sales for these artists and it may not get artists to change this 'shock factor' phenomenon (each of them seem to be trying to out do each other). . . for ratings, sales, whatever. But I hope it gets our people to change their views, (have some pride ugh!!!)and see there's a bigger picture at hand than "oh, it's just a video". . . that we (as African-American women) are not okay being sex objects like the media portrays so maybe we should stop perpetuating the stereotype. . . okay I know that's a lot to ask. (sad) Heck, if taking stands like this do nothing more than get some people thinking (ie. the woman who posed as the human credit card terminal . . ."where is HER momma?!?!?!***) (and if you say she was in the back ground with the hot pink on. . . imma hit the floor!!! )


just a thought,

Steph~

*** (to this day, I am always conscious of "What if my momma could see me/ or Would my mother approve?. . . and govern myself accordingly. . . right? am i by myself?!?!? can't be.)

[Marie]

1st. Without a doubt these images are extremely negative. Once I took a psych class, and we discussed the effects of hard core pornography on people's sexual perceptions and practices. The prof. explained that as people watched more and more of these films that involved "abnormal sex practices" their perceptions of what was normal changed, so that these abnormal practices became normal to them. Now, I'm not making judgements about anyone's sex life. Do what you do. However, as young girls watch these types of images (Tip Drill, etc.), they becomes perfectly normal to them after a while. How would a young girl know that a man swiping a credit card in her @$$ is "out of pocket"? How would she know that she is too valuable to give out random sexual favors or shake her groove thang half-naked in a room full of men? I know this because I am grown and have learned or been taught my value. However teenagers (even those from good homes) still rely on their experiences, their peers, and images in the media to "find themselves".

Posted by Conskeeted

So, if children were watching television at that time, we have an issue with parenting, more than with the video.

Now, I do believe that parents should monitor their children, but not everyone comes from a good home w/parents that care or are around to monitor them. Some parents might work nights and not know that their kids are watching this. So what happens to those kids? I know everyone says "it takes a village to raise one child", but in actuality kids and parents are on there own out there. If the community doesn't protest artists putting out these types of images, then what will happen to the self-esteem and self-value of girls who don't come from families where that is reinforced? Even in families where parents are involved, kids are still going to be influenced by public figures. This is evidenced by girls who have eating disorders b/c they want to look like Jennifer Aniston, even though there parents tell them that they are fine the way that they are. Quite frankly, my mom doesn't stay up past 10 PM, and she has never even heard of Uncut. So she wouldn't even know to cancel the cable or boycott BET.

Posted by Conskeeted

Now, if he was cancelled because he refused to discuss his videos or reason for vulgar songs, I have to ask why was he even invited in the first place?

To clarify, I believe that they asked him there before the Tip Drill video was known to them. Once they found out about the video, they expressed discomfort w/supporting his cause given his negative images of women. They asked if he would like to discuss his video with them to clear up the discomfort. He refused.

[jojapeach]

Only three weeks before the event was scheduled, I actually helped to register six more African-Americans to the National Marrow Donor Registry. I was looking forward to volunteering at the larger event, so I was very disappointed when it was cancelled. In light of these events, I am torn on the issue. I see where the women of Spelman are coming from, but I really feel that they chose the wrong time to do it. The issue could have been put to the side for that one day to support the effort of saving African-American lives. The issue had not been addressed by Spelman since Luke, Wrexx N Effexx (however they spell it), and countless others had been exploiting sisters. Therefore, I think it was in poor taste for Spelman to wait until one artist was to set foot on the campus to protest.

BTW, there was a great discussion on Hot 107.9 in Atlanta this morning, and I was glad to hear Spelmanites give us insight. I still think that the choice for the greater good would have been to hold the drive with a celebrity of Nelly's magnitude rather than just Spelman. Spelman is an excellent school, but realistically, they will not attract the broader spectrum of African-Americans that don't attend school at the AUC or live outside of the nearby area. I guess the only bright side is that there will be two marrow donor registration drives in Atlanta in the future.

[Munchkin03]

Have any of the D9 organizations put increasing the number of AA bone marrow donors as a national priority or philanthropy? I think this would be a great initiative. I'm registered, but I'm in the minority.

I think the women of Spelman did a good thing. There will be other, more respectful, benefactors to their cause.

[jojapeach]

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. created the Judie B. Davis Bone Marrow Recruitment Program to recruit donors and to educate citizens of the need for donors, especially those of minority decent. Recently, my alumnae chapter included the program in our annual Youth Symposium (another national program), but Sigma's committment to educating African-Americans has been around for years.

For more information on the National Marrow Donor Program: http://www.marrow.org.

[jojapeach]

There was an excellent dialogue on The Frank Ski Morning Show on Atlanta's V-103 with women from Spelman College, and there was even more insight into the "issue" - straight from the horse's mouth. There were some tense moments with some of the controversial questions and comments, but I commend those ladies for remaning composed in their repsonses. The beautiful outcome is that V103 wants to work alongside Spelman College when their bone marrow registration drive is held. So, there will be publicity to a broader spectrum after all.

[Eclipse]

Originally posted by jojapeach
There was an excellent dialogue on The Frank Ski Morning Show on Atlanta's V-103 with women from Spelman College, and there was even more insight into the "issue" - straight from the horse's mouth. There were some tense moments with some of the controversial questions and comments, but I commend those ladies for remaning composed in their repsonses. The beautiful outcome is that V103 wants to work alongside Spelman College when their bone marrow registration drive is held. So, there will be publicity to a broader spectrum after all.

I heard part of it as well. Frank was working my last nerve talking about them being hypocritical. I certainly saw his point about the other rapper that came for homecoming (and liked the way the ladies handled it), but I was yelling at the radio "Do you think it is hypocritical to play the music you play, say the things you say, then talk about Bishop said this and Bishop said that and play your little Gospel song and do your little scripture before you go off the air? I sure do!

I was really suprised at the number of folks who agreed with this stance though and told them they were wrong for "coming down on Nelly".

Question: Do you or anyone else know how this got publicized? Did Spelman do a press release? What I think people failed to realize is that since the beginning of time AUC students have been protesting something and having forums about something else. It's not unusual.

[Conskeeted7]

I agree that the images are not positive and should not be encouraged, or even viewed. However, let's not forget who we are talking about. Nelly is a rapper who uses vulgar language and talks about sex on his records. So, for his video to show that shouldn't come as much of a surprise. This is not TD Jakes or Kwesi Mfume. This is Nelly. And the fact that he has women in his video doing vulgar things is just one of the bad images that he promotes, in my opinon. So, I'm back at the point of why even invite Nelly to come to campus?

Additionally, there are parents who are not available to be with their children all of the time, but that does not mean that the parents are not responsible. If you work late, unplug the televisions if your children continue to disobey you and turn them on after you leave. Or cut the cable off all together. Sure, there are other ways that they can and will see negative images, but they can be minimized. That way, they are not desensitized to negative images when they see them. And they will know that these images are not condoned in the household and not how we behave.

If the school was interested in having a respectable person promote the cause on their campus, I'm sure they could have found someone else from the beginning instead of inviting Nelly and then using the event as fodder for an argument on images of women in the media.

[AKA2D '91]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...pelman_vs__rap


Black College Women Take Aim at Rappers
AP - 20 minutes ago
Maybe it was the credit card that rap superstar Nelly swiped through a woman's backside in a recent video. Here at Spelman, the most famous black women's college in the country, a feud has erupted over images of women in rap videos, sparking a petition drive and phone campaigns.

[StrangeFruit]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/186349p-161418c.html

[reddawn18]

Yes we are taking a stand. But it is the first publicized stand. There has been individuals standing for this for a while. I will not front, I have bought Nelly CDs. But most of the time I don't listen to words. Or I will listen to select tracks like the one with Kelly Rowland.

But I am proud for my sisters and brothers who are making a stand. We should all lead by example.