Commentary
I AM MISS
INVISIBLE
The misrepresentation of
Black women in hip-hop
By Tiffany Ginyard and on either side of a dictated same-sided spectrum: the
Tyra Williams overly sexualized and silent woman or the overly sexu-
alized, rude and violent Black woman. In the words of
Amidst all the name call- Natalie Hopkinson and Natalie Y. Moore, authors of
ing and the sexually explicit The Deconstruction of Tyrone — A New Look at Black
remarks, Black
women can be
found scurry-
In mainstream hip-hop, there is
ing around in
the shadows of
currently no representation of
hip-hop lyrics
trying to gather women who are leaders, mothers,
the remains of
whatever shreds of students and visionaries — the
dignity and respect
the culture has been everyday Black woman who works
kind enough to leave
behind. tirelessly in whatever capacity to
In mainstream hip-
hop, there is currently no keep the world turning.
representation of women
who are leaders, mothers,
students and visionaries—the everyday Masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation: What is any self-
Black woman who works tirelessly in respecting woman and hip-hop lover to do?
whatever capacity to keep the world turn- Should she continue to piece together the cookie-
ing. Instead, the culture has managed to crumbs of her identity or demand that things be
denounce, destroy, silence and ultimately dis- changed? Either way, there are several major factors
miss her boldly beautiful presence and instead, that have resulted in the sheer disrespect that has
presents consumers with baby mamas, scan- plagued the feminine presence in hip-hop that need to
dalous hos and money hungry b*****s—faceless be equally addressed.
women of color who serve merely as objects or The lack of lyrical representation in the genre
props to enhance a contrived sense of masculin- exacerbates the misrepresentation of Black women in
ity. hip-hop, further minimizing her identity and power.
Moreover, “everyday” women are unwillingly
placed in a quandary and find no representation
Continued on page 19
18 Trends A publication of the Afro-American Newspapers A publication of the Afro-American Newspapers
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