by
Black Girl With Long Hair
After blogging about natural hair and black beauty for 7 years, I’ve become uncomfortably familiar with how black women are erased from mainstream culture. A few days back I wrote about America’s penchant for jocking black women’s style without crediting us as tastemakers.
So when I read about Nicki Minaj’s tweets, which plainly laid out the racial bias against black women in the music industry, I was there for it. If you don’t know the story, Nicki Minaj took to Twitter to express frustration that her hit single, Anaconda, was not nominated for the MTV Video Music Award’s Video of the Year.
I wholeheartedly agree with her about black women being blackballed, in various ways, in an industry they have influenced heavily both in front of the scene as performers, and behind the scene as choreographers, musicians and songwriters. And I do agree that, for its cultural impact, Anaconda definitely should have received the nomination. Here are a few facts about Anaconda’s impact;
For the week ending September 6, 2014, “Anaconda” jumped 39-2 on the Hot 100, becoming Minaj’s highest charting single on that chart, and marking her eleventh top ten hit… Its leap into the runner-up position was brought on primarily by the release of its music video, which garnered 32.1 million domestic streams in its first week. That streaming total caused it to consequentially skyrocket 42-1 on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart. It is the largest one week streaming sum since Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” received 36.4 million streams for the week ending September 28, 2013. Additionally, the 39-2 ascent for “Anaconda” marks the second-biggest jump ever within the Hot 100’s top 40…
“Anaconda” was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in November 2014 and has sold 1.3 million copies in the US as of December 2014…
The video broke the 24-hour streaming record on Vevo by accumulating 19.6 million views in its first day of release, beating the 19.3 million 24-hour record previously held by Miley Cyrus for the music video of her song, “Wrecking Ball”, in 2013… On August 30, 2014, eleven days after the release of the music video, “Anaconda” was Vevo certified for receiving over 100 million views.
This Marie Claire article, which Nicki posted to Instagram, perfectly sums up the racial bias against Anaconda;
To put it simply: When Britney Spears got naked and covered herself in sequins for Toxic, she was nominated for Best Music Video. When Emily Ratajkowski got naked next to Robin Thicke in Blurred Lines, he was nominated for Best Music Video. When Miley Cyrus stripped off and broke a million health and safety rules by riding a piece of construction equipment, she wasn’t just nominated for Best Music Video of the Year – she won it. All of the above videos have been controversial, but they were acknowledged by the industry for their impact nevertheless.
So, if I agree that Nicki Minaj deserves a nomination for Anaconda, and am happy that she spoke out on black women being erased from pop culture, why can’t I go to bat for Anaconda. Well, put simply, because it’s not the empowering black woman anthem Nicki claims it to be, at least not to me.
The song is supposed to be a celebration of big, round butts, like the 1992 original Baby Got Back by Sir Mix a Lot that it samples. Instead it’s about, well… it’s about a woman who has sex with drug dealers. And frankly, I’m confused about why criminal and drug culture were included in a song that purports to celebrate black womanhood. Check out the verses;
Boy toy named Troy used to live in Detroit
Big dope dealer money, he was getting some coins
Was in shootouts with the law, but he live in a palace
Bought me Alexander McQueen, he was keeping me stylish
Now that’s real, real, real,
Gun in my purse, bitch I came dressed to kill
Who wanna go first? I had ’em pushing daffodils
I’m high as hell, I only took a half of pill
I’m on some dumb shit…This dude named Michael used to ride motorcycles
Dick bigger than a tower, I ain’t talking about Eiffel’s
Real country ass nigga, let me play with his rifle
Pussy put his ass to sleep, now he calling me NyQuil
Now that bang bang bang,
I let him hit it ’cause he slang Cocaine
He toss my salad like his name Romaine
And when we done, I make him buy me Balmain
I’m on some dumb shit
Really?
Even though Baby Got Back has become a cultural punchline, the intro to the music video actually has some serious cultural commentary. It starts with a white woman staring in disgust at a black woman’s bottom as she ponders out loud how it can be seen as a legitimate object of desire;
“Oh my God Becky, look at her butt. It is so big. She looks like one of those rap guy’s girlfriends. Who understands those rap guys. They only talk to her because she looks like a total prostitute, okay. I mean her butt it’s just so big. I can’t believe it’s just so round, it’s like out there. I mean, gross, look. She’s just so black!”
Sir Mix a Lot then goes on to rap his ode to black woman’s bottom. But the juxtaposition of his love letter (or lust letter) with white disdain signifies an unabashed embrace of a black beauty aesthetic that was rejected at that point in American culture.
Nicki’s video, on the other hand, well… I enjoyed the choreography in the music video, but after a day or so of its release I had stopped listening. The song isn’t representative and it didn’t feel like an ode to me. If anything, it didn’t sound much different than the elevation of criminality already rampant in rap music.
I don’t buy the argument that artists have to be role models. It’s not their job or responsibility. But I do think that if they want their art to become a platform for discussing deeper cultural issues, they have to be prepared for criticism of that art — especially when it’s presented as representative of a group of people. Black women like Sandra Bland (who Nicki Minaj has been tweeting about) die in police custody because they are automatically and unjustly criminalized by police. So why is black womanhood being conflated with criminal culture as though the two go hand in hand, and then packaged in song form for America to consume?
Check out the video below and let us know your thoughts;
83 Responses
Really?!!! Am I seriously seeing this? Am I the only one who thinks this video is objectifying women? REALLY?????
i dont like the song because she said FUCK THE SKINNY BITCHES..im black and really skinny.thumbs down for me
Lol….jesus you’re dumb…..and this is why these rappers won’t go away because dumb ass black chics like you support them and enable them…These pos would never have become rich and popular if it wasn’t for BLACK WOMEN supporting their bs… they would never have gotten away with degrading and dehumanizing black women without the full support of BLACK WOMEN……..and watch it’s going to come back to bite you in the ass and if it doesn’t get you it will get your daughters and granddaughters…so keep making excuses and dumb arguments.
I can see that, Taylor. She still, somehow, felt slighted. I don’t think she was worried about Black people specifically. I think her thoughts were, with the wild popularity of the video, she did not understand how it could go un-nominated. And, although curvy, Beyonce intentionally appeals to the Pop genre. She kills the Pop genre…so, her videos have mass appeal anyway. Like I said, I can’t argue with whether or not it should have been nominated. A fellow woman felt slighted. She wanted to be heard. I can support that. I just may not agree with what she is saying. I’ll listen anyway.
FIRST OFF: I will start by telling you to NEVER tell someone you do not know you hope they never have children and that their parents failed them. ?Your parents are obviously the ones that failed YOU honey. You don’t know my, nor my parents struggle. For a mom who STRUGGLED to come out of foster care and the projects to now making 6 figures is amazing. For ME to have had a 90%+ scholarship to go to a private Catholic school based purely on academics and gotten a PERFECT score on the reading section on the ACT and had a4.64 GPA, is the COMPLETE OPPOSITE of them failing me. I am a child of God and that is the only reason keeping me from cussing you out right now. I will have children that know to accept everyone and their beliefs and to understand that while black urban culture is not perfect neither is any other, in fact they are just as bad.
Now for me to school your IGNORANT behind:
Go listen to Katy Perry E.T. or her song PeaCOCK (yea listen to how many times she says she wants u to show her your cock then say some bs about how POP music isn’t as bad as rap sometimes. )
Ok now look up some of COUNTRY musician Johnny Rebel a.k.a. Clifford Joseph Trahan. Now if that isn’t racist and horrible and dehumanizing I don’t know what is. Smh comparing MLK to a baboon…… ?I recommend “Nigger Haitin’ Me”
Now rock music can get extremely violent in some songs, but I do not have time to go look up every emo song about slitting wrist and killing people. Here is a gory song though I suggest you go skim through the lyrics: Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
Now yes obviously there are plenty of rap/hip hop songs that also talk about sex and killing, what I’m trying to show you is that other genres do as well. Now do ALL of Pop songs talk about sex? No. But neither do all Rap or HipHop songs. Believe it or not, but they can actually be of things of importance like politics, or even just tell a story of why you should stay on the right path ( Slick Rick: Story Time). ?WHOA crazy right? Lol who would’ve thought that an entire genre isn’t the exact same? If you want to listen to no cursing or anything go listen to Christian Rapper Lecrae. Maybe he can change your mind. Because if this didn’t I don’t know what’s wrong with you tbh.
And YES I am a PROUD black female.
Now keep your sincerities to yourself.
*drops mic* lol
You said a whole lot of nothing honey…..from the projects to the suburbs to a 4.64 gpa and still dumb….oh well
Beat that bitch with a bat
Bend over bitch
There’s some hoes up in here tonight…
I could go on and on and on….now find the pop, country or rock equivalent and come back to me or better yet f off.
Smh. You’re so slow. Did I ever say you could not find a disgusting song from the rap genre? NO I didn’t. You’re an idiot and I will just prove I’m right this one last time and will no longer waste my time on a simpleton like you.
Bessie Smith “Outside Of That”
I said for fun, I don’t want you no more
And when I said that, I made sweet papa sore
He blacked my eye, I couldn’t see
Then he pawned the things he gave to me
But outside of that he’s all right with me
I said for fun, I don’t want you no more
And when I said that I made sweet papa sore
When he pawned my things, I said, “You’re a dirty old thief”
Now, then he turned around and knocked out both of my teeth
Outside of that he’s all right with me
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/bessie-smith/outside-of-that-lyrics/#RrHMcumWdVuqqwwQ.99
Now this woman is a complete idiot and glorified domestic abuse also. However does that make ALL of blues music domestic abuse glorifying? NO. Do you understand that? I mean I’m trying to put this as plainly as possible but I swear ur head is full of air and it goes in one ear and out the other.
I feel deeply saddened for you that you are so blinded and so wrapped up in your own opinions can’t listen to reason . I pray you will get over that someday. Have a blessed day.
You are right about that. They originally snubbed Michael Jackson back in the 80’s!!! They refused to play his video “I Wanna Rock With You” and it came back to haunt them big time LOL.
at a certain point, to me, Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj, wether Black or White, at the end of the day: they both are crap who use the system for their own personal gains. so wether Nicki gets silence and Taylor doesn’t, litlle does it matter to me, since they are both equally sell-out. Them, Beyonce, Iggy, Rihanna and all of the likes: just endless commercial crap. When they pick up a social and moral fight, like Beyonce and the H&M ad campain and photoshop, all of it is just carefully studied and rehearsed for the public, nothing is actually real. Their music is not sincere, it picks social causes when it is popular to do so, in cooperation with those they claim to debate against. And by the way, talking about Rihanna and Beyonce, they too inspire themselves or sometimes straight up steal music from other artists: Black and White. So wether Nicki gets silenced and Taylor Swift gets to be up there doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. besides, I would go to argue that fighting a fight as a group of people isolated as a subset in the overall species of humans is not going to solve anything. I think that when wrong is done to someone based on a specific attribute that they share with a segment of the population (like black skin), it still is a matter equally important to all of us. and i do emphasize equally. so yes, Nicki, shut up. You are a disgrace to all of us, not just to Black women, but to all people. so if you pick the wrong battles, don’t come after crying for social justice. on the race to mediocrity – of who will be the most vulgar – discrimination based on skin color is really unimportant. to me that is.
No pressure on her to make an anthem for black women. Never said that. She herself has branded this as an anthem for thick women, with a focus on women of color. And if she is opting to do that, she must be prepared for criticism from said group.
But my issue is NOT with the sexuality. I mentioned in the original article that I enjoyed the choreography. I’m a ‘closet twerker’ (lol) and have a decent-sized butt myself, so I enjoy the celebration of sexuality. My issue is with the criminality. I am tired of black culture being conflated with criminality. We are in the midst of a national and international MOVEMENT trying to make that EXACT point — #blacklivesmatter. Black people are not criminals and we are not the ‘scourge’ of whatever society we exist in. I just can’t rock with Nicki on this. And the uncomfortable truth is that some things DO need to be silenced. I could go even deeper about how mainstream America CHOOSES to disseminate images of black people that are detrimental to us. Why is it that rap started as a conscious art form, but it was gangster rap that was pushed to the mainstream? I’m just not down with it. I wish her well on her campaign, but I will reserve my energy on this one.
Well said!!!!
Nah…I’m not going away….I don’t care if Jesus was twerking to it or how many views it received….it’s still trash…..rap/hiphop is a cancer and it is a one of the factors destroying the Black community and yeah I’m serious.
Rap and hip hop is not the problem. What certain people chose to rap about is the problem. Pop and rock music is just as bad if not worse. Pop songs talk about sex and girls kissing girls and drugs and Rock music talks about the same. Country music can talk about getting drunk and having sex in a pick-up truck but do you think those are “cancerous”? You’re an ignorant idiot. The rappers that talk about relevant political issues aren’t as famous as the ones that talk about money and weed but that’s not their fault nor is it the rap genre’s fault. Don’t try to make rap music a monolith. Ignorant people like YOU are what’s destroying the black community. please have a seat _
Yo. Goodbye…you’re too du….but wait………..
You are seriously comparing country, pop, and rock and their subject matter to the degrading, dehumanizing, hate ‘music’ that is rap and calling moi an ignorant idiot….I hope you are not a black woman and if you are I sincerely hope you do not have children…..and I’m truly sorry your parents failed you.
You can’t equate hip hop to rap, they are 2 different things. I cannot stand the commercialism of rap music, any and anyone is doing it. However I love hip hop. I grew up when hip hop was fresh of the streets so the messages that were conveyed back then were very deep and meaningful to me and others like me. A lot of the times Hip Hop was educational whether about our identities as people of African descent, informing us of the brutalities carried out on the street against our people or loving and respecting our Kings or Queens. There’s absolutely no comparison with the crappy rap music which came afterwards.
I totally agree with you on most of what you said??but the only difference between rap and hip hop is the tempo of the beat. Faster paced is hip hop while a slow one is rap. And tbh I’ve heard crapp music from both genres, but as a whole 90s hip hop and rap was quality while now we still have quality artist they are just outshadowed by the dumb songs that only talk about big butts and spending money. Smh.
Lol! Caping hard on this thread.
Love your comments. Brilliantly stated.
Her discography is precisely why her music is seen as trash–1 or 2 songs about reaching for the stars, does not negate 100’s of songs about her a**, screwing drug dealers, promoting gold digging, calling BW nappy headed ho’s and ect. So know what you’re talking about before assuming.
Lol! What does 7/11 having depth, soul or lack there of, have to do with my description of Nicki Minaj’s music?!?! Clearly you’re a fan, but your reach, deflection, and nonsensical assumption is a complete fail. A good amount of her music and Beyonce’s are in the exact same category–trash!
And you might need to reread my initial comment again, you will notice that I’ve already stated that her music does what it’s suppose to do–make you dance. But like the vast majority of pop music today, it lacks depth, heart and soul.
Her discography is precisely why her music is seen as trash–1 or 2 songs about reaching for the stars, does not negate 100’s of songs about her a**, screwing drug dealers, promoting gold digging, calling BW nappy headed ho’s and ect. So try again sweetheart–eye roll and all.
Going on about representing Black women in pop culture, and so Beyonce is relevant – hardly a reach darling. Considering you think they’re both trash I’ll take a wild guess that you’re super into hating women if they’re anything less than saints worthy of your invaluable “respect”.
Pop music isn’t about heart and soul, as we’ve both stated, and clearly if the charts have shown people treasure pop music because the world’s fucking depressing and wow fun music saves the day. You acknowledge the rest of both artist’s developing discography but turn around and say “it’s not enough” bc you think the sole goal of any artist should be getting your “respect” while they’re just enjoying themselves. Sigh, the same people always saying we need to “do better” for the worldly sake of BW everywhere really just strive to lock everyone into the same conservative crap used by yt people to justify mistreating us but yeah, sure, okay.
side note: gold digging? you mean being spoiled by a partner while also being able to independently support yourself as she frequently preaches to her fans anyways? okay.
Darling, we are talking about Nicki Minaj here–Not Beyonce. Beyonce (your go to person I take it?) “represeting black women in pop culture” is irrelevant to the subject matter being discussed at hand. I stayed on track you didn’t–you deflected, made a poor reach, a poor connection, a poor assumption, and a poor generalization–Which in all equaled a fail!
And as for an artist needing my “invaluable respect”–Lol! Another poor assumption. I don’t care if an artist wants to pop her vajayjay on stage, in the videos, at award shows or on the red carpet. If the the material is good–It’s good, if it’s not–it’s not. It’s really that simpe for me.
Fans like you tend to have a blind spot when it comes to your favorite artist–no critizism allowed seems to be the motto. I was critizing her work, calling it what it is–it’s hot to sing, dance, bop or whatever to, but at the end of the day, the music is still trash. Being able to enjoy it because the world is so depressing doesn’t change that fact. Pop music (including Beyonce’s, Nicki’s, Britney’s, Janet’s, Madonna’s and countless other popstars over the decades) is the junk food of music.
“side note: gold digging?”–Yes golddigging. Galavanting about having a drug dealer keeping you stylish and returning sex in favor does not equal being “spoiled by a partner”–Let’s call a spade a spade–It’s goldigging/prostituting. Adding that you can take care of yourself in the end, does not negate the previous statement.
I don’t have a problem with either artist–they both have their talent–but to attempt to pass the vast majority of their music as more than bubble gum/fast food/junk/trash music is where I personally draw the line.
“People still have a hard time accepting black innocence, be it criminal or sexual…It can also be seen in the way even white pop stars hypersexualise black women in their videos (think: Miley Cyrus and Lily Allen), to capitalise on “ghetto” culture. Miley Cryus may twerk and Iggy Azalea adopt a black Southern drawl in an exaggerated imitation of black female sexuality, but their whiteness means this is something they can (and no doubt will) walk away from at any time.
That’s not to say white women are not sexualised. All women are. But our racist attitudes mean that only white women are able to overcome this sexualisation. For example, Professor Edward Rhymes points out that in films featuring the hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold (think: Pretty Woman and Mighty Aphrodite), the character is invariably played by a white woman:”There has yet to be a critically-acclaimed or commercially successful film, where a central character was a Black prostitute. So even when the “textbook” requirements of what constitutes being promiscuous is met, her whiteness saves the day. Even at her most licentious, she is made to appear innocent, wholesome and strangely virginal.”
(http://www.dailylife .com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/a-tale-of-two-breastfeeding-pictures-20141106-11i9y2)
Dammn you’re good at finding these things. Well put.
::Sigh::There’s something about Black women who are willing to show
off their bodies WITHOUT SHAME that enrages many people – including Black folks who inflict respectability politics on Black women. I love her points about the wider societal issues of:1) ‘delicate’ and ‘ideal’ white womanhood being based upon the denigration and erasure the dark, savage, hypersexual ‘other’ of ‘Black womanhood’ 2) cultural appropriation. The ORIGIN of cultural appropriation is about DEHUMANIZING Black culture by SEPARATING the CREATION from the BLACK PERSON’S BODY and the BLACK PERSON’S BODY from HUMANITY itself. Separating our genius from our bodies means whites can WATCH a Black person achieve or do something great and STILL DEHUMANIZE THEM (i.e. pro sports).
Not only do whites feel they can WEAR the skin, cultures, clothing, and beauty traditions of the non-white people that they actively dehumanize and oppression like COSTUMES, they feel they can turn non-white people’s old and sacred traditions into meaningless and cheap “TRENDY” GARBAGE; act like the ULTIMATE “SCHOLARLY EXPERTS” on other people’s art, music, and food; and actually “DO” non-white people’s cultures “BETTER” than those non-white people. It’s disgusting.
This has nothing to do with respectability politics…This is about human dignity and common sense and Black women showing their asses is really played out….it’s been done, and done, and done….enough.
…Okay.
….but that’s exactly what respectability politics is tho….
No it is not.
Copying a comment I made further up: But my issue is NOT with the sexuality. I mentioned in the original article that I enjoyed the choreography. I’m a ‘closet twerker’ (lol) and have a decent-sized butt myself, so I enjoy the celebration of sexuality. My issue is with the criminality. I am tired of black culture being conflated with criminality. We are in the midst of a national and international MOVEMENT trying to make that EXACT point — #blacklivesmatter. Black people are not criminals and we are not the ‘scourge’ of whatever society we exist in. I just can’t rock with Nicki on this. And the uncomfortable truth is that some things DO need to be silenced. I could go even deeper about how mainstream America CHOOSES to disseminate images of black people that are detrimental to us. Why is it that rap started as a conscious art form, but it was gangster rap that was pushed to the mainstream? I’m just not down with it. I wish her well on her campaign, but I will reserve my energy on this one.
I’m not prepared to defend black criminality as though it is the same as black culture. I won’t.
BRAVO.
Just wanted to say that nick has repeatedly spoken about discrimination through her twitter including tweeting about sandra bland and other incidents… idk i do agree that most black artists are too scared to speak on black issues for fear of losing their white fan base but I don’t think Nicki is one of them. People don’t give her enough credit for actually being very politically aware
I agree. Especially since she totally disrespected skinny women when she herself was skinny . Well, now she has implants on top of her small frame. She is pushing an idea of beauty that women are dying to achieve . instead of working out, using natural supplements like nubian b. Formula , or simply accepting their bodies , they are pumping fix a flat in their bodies in hotel rooms. Nicki really should evaluate the msg she’s portraying.
I agree. Especially since she totally disrespected skinny women when she herself was skinny . Well, now she has implants on top of her small frame. She is pushing an idea of beauty that women are dying to achieve . instead of working out, using natural supplements like nubianbootyformula , or simply accepting their bodies , they are pumping fix a flat in their bodies in hotel rooms. Nicki really should evaluate the msg she’s portraying.
I agree. Especially since she totally disrespected skinny women when she herself was skinny . Well, now she has hips and butt implants on top of her small frame. She is pushing an idea of beauty that women are dying to achieve . instead of working out, using natural supplements like nubianbootyformula , or simply accepting their bodies , they are pumping fix a flat in their butts in hotel rooms. Nicki really should evaluate the msg she’s portraying.
I agree. Especially since she totally disrespected skinny women when she herself was skinny . Well, now she has hips and butt implants on top of her small frame. She is pushing an idea of beauty that women are dying to achieve . instead of working out, using natural supplements like nubianbootyformula , or hell, accepting their bodies , they are pumping fix a flat in their butts in hotel rooms. Nicki really should evaluate the msg she’s portraying.
I think even before the surgery Nicki was what most people would’ve described as “thick”. And that line wasn’t disrespect, not when you put it in the context of how much hate any women a size 8 or larger gets. Nicki isn’t pushing a beauty standard, she’s rebelling against one.
But her body is the product of plastic surgery, how is that not pushing a beauty standard? And for many, an unattainable one. Why was she not able to succeed in her natural body? Why was her talent not enough? Why did she feel the need to go under the knife in order to have a career? What was wrong with her body before the surgery? A slew of female rappers before her did not need to do this, so why did she?
I’m sorry, but her platform is and ode to body modification, so I disagree that she’s rebelling against beauty standards–she’s a walking advertisement for it.
How can anyone even honestly try to portray her as ‘rebelling’ when she’s pushing & conforming to the harmful body standards black men have always held black women to? If someone said ‘fuck these fat hoes’ would that be okay too? Skinny women are shamed for their bodies too, esp younger black women. You know, the people she’s pretending to care about? You don’t have to degrade one body type to uplift another. If you support her no matter what she does, just say that & be honest. Don’t be trying to paint it as what it’s not.
99.9 percent of women in music videos are thin and 80% of them are half naked. Is Nicki just noticing this?
If a woman highlights her ass more than her singing she is giving herself a place in pop culture, but not necessarily one that will garner her any respect.
Minaj doesn’t have any remarkable talent, and is your typical when realizing this tries to push her sloppy body on people, and implies racism when someone with some skill wins. LOL I can imagine the complaining if the situation had been reversed, and Swift had said “only flabby thick body types” can win. Minaj is a poor loser and doesn’t have the brains to realize she’d fare better mouth shut in the long run.
Nicki’s point is definitely valid overall but Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar also got nominated for VOTY. Both black and one “curvy so in this case idk if it totally applies. But beyond that I don’t think this is empowering at all.Black women have been exploited and objectified for as long as I can remember especially in the entertainment industry. I don’t see this as her owning her own body. Why? because that’s not the message that is being sent out. A lot of the attention that it wasn’t because it was empowering in any way in fact I think it was just the opposite after all how many times have we seen a black women have little to no clothes on in the media.A lot of the attention it got was because it was viewed as soft porn. Futhermore Nicki’s not the only person getting paid for this and Nicki’s body wasn’t the only one being objectified. There’s many people behind the song and the video getting tons of money for a “cause or movement” that they could care less about let alone understand. This cycle of exploitation and objectification and others profiting from our bodies just continues in a different form under the name of “owning my own body”. There’s a lot of ways to portray this message and cause a movement that don’t include you showing us your booty and twerking.Perhaps show (sort of how Bad Blood showed) that we can be supportive and unified too.We can do better.
I want to vomit. I am 50 years old. Not ONE of these artists were around when I was soaking up the fight to be equal by my mother, aunts and grandmother. They DON’T know what it’s like to be a true artist. They glorify the drugs, the violence, the blantant disregard for their true culture. Women are going backward and it’s evident in the sexualization of our young girls in the 8-12 year old range. If this is what a young 8 year old girl has to look up to, then they don’t stand a chance at becoming productive, inspiring, change inducing members of a society that has gone wrong and needs their strength to set things right. If this DOESN’T stop, women will be powerless with rights that can’t be enforced. Women are STILL underpaid regardless of their education. Why is that? Oh, yes, the “new feminism”. Artists like Nicki will never help remove the negativity associated with being a YOUNG woman in today’s society – she will only help to re-enslave women in a new world where, sure, we will have rights on paper but with a justice system dominated by men, good luck being able to exercise those rights. Just ask any rape victim what it’s like to go through trial with not only the preconceived notions about women by the men, but with the hatred of women in the jury box because women who THINK they are expressing their so-called power with what’s between their legs are making life IMPOSSIBLE for women who work so hard to be taken seriously. Who takes a drug-dealer’s, drug taking, liquor-guzzling, willing to sex any man who walks up to them girlfriend seriously?
Beyoncé and Rihanna are both previous winners of this award. Did I miss a nuance in Nicky Minaj’s argument?
As you said, her video made an impact but that was it. immediate shock and then it fizzled out. she shouldn’t be so shocked that she wasn’t nominated.
first of all, the timing of her video clashed with the rise of the new “classy sexy style” her video was more promiscuous ~
i don’t feel like she represents black women. she’s just holding onto an image we use to hold. (being video vixens in rap music videos shaking our arses) but she’s just trying to put the “female power” stamp on it.
So forgive me nicki when i say i’m glad you’re ‘Anaconda’ video didn’t win because i don’t want history to go in a complete circle..
OMG the lyrics are horrible. I never paid attention to what the songs was all about. Just terrible
Anaconda was literally satire it’s not meant to be an “anthem”. Ever since Nicki came on to the music scene she’s been reduced to a big butt and colorful wigs so she produced a song that wasn’t suppose to be thought provoking or deep it was just a fun silly song that was a manifestation of everything that the music industry says she is. And as for the people saying that Nicki is only speaking out because it is directly effecting her are wrong. Nicki is always speaking out about discrimination and bias in the music industry, not always on a public platform such as Twitter but she does speak out.
I decided to look at the list on nominees because I feel like you can’t judge who is nominated or who wins without looking at the competition. It could be weak some years strong others. Anaconda while not nominated of video of the year or choreography but is nominated for best female video and best hip hop video. I honestly don’t care for her song. a video of the year is all the individual catergories rolled into one. So it is not the just the artist, or how popular the song or video is. Video making is an artistry so Good creative concept, camera work, direction, editing are all factors in what I would include in my judging for video of the year.. I made it a point to watch all the video of the year nominees. I do camera work and ediiting. The Uptwown Funk, Alright, and Bad Blood videos were done exceptionally well and amazingly entertaining visually and solid songs. The Beyonce not as good but still good. Ed Sheeran Thinking Out Loud was just okay as a video.. I think the creativity was in that the simplicity is not the norm but it captures the essence of song. But then I love Ed. Saw him in concert at Jazz Fest and he writes amazing songs. Nikki’s songwiting not so much. So final verdict I don’t feel she got slighted based on who got in. Even if she was nominated I would not giveher the award unfortunately partially for things beyond her control. . btw do people still watch mtv?
Nikki Minaj is trash. I don’t like her content at all – it’s sexually objectifies women to stratospheric levels and i’m not here for it. She just mad because nobody nominated her. She crying about the injustices black women face but is completely silent when black women are faced with real issues. I haven’t seen a tweet of hers yet talking about Sandra Bland….Nikki can kick rocks.
I don’t support anyone who – regardless of ethnicity – objectifies, sexualises, degrades, demoralises black women (and men). We need people who will uplift and empower us, especially younger girls and boys. The message her rap/song, whatever you want to call, sends out is we’re immoral: sleep around and prostitute ourselves for that Balmain, crack heads or addicted to some drug, thugs or into that lifestyle, and that black men are criminals or drug lords among many other things. Nicki and the rest in the music industry are held in same esteem to me: vile creatures who are doing nothing but contributing to the degeneration and negative perception of black people.
I agree with everything that the writer of the article stated.
Maybe MTV didn’t think Anaconda was good enough for an award, not because of any sort of prejudice, but because they think she’s not as good as she thinks. Maybe Nicki needs to get over herself. Besides that, I really like this article. And now that I’ve read the lyrics, which are quite insipid, I’m actually surprised that Nicki thinks it’s an empowering anthem. I don’t feel empowered; I feel embarrassed.
Songs like this is why I’ve pretty much stopped listening to rap. It’s bad enough that black women are portrayed in an oversexualized manner. To me, she’s only making that worse, and unfortunately, the more we’re viewed in that way, the more we’re seen as objects of sexual gratification. Then people start to think that our lives don’t matter and treat us as such.
Oh Nicki, she makes it so hard to root for her. While I agree that there are racial issues surrounding these award things, I don’t think Nicki’s particular instance was one of race. Beyonce also got nominated for that home video, 7/11. I think Nicki was just unpopular amongst voters. and I do agree with what BGLH wrote about the song.
First…yuck on Nicki Minaj. I don’t listen to her music, never have, never will. Her music or the likes of it doesn’t represent me or the culture that I am a part of. She can fight this battle without me. Now speaking of MTV nominations; please remember that this is the channel that just a bit over 30 years ago would not show ANY black music videos so we shouldn’t be surprised when any black artist is snubbed now.
Just reading the title I was preparing my argument against what I believed was going to be respectability politics. However, I’m glad to say that I can agree with you. One of the main reasons I don’t support Nicki or many other Black music artists is because they don’t support me. The only time these new Blacks care about discrimination is when they are affected. Nicki’s one tweet is nothing.
Actually, Nicki has always stood up and represented black people, especially black women. She’s posted things about many tragedies in the black community. This wasn’t her first tweet concerning discrimination at all
There is nothing empowering about this song at all. I loved her message towards MTV and Black culture, but I definitely didn’t feel Anaconda was the song to go along with the message.
Considering her blatant disrespect of Malcom X and his importance in history, I am not surprised at her mindset. Dr. Martin Luther King said it best when he said the two biggest dangers are sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. She doesn’t care about the legacy of negativity she’s helping to cultivate as long as she’s getting paid. A real woman recognizes her power not by what she can do with what’s between her legs and boasting about it, but by what she does to make people see her value as a human being and what she can contribute in a positive way.
Honestly the Sir Mixolot version could, and should be criticized for fetishizing Black women’s bodies. Yes it pushed back against white disdain but in the process it turned Black women’s bodies into something to be consumed by Black men.
What I admired about Nicki’s video is that she took back her sexual autonomy. In Anaconda she owned her own body and celebrated her ability to have sex (albeit with drug dealers). In that way I did think it was empowering.
Also why is there this pressure on her to make an anthem for Black women? Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, none of the white artists are under the same type of scrutiny. That’s why I don’t really buy the argument about not supporting her because she glorifies criminal culture; a white artist could do the same, or do something equally problematic, and people would overlook it.
At the end of the day though, the song isn’t perfect. But it gets enough right for me to make up for it’s faults, and the criticism she faces is compounded by her womanhood and her Blackness so I still support her, although I understand where the author is coming from.
I HATE how Nikki was so passive-aggressive in her tweets. Why have the million smiley faces? what’s with the quotation marks? If you can’t say what you mean on TWITTER of all places, how do you expect anyone to listen to you? I mean, she has a valid point, but she should have just stated it like a damn grown up.
The smiley face laden tweet wasn’t really Nicki being passive aggressive. It’s a thing with Black twitter that follows the formula of making a poignant or slightly controversial statement and “softening” it with a slew of smiley face emojis.
ie: “When it took you 15 years to love and accept you features that you got made fun of for growing and White girls appropriate it just for fun. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 :)”
I mean if you kept up with twitter, it’s simply a common way of saying things. Half of the users on twitter have made a post written like that, it’s sarcasm. Twitter’s a platform with 140 characters to say your piece on things, and you obviously got her point across to you so you nitpicking like “well I’d listen to you if you said it differently” is probably more immature.
I’m sorry, but I get her frustration about black women being denied our place in pop culture, but she’s just not the person to spearhead it.
Her music is just trash–Fun to dance too, but no depth, heart, soul whatsoever.
Not all her music is fun to dance to nor does all her music have “no depth, heart, (or) soul whatsoever.” Have you ever listened to All Things Go, or Dear Old Nicki? Perhaps, Pills N Potions? Maybe Fly? Know what you’re talking about before judging
Anyone who really thinks this is a real argument about Nicki must really thinks Beyonce’s 7/11 is deep and filled with soul? Everyone likes to have fun, it’s pop music. And it’s only one song out of her discography? /eye roll
I feel like Nicki is for Nicki. Now she wants to speak out about black women being discriminated against…
Whether I agree with her personal or moral choices, she doesn’t deserved to be silenced. I don’t have to agree with her campaign to support her ability to run it. I think that’s what it’s all about. Regardless of whether I “agree” with her message, her message gets silenced because of the brown packaging (if I am to understand the basis of the snub from her perspective). She doesn’t have to represent my views in order to receive my support. I think that’s her concern. It was a video. Her problem is that, despite breaking those records, it was not recognized at the VMAs. She’s right about that. Now, if we want to discuss the message of her platform, that should be directed at her. I cringe every time I see a young lady “twerking”. I hate that she rapped about having a relationship with a drug dealer. I hate that she is always ass first. Sure, all of those things remind me that I have to be the mother in my future daughter’s life if I don’t want her to be confused on where I stand. But…her video got snubbed despite the numbers/data to support a win. And, at no point, was it presented as representative of all Black people. Just representative of the culture that we are in. The popularity of the video and the song back up her claim. Just like I am not convinced that all thin white women are secretly super heroes and kickboxing villains because of Taylor Swift’s video.
EXACTLY. thank you???
Received and understood. But I must say, as a black woman I tire of fighting battles for those who do not have my best interest at heart. To me it’s no different than the spoken word piece I posted a few days back where the two young ladies said, ‘I protect men who hate me.’ At what point does my individual identity get to take prominence over my group identity?
Received and understood as well. Truly, I understand it with my whole heart. It’s exhausting. But, we have to stop presenting ourselves as a homogeneous group. That silences us as well…those of us who are not being seen. She never promised to be anything other than who she is. I’ll play my part, and she will play hers. I worry that we do the same things to ourselves that were done to us. If we don’t like something, or deem it less worthy than we are (or less worthy than our particular message), then we wish it away. We silence it. It doesn’t look like us, sound like us, represent us, so kill it…I don’t know how her message advances my causes, if at all. But, what I do know is her silence is not the answer. Putting her and her explicit sexuality in the closet isn’t either. We cannot be afraid that “they” will continue to think “this” about us if they see it, so we have to “hide and silence” it out of fear. That is weakness and not strength. I suggest that the rest of us grow louder. Present more sides to the narrative. This oneness is created out of the coming together of many. This group identity is composed of variance within the Queendom. Variance. Keep your head up, love. We’ll get there.
Yep! Do you guys remember this verse? “These nappy headed hoes need a perminator” and “them nappy headed hoes, but my kitchen good” and when she had Malcom X on the cover of an album? MTV aint *ish* but Nicki is a mediocre artist and doesn’t get my support either.
Also Nicki has presented the song in various contexts as being an ode to thick women, black women and women who don’t fit the beauty standard.
But it was recognized at the VMAS she got nominated for Best Rap Video she just didn’t get nominated for Video of the Year . While her points were valid overall Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce both black were nominated for video of the year. They’re both black and Beyonce is curvy
‘She doesn’t have to represent my views in order to receive my support’…wait….what?… Does this make sense to you?
Yes, as an adult, and as a parent, it certainly does. I am under no opinion that someone has to have the same ideals, views, goals, religion, culture, or ambition, in order to receive my support of their basic rights to visibility and voice…although I have my limits. My children believed, for a while, that something lived in their closet. I did not. I still went in there every night swinging away at the darkness like a mofo in order to show them my support and “get that monster”, although I did speak to them about the the truth behind their fear. Likewise, I stand behind my husband’s right to express his religious views, which are different from mine, and he receives my undying support. I am not arrogant enough to believe that if a view does not mirror me, or represent “me”, it holds no value…and should thus be silenced. Does this explanation make sense to you? I can try and explain it differently if not.
Thank you….I don’t support or listen to rap but I checked this out and it’s straight trash….uggghhh…I wish this female would go away…..This is not empowering at all.
it wasn’t about being empowering. It’s the fact that her music video made records, more than the other videos that were nominated and she STILL wasn’t recognized. Maybe you should just go away. If you don’t support or listen to rap in the first place obviously you wouldn’t appreciate it anyways.
nice
I am not with her either as the is a bad representation of black woman ( we can do better ),,,,Now speaking of the things, Well why are we upset with MTV when this was in the making for quite some time. This is what we get when we started playing with these Buffy’s some time ago..Did we not think they were going to steal our talents when clearly history shows them stealing everything else?
She’s not here to represent Black women as a homogenous group, since we’re all individuals in the first place (get over yourself).