Black Women In Music Videos

Research and Methodology:
Three different time periods were chosen representing approximately three different generations of black music (40 years apart – 1920s, 1960s and 2000s). Members of the group have researched literature on black music in these specific periods of time, choosing the songs by either black male or female artists to examine in terms of the messages transmitted through their work about the relationship between men and women of the Black Diaspora. One group member will present how Black Women are depicted in music videos. The objective is to analyze the words being sung and how they impact black consciousness in this regard. The criteria for this admitted extremely limited case study research was that the artists chosen
But closer inspection reveals that it is indeed a cultural phenomenon that has an impact far and beyond music sales. Since the beginning of Black Entertainment Television (BET), Music Television (MTV), and Video Hits One (VH-1) in 1980, 1981, and 1985 respectively, music videos have been a dominant factor in American culture, as well as a platform from which current American attitudes, values, and preoccupations can be readily accessed. Together with the songs' melody and lyrics, music videos are powerful tools that impact minds with images that shape a person's attitude. Throughout the twentieth century, music videos have influenced various perceptions on the images of women. No matter what the women in the music videos are singing about, or what actions they are doing in the videos, there is almost always a sexual overtone. For women to be portrayed in this way has many consequences, for the images that we view in everyday life shape the way we think. Viewing a music video that has a woman being portrayed in an overtly sexual manner once may not have a very serious affect on a person, but seeing many different music videos all portraying women sexually, and seeing these videos over and over, does indeed shape a person's mind to view women with much less respect than they would otherwise. This therefore, is where the problem
If there weren’t the 50,000 women going to audition for these rolls in the videos, then the producers and rappers wouldn’t be able to produce the videos, because they wouldn’t have the image of sex to sell. Shimeca Videau published an article on Blacevoiceonline.com specifically talking about the way women are portrayed in music videos. Videau makes a statement and poses these questions: “I often wonder, do they realize how they are the exploiting themselves? Are they cognizant of the history of the devaluation of Black womanhood?” The women in these videos need to realize the image that they are presenting to the world, and the preconceived notions and stereotypes that they are reinforcing. I believe that the main thing on the women’s minds is the paycheck that they will receive at the end of shooting their video. Bell Hooks writes in Ain't I A Woman, that since woman was designated as the originator of sexual sin, Black women were naturally seen as the embodiment of evil and sexual lust. This is reenacted today in the current music videos. Videau also expresses how essential it is that women of all ages start exploring “self loving practices.” Which will teach women how to love and embrace, love and respect their