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Beating the Beats: The Black Girls Rock! Foundation
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What is it?

The Black Girls Rock! foundation is dedicated to the healthy development of young women of color, and the creation of a dialogue about the portrayal of women in the media. BGR! is a growing non- profit consisting of permanent mentors, guest speakers, DJ instructors, and an extensive board of founders and supporters. The organization was founded in 2006 by celebrity DJ Beverly Bond and has its headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.

Why?

It is no secret that misogyny in music and music videos is ever present, and has been a part of popular music culture for some time. Misogyny itself is a broad term, but for the purpose of this article it will be defined as; the objectification and exploitation of women and their image through visual or lyrical expression. These aspects of the industry are not a new topic in fact many articles have been written on the subject such as; Bitches and Hoes: Exploring Misogyny in Hip-Hop. Suggestive imagery has been incorporated with music for…well for as long as many of us can remember. What has shifted is the frequency and accessibility of this content. It is now so ingrained in to modern society, and is seen so often at such a level, that it is now deemed “normal”. There was a time where “bumping and grinding” was a gasp-inducing notion, and yet now you can see pole dancing (and much more vulgar imagery) on afternoon video countdown shows. The over-sexualization of women is something that can be seen in many aspects of our day-to-day lives. When it is connected to music however, it becomes more than an image, it becomes synonymous with the moods and gratification that we feel when listening to our favorite songs. That's not to say that it is prevalent in all music by any means, but it is a dangerous presence in the works of some of today’s most popular artists.

Rock and Hip-Hop have become the most prominent genres under scrutiny for harmful lyrics and images of women associated with the music. With rock videos featuring scantily clad models on stage and on the tour bus; and with hip-hop videos featuring similar imagery, trading in the tour bus and stage for a mansion and a yacht, this pseudo pornographic imagery has morphed in to a necessary component to sell records. It is easy to identify that these videos or songs are harmful and misleadingly persuasive. Men and women of color are of particular interest when it comes to this issue. These videos and songs reach an audience who looks up to these male (and sometimes female) artists for cues on how to live, what to want, and how to treat others. They tell young girls how they should look, be treated and act in regards to men, and ultimately play a role in defining their sexuality as women. Beyond the catchy beats and well produced images, there is a far more important issue, the ideas that are being planted in to the young men and women that are consuming not only the product, but the lifestyle the product is supposed to represent. We all too often place all the blame on the industry or the artists but ultimately, where do we go from here? How do we combat these images and rectify the damage that they cause? Not only to young women, but how it affects young men and their relationships and perceptions of women.

Founding

Celebrity DJ Beverly Bond created the foundation Black Girls Rock! for this very reason. Bond, being a beautiful woman in Hip-Hop, has had her fair share of struggles in a male dominated industry. Prior to her career in music, Bond was a working model with various notable fashion brands and appeared in a number of campaigns. Her striking looks and love for music, as well as her passion for record collecting made her a force to be reckoned with, and ultimately became the face of the organization. Throughout her music career Bond has spun for various celebrity events, notable venues and became the first woman to join the Heavy Hitters crew on Hot 97fm. The experience gained in navigating and succeeding in a field where being a woman can be not only hard, but also detrimental to ones career, Bond has done the fieldwork to be a valuable mentor. Her wisdom of the ins and outs of the industry, both good and bad, enable her to give a well rounded and balanced view of music and its connected imagery as it relates to the media.

What They Do ''.]]

Through her struggles and accomplishments she took it upon herself to found a youth mentorship program that combats the negative images young women of color are faced with in the media, specifically the music industry, and give them the skills and confidence to regain control and a positive self image. Not only does BGR! inspire self worth and esteem, it also offers a growing variety of enrichment programs. The programs offered to young girls ages 12-17 include the following; College prep, a DJ course, poetry workshop, empowerment conversations, Broadway and off-Broadway performances, leadership camp and “Taste the World”, where young women are able to taste different cultural foods from around the world.

Where Are They Headed?

The organization, which has now grown in to a media recognized entity, makes a point to not attack the music and imagery that is dehumanizing and harmful, but instead educates and creates a new bond. The skill set that these young women learn allows them to form a new and healthy relationship with music, while giving them an empowering outlet to be involved in the music they love. The amazing work that Bond and other mentors who are involved have propelled the young organization in to the limelight. The Black Girls Rock! Awards are now featured on BETBet.com and feature celebrity performances and honors given to women who are inspirational and positive influences within the industry. The 2011 show was hosted by Tracy Ellis Ross and Regina King, with performances by; Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Estelle and many others. As BGR!blackgirlsrock.org continues to grow, so does their support and powerful influence for young women of color growing up in today’s society.

Reference Links

1.Black Girls Rock! Homepageblackgirlsrock.org

2.BET HomepageBet.com

3.Newsvine Homepagenewsvine.com