Saul Williams

Hey Saul:

As a Black Woman and Mother of a daughter , I have problems with the way black women are depicted by mainstream (white) media. But I am appalled at the Black media's depiction of black women. The degrading images of the half naked women being treated as devalued objects of pleasure. Images leading people to the conclusion that all Black women expect to be treated in a manner of disrespect.

This quote really baffles me:
"There is no true hatred of women in Hip Hop. At the root of our nature we inherently worship the feminine. Our overall attention to the nurturing guidance of our mothers and grandmothers as well as our ideas of what is sexy and beautiful all support this."

There is a high degree of hatred toward the women in Hip Hop. There has to be, because what other reason would there be for the objectification and denigration of these women.

You say you worship the feminine. How is that possible, when the images are of half naked women in compromising positions? To worship these women, they should be the object of adoring reverence or regard, not sexual lust.

The number of songs that refer to women as "bitches and whores" being spewed in between the I want to "do you" lyrics, creates a culture of people who have disregard for the value of women.

There are some who may say they are just words, this may be true, but these words shape the structure of the next generation. Thus creating a generation who continue to perpetuate this denigration.

What happened to the love songs. Where have they gone. Would you want your mother or grandmother to be the object of these lyrics.
Why does every woman have to be a bitch or a whore? How do we justify this type of ideology?

So, Saul I refuse to accept the idea that this is just art and "At the root of our nature we inherently worship the feminine". If that's correct, let's see female family members of the Rappers in their videos.