Grammy-winning soul singer Jill Scott has sent a clear message to the music world, hitting out at the degrading portrayal of black women in popular music.
Speaking at a seminar titled ‘’Who You Calling A Ho? Sisters, Take Back Our Sex!’ at the Essence Music Festival in Houston, Scott urged the audience not to buy into the imagery which objectified and offensively portrayed women.
She said, “It is dirty, inappropriate, inadequate, unhealthy and polluted. We can demand more. This is about choosing what we will allow in our lives. We can force things. We can change things. Challenge the music industry with your purchasing power.”
Also speaking at the seminar was video dancer Karrine Steffans, who has written a book titled ‘Confessions of a Video Vixen’. She explained how a lack of self-esteem drove her to appearing in the clips, going on to say, “I was always told I was ugly. I didn’t realise my own power and my own worth.”
The panel concluded that education and increased self-esteem among young black women were the key factors in battling the undercurrent of misogyny in popular music.
