Disapproving nods and whispered “nuh-uhs” were the quietest reactions to a documentary shown in the African American Cultural Center Wednesday night. The film, “Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes,” examined sexism, masculinity and homophobia in the hip-hop world and featured interviews with prominent rappers. The Black Student Union organized the film-viewing and forum in conjunction with the Women’s Center’s annual Gender on Film series. Jared Clemons, BSU co-chair of education, said the documentary focuses on an often-overlooked social issue.  “It’s something that doesn’t really receive enough discussion,” Clemons said. “Enough dialogue hasn’t been opened up about it.” The forum featured a discussion with two panelists: Jas Sullivan, assistant professor of African and African American Studies, and Rasheedah Jenkins, a former graduate assistant in the department.One section of the film explored the adverse reaction at Spelman College in 2004 to Nelly’s “Tip Drill” video, in which the rapper swipes a credit card down a woman’s mostly bare backside. Students at the women-only college protested the video when Nelly made plans to visit the school to sponsor a charity event to increase bone marrow donation.  Many in the crowd of about 60 students at the forum agreed the way a woman dresses affects the level of respect she receives. Sullivan said, in his personal opinion, all women should be respected. “It’s not my decision to judge or categorize someone for the way they look,” he said. The film showed clips of men groping women and calling them “bitches” for wearing skimpy bikinis at Black Entertainment Television’s Spring Bling. The video segment included a section describing the difference between “sisters and bitches.” Shauntae Joseph, biology senior, said women are treated differently depending on how they carry themselves. She said she has attended parties where women sing along to songs that call them negative names. “We’re rapping the whole song, calling ourselves bitches and hoes,” Joseph said. “So how are we gonna get mad at the man who’s saying it when we’re saying it ourselves?”Kiara Littlejohn, biochemistry freshman, said some women see other women getting attention for dressing and acting a certain way in music videos and emulate that appearance. Sullivan said society must work to eliminate these “accepted” images of women represented in the media. Ray James, political science junior, said disrespect of women extends outside the hip-hop community to society as a whole. “It’s society,” James said. “It’s not just rap or black people degrading black people.” The forum began with a focus on sexism but quickly spiraled into a conversation about the media’s ability to cultivate racial stereotypes.
“I’m a progressive black woman,” Littlejohn said. “I’m gonna be something. I’m gonna be somebody. And just because people see nigga and black and ignorant as synonymous doesn’t mean that’s what I am.” The next installation of the Gender on Film series is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the Women’s Center.–Contact Emily Holden at [email protected]