Women's History Month- The Awakening!

The other night I attended a HipHop Showcase on the Lower East Side. I go every week because it IS the place to be. This is Raw HipHop artistry at its best and The Host and Moderator runs a Tight and Honest Ship. So, this particular night was Cash Money Night. This is when MCs, Rappers, or Singers get on and do their thing for the cash money prize. And, as and added bonus, the guest judges are always industry insiders. At any rate you can still come off big- if not bigger- even if you don't snatch up the cash.

Anywho, the Talent was great, everybody was doing their thing getting it in- all was blessed. Before you knew it the show was over and it was time for the Judges to call it. Then something happened for the first time in the Showcase's History: It was a Three Way Tie. WHOA! It came down to an MC, A Singer, and somebody else. The MC was tight, The Singer was SIZZLIN', and the "somebody else" was just that- somebody else. He wasn't an MC, he was a rapper: Huge Difference. And his "presentation" consisted of a little daddy where the hook goes as follow: "I Love The Bitches ‘Cause They're So Delicious- I Love Bitches!" ??? Okay now, the grown woman in me did NOT feel comfortable with this. As he performed everyone else was clapping, hooting, and hollering in approval. WTF??? But not me. I sat my Fat Black Ass still, silent, and stoic. You stand for nothing you'll fall for anything. And even though at the end of the show people were saying he wasn't that great, it didn't negate the fact that he almost won. Only in America.

Now me, being an MC myself, I am all for creative expression and freedom of speech. However, when does it cross the line in being straight crass & tasteless? When is enough going to be enough? On the real, it wasn't the fault of the Host or the Judges that this FOOL almost won. It was Us: The Audience. The listening public. We have sat back for so long and allowed disrespect to become the norm, till now that li'l FOOL felt EXTREMELY comfortable getting up in front of a room full of people of color and referring to ladies as Bitches. And what's worse, we don't look no ways tired. But I'm tired and I'm fittin' to do something about it. Now, I'm just one woman. I can't maneuver the minds and habits of others- at least not yet. Lol. But I can make the change starting with myself. Since the Don Imus fiasco we've been hoping, wishing, and praying for our Brothers to come in and defend us, protect us, and save us. Has not happened. I mean Yes; Rev. Sharpton did jump into the fray. Say what you want about him but when the shit goes down he isn't afraid to confront a situation. But ... where was everyone else? No Clergymen. No other African-American male politicians. No strong solid black men from the community. Let me correct myself and not say "No", just few. And the HipHop Big Wigs only spoke out when they were called to task. Also, the outcry from women was Not what I expected either. I guess they figured it was both easy and safe to go along with the status quo, and not be singled out and ridiculed themselves. If you can't beat'em Join'em. So there stood the faithful few. The few of us who were vocal, but were dismissed as being vain and overly sensitive. I realized then- what I was reminded of the other night- what I'd known since Mama was teaching her baby the Laws of Womanhood: We have only ourselves to rely on. If I want to change the perceptions, attitudes, and misogynistic opinions men have of women, I have to be instrumental in displaying something different.

So today, March 1, 2008, I am asking each and every one of you to drop by my MySpace page- myspace.com/staycehustle- and celebrate Women's History Month with me. I want you all to see the long list of Strong, Intelligent, Beautiful, Vibrant, Fearless, and Courage Women of Color who have inspired me to carry on the torch and position myself for greatness. Now, unfortunately, the WOMAN who inspired me the most is Not featured. My Mama Don't Like MySpace. Lol. But the others are familiar face that you may already know. And if you don't, go google them and see what they've done. Now I don't want y'all to just come to the page and look. I want everyone from my MySpace family to be active. I want y'all to leave comments, messages, ask questions, etc. I want to spark a dialogue so that we can destroy and rid ourselves of the barriers of miscommunication. Straight or Gay, Men & Women need each other. Our survival Depends on it. So instead of waltzing around here Mean Muggin' and Ice Grillin' each other, we need to hatch out our grievances, therefore; enabling us to form communities of Family again. But most importantly, more so than changing the views of a male dominant society- Sistas, I'm coming for YOU! We CANNOT expect or demand Respect, Admiration, or Adoration from our Brothers (or anyone else) until we start projecting different images of ourselves. We can't expect love from others until we can love Ourselves. You can't expect a Man to treat you as Caviar, while you present yourself as cheap tuna. So Sistas, for your own spiritual edification, peruse my page and learn of our History. Revel in our History. Celebrate our History. There are different graphics expressing Feminine Pride. Four Montages displayed on "Flat Screens" celebrating our Fore Mothers, Present Day Mothers, Sisters, and Daughters in History. And check my Top 40 Friends Display. You're bound to recognize an Artist you Love, Like, or at least Familiar with. AND check my Blog for regular postings concerning my sisters that EVERYONE will be able to relate to. I'm even lifting the Privacy Shield off my page so that it will be Very PUBLIC for All To See. So, pass the word on to your friends to request me as a friend. That way they can join the page and join the fun. And we can all celebrate, educate, motivate, and elevate together.

Once again feel free to tag my page with comments. Tag some other ladies page with comments. Or, just show some love to the women you hold special to you. Your Mom, Wife, BabyMama, GrandMa, Auntie, Sister, Niece, Daughter, or Female Cousin. They don't have to be on MySpace to be acknowledged. Tell them you Love Them, Support Them, and Appreciate Them. Because I certainly do.

Spread Love ...

It's The Bklyn Way!