hip-hop

Before I became a mom at the age of 41, I was many things, including a hip-hop artist.  Mostly, I did hip-hop theater, a solo show about fighting sexism in music.  But I also rocked many a mic in the club.  Little did I know that these skills would come in handy in my new battle against sexism:  children’s literature.  

Start your weekend off right: with compelling articles from around the web!

• Bitch contributor s.e. smith discusses asexuality on Tiger Beatdown.
• Katha Pollitt writes for The Nation about the DC Abortion Fund and the right's vendetta against Planned Parenthood. (via AlterNet)
• ColorLines shares three scholars' thoughts on fighting homophobia in hip-hop.
• Check out journalist Barbie Latza Nadeau's piece at The Daily Beast about reporting on sexism in Italy.
• In These Times interviews Sady Doyle, founder of Tiger Beatdown and Bitch contributor, about blogging and online activism.
• Jill at Feministe hopes everyone who celebrates had a happy feminist Passover.
• As the New York Times searches for a new columnist, Feministing has a plea: "Don't hire another white dude!"
• The Root interviews our recent Bitch High Five candidate Joycelyn Elders, who was forced to resign for saying sex ed should include information about masturbation.
• We're keeping our fingers crossed for the Uniting American Families Act, "a bill which would allow same-sex couples to sponsor their partners for legal residency in the U.S."
• 90s Woman praises Heather Corinna's book S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and College. I'm personally a fan as well, and we have a copy in the Bitch Media Community Lending Library!
• One year after the BP oil spill, Ms. talks about the danger of the status quo as explored in Antonia Juhasz's new book about the disaster, Black Tide.
• Also at Ms., look at this profile of Bitch contributor Mandy Van Deven's, Joanne Smith's and Meghan Huppuch's group, Girls for Gender Equity, and book, Hey, Shorty! A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in Schools and on the Streets.
• Shakesville shares an excellent quote by Ms. Geena Davis about the power of gendered media images.
• Nick at Original Plumbing reflects powerfully on reconnecting with family members.
• At the ACLU blog, one rockin' woman recalls confronting a street harasser.
  
• Bad news: QUILTBAG-oriented site Queerty has "come to a close."

What have you been reading? Share away!

Phew! This week saw lots of compelling internet content, including the following:

• Queerty speaks of the problems with intersex kids' parents choosing their gender identities for them.
• NPR, and Jos at Feministing, remind us of "Why BMI is bogus." Woo-hoo!
• cate j at Questioning Transphobia explores the assumptions behind declaring "Welcome to womanhood."
• "That's Gay"'s Bryan Safi talks about THAT KISS on Glee.
• Did you catch Byron Hurt's piece "Why I Am a Black Male Feminist" on The Root? G.D. responds at Feministe and PostBourgie.
• ABC reports on this week's violent outburst by a famous domestic abuser. You're probably sick of hearing his name, but I'll just say it sounds like "Fris Frown." (via Jessica Valenti). Jay Smooth has also made a video in response.
• The Korea Herald explains Cambodia's recent limitations on foreign marriage. (via Racialicious)
• Sure, the late Nate Dogg was a beloved rapper, but... ColorLines reminds readers of the performer's more problematic legacies.
• At Womanist Musings, Renee calls for George Lopez to apologize for his transphobic remarks toward Wendy Williams--not just his fatphobic remarks toward Kirstie Alley.
• At Global Comment, Tiger Beatdown's Sady Doyle discusses the Wal-Mart lawsuit saga.
• Jeff Biggers writes about Arizona's disturbing budget cuts and Ethnic Studies ban, and about the documentary Precious Knowledge.
• Got plans this Sunday? Bitch Flicks looks forward to the Mildred Pierce miniseries' debut!
• Speaking of anticipation: who's looking forward to the release of Bumped by Megan McCafferty? I am, I am! Check out Phoebe North's insightful review in which she describes the dystopian satire as "sex positive" and "a biting comedy with a tender heart."
• The Huffington Post remembers Elizabeth Taylor's activism.
• Jason Linkins recalls a provocative piece about journalism that seeks to create and criticize candidates' personae rather than report on their politics. Sounds like most news stories about female politicians, doesn't it?
• Tom Tom Magazine, the magazine for female drummers, is under attack from Tom Tom GPS, since, you know, people might confuse tracking software with one of the only independent publications covering women and music.
• Poor Knut. I don't know about you, but I was dismayed to learn of the famous polar bear's passing. As always, this song is for him.

I have a very long-standing one-sided love affair with Lauryn Hill. It goes back before the Fugees, even.



(Lauryn Hill, "The Sweetest Thing")

Kelsey's postings of the "Feminist Rappers" videos drew more than laughs--it had some commenters asking, "But what about the real feminist rappers?"

So here's a genre- decade-spanning compilation of feminist rappers, hip-hoppers, and spoken word artists, from the 90s beats of Yo Yo to the indie crossover of Mirah and Katastrophe. Don't forget to add your recs!

                        

A recently revived obsession with Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ inspired me to share my fave songs penned with a named woman in mind. But of course, the mix has been done, and quite well. So I got to thinking (yes, in that Carrie Bradshaw kind of way) and wondered what the general feeling was of songs penned by women about men. Conclusion? Unlike the lovelorn narrators of Mandy, Help Me Ronda, and Roxanne, the songs on this BitchTapes deal not only with the kind of love that makes you want to scream another’s name until someone calls the police, but engage also with the other relationships that women can have with men – from concerned anti-drug sister to a pupil of punk rock to the naïve straight girl who just doesn’t get Johnny. Enjoy!