The Alternative

“Take Back the Music”

I have researched misogyny in hip hop and have learned the effects it can have on a person and here is an example of something being done to try to control misogyny.  Michaela Angela Davis, editor of Essence magazine is in charge of the “Take Back the Music” campaign. Essence magazine launched a year-long campaign called "Take Back the Music" in January 2005, which continues to raise the awareness about the effects of misogynistic imagery upon young girls and women (Israel).  Essence says young girls who think they are only good for what they see in hip hop culture. (Israel). Michaela stated that "We know that's not who you are, You’re not a stripper. We know that you're not limited. We know that you have the potential to be anything and anybody you want. Oprah Winfrey was on the corner"(Israel). The campaign is an alternative for misogyny and is aimed at getting artists to think about the impact their music has on black America.  Misogyny is known as the mistreatment of women and there are people that are trying to solve the problem.  Although not all women believe hip hop images are bad, for instance, a lady named Yolanda commented, “You got to do that kind of stuff to sell music. I'm saying that's what people like to see, as far as the girls with the little stuff on. They like to see that so that's what they have in their videos" (Israel).  So women believe that they have to act in such a manner and reveal themselves the way they do to make the videos.  This is the importance of the campaign to let the community come together and know there are people willing to help stop misogyny.  Beverly Guy-Sheftall, director of the Women’s Research and Resource Center at Spellman College when Nelly was rejected from the school to host a bone marrow conference, believes women can continue to organize, join campaigns like “Take Back the Music,” stop buying the records and dancing to the music, and get involved in the organizations and efforts around the issue throughout the U.S., even though many of them are not highly visible (Williams). It is important that the community has positive aspects about campaigns such as “Take back the Music” and continues to join them, so there can be a decrease in misogyny and the affects it has on women.