In an excerpt from her book, titled When Chickenheads come Home to Roost: A Hip-Hop Feminist Breaks It Down, which was first published in 1999, music writer and hip-hop enthusiast Joan Morgan expresses her deep concern of the negative influence lyrics in rap music have on women and people of the African American community, as stated in her essay, "From Fly-Girls to Bitches and Hos". Morgan shares her views on the root causes of the prevalence of misogyny in rap music lyrics. Morgan illuminates the hidden causes of the harsh sexism in rap music lyrics and argues that one needs to look deeper to understand why the misogyny exists and how women in her culture need to not only respond but also start taking responsibility for its existence in order
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To support her point that women need to start taking responsibility for the misogyny of rap, Morgan states "sistas have to confront the ways we're complicit in our own oppression. Sad to say it, but many of the ways in which men exploit our images and sexuality in hip-hop is done with our permission and cooperation" (537). By pointing out that women need to take accountability and responsibility, Morgan is demonstrating her point that the accountability is needed in order for changes to take place. If women start taking control of situations and no longer put themselves in situations they have previously put themselves in, they will be able to end their oppression. Morgan goes on to explain that, "[she] hears brothers talking about brothers spending each day high as hell on malt liquor and Chronic. Don't sleep. What passes for "40 and a blunt" good times in most of hip-hop is really alcoholism, substance abuse, and chemical dependency" (535). Morgan's point is that we need to figure out the root of the anger, pain, and depression young black males’ face with daily life struggles so that they no longer have to hide behind their lyrics as a way to express the pain that they feel. Clearly, as Morgan states, "The seemingly impenetrable wall of sexism in rap
To support her point that women need to start taking responsibility for the misogyny of rap, Morgan states "sistas have to confront the ways we're complicit in our own oppression. Sad to say it, but many of the ways in which men exploit our images and sexuality in hip-hop is done with our permission and cooperation" (537). By pointing out that women need to take accountability and responsibility, Morgan is demonstrating her point that the accountability is needed in order for changes to take place. If women start taking control of situations and no longer put themselves in situations they have previously put themselves in, they will be able to end their oppression. Morgan goes on to explain that, "[she] hears brothers talking about brothers spending each day high as hell on malt liquor and Chronic. Don't sleep. What passes for "40 and a blunt" good times in most of hip-hop is really alcoholism, substance abuse, and chemical dependency" (535). Morgan's point is that we need to figure out the root of the anger, pain, and depression young black males’ face with daily life struggles so that they no longer have to hide behind their lyrics as a way to express the pain that they feel. Clearly, as Morgan states, "The seemingly impenetrable wall of sexism in rap