Summary

The article calls for a shift in the representation of Black women in media, moving away from over-sexualization towards more diverse and empowering portrayals.

Abstract

The author expresses frustration with the persistent over-sexualization of Black women in entertainment, particularly in music videos, which they argue is damaging and unoriginal. They cite the repetitive nature of recent music videos by artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Chloe Bailey, which rely heavily on sexual imagery. The piece contrasts this with the desire for more multifaceted representations reminiscent of past icons like Aaliyah, Brandy, and Lauryn Hill. It emphasizes that true empowerment comes from agency and talent, not from conforming to sexualized stereotypes. The author asserts that the current trend of over-sexualization contributes to the dehumanization of Black women and sets a problematic example for young viewers. The article concludes by urging Black female artists to break away from this cycle and embrace a variety of images that do not rely solely on sexuality for success.

Opinions

The author is critical of the repetitive over-sexualization of Black women in music videos, labeling it as uninteresting and lacking innovation.
There is a call for a return to the kind of artistry and diversity seen in the work of artists like Aaliyah, Brandy, and Lauryn Hill.
The article suggests that the current trend of hyper-sexualized content is not true empowerment, as it lacks agency and instead forces a single, sexualized narrative.
The author believes that the over-sexualization of Black women in media contributes to their dehumanization and perpetuates a cycle that affects how Black girls see themselves.
The piece criticizes the idea that displaying sexuality is a necessary strategy for success in the music industry.
It is implied that critics of the over-sexualization trend are unfairly labeled as "mammies" or accused of "slut-shaming,"

We Need Better Representations of Black Women ASAP

The images we see are hurting us.

I’m. So. Done. With. The. Over-sexualization.

Here’s the thing.

It’s 2022. Black people, as usual, are the ultimate voices for everything and anything pop culture. Black women have always been at the forefront of this.

Beyonce is just one small drop in the ocean compared to the rest of the talented, beautiful, and skilled black women we have in entertainment.

But somehow, we keep cycling back to this blatant over-sexualization.

Apparently, Megan Thee Stallion was under fire on Twitter for releasing yet ANOTHER music video that oversexualizes herself. It’s a song called “Sweetest Pie” she did with Dua Lipa. I didn’t watch it because everything Megan Thee Stallion does right now is repetitive (and again, I’m sick of the over-sexualization), and everyone called it WAP 2.0.

Another one of my favorite new music artists, Chloe Bailey, is biting off the same cookie.

Her most recent music video features twerking (like that’s new), licking her fingers (like we’ve never seen that before), and slapping her you know what.

Oh, and more twerking.

Do you see a pattern here?

Where are the Aaliyahs of this generation? Where are the Brandys of this generation? Where are the Lauryn Hills of this generation?

I know I sound like a glorified old-head when I say that, but I’m a Gen Z’er and I can’t deny the writing on the wall.

Every time a black woman makes a music video parading her coochie around like it’s a priceless artifact, everyone huddles around on Twitter to yell from the mountaintops that “the song is a hit and the video banged!”

Are we serious now?

Whenever you get black people like me who call this shit out and say it’s not interesting or innovative, we get called “mammies” or we’re “slut-shaming.”

Again, it’s 2022.

No one has time to slut-shame anymore unless you’re a creepy old man who lives in his mom’s basement.

I’m a fan of most of these new black women artists out today. I want them to succeed. But there’s no way in hell they’ll succeed at anything unless they close their legs for once and show us their talent.

Everything is boring right now. I’m about to die from being served stale crackers for every meal. No salt. No spice. No innovation.

Not only does this over-sexualization perpetuate the dehumanization of black women, but it also contributes to this cycle of black girls seeing these images and regurgitating them on screen. I’m not saying the black female artists out right now should be anyone’s mother, but you can’t move through life thinking what you do doesn’t affect other black women too.

Especially since they promote themselves to kids (e.g. going to the Kids Choice Awards, appearing on Sesame Street) after they do it.

Everyone wants to dismiss this issue and say this over-sexualization is empowerment, but it’s not.

If this was empowerment, they would show agency, which they’re not doing. They are showing us their bare ass and vagina in EVERY video. That doesn’t look like agency to me.

It looks forced.

It’s time for us to do better. I hope someone down the road can adopt an image that’s not the one-trick pony over-sexualization we’ve been fed for decades now. The culture needs it.

And please remember, female empowerment is about AGENCY, not forcing your body onto others for a quick come-up.

We’re better than that.

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