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difficult to work with, angry, tough

hypersexual

certain types of music (jazz, R&B, rap)

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often aims to empower other black womens emotions and sexuality

artists double as activists

chances to establish themselves in the industry via unconventional methodes

Music about struggle is dismissed as glorifying violence

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forced rivalry even between singers from different genres

wsw-groups often exclusively white

Sexism in certain music scenes disturbe support system between male and female black singers

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missing recognition for achivements

want artists but not their stories of struggle

dismissive and exclusive

Nepotism

black women are used as support for white peoples carrers

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We musicians are trained to be silent about our experiences because there is a heavy stigma that our rebellion will be categorised as aggressive, bitter or ungrateful. We are supposed to accept what we are given because to be black in this industry is thought to be even more of a privilege for us than for white artists.

-VV Brown

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"Sometimes it gets down to ‘You’re not Black enough for them. You’re not R&B enough. You’re very pop.’"

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DALL·E 2024-12-13 19.38.46 - A balanced visual representation of Whitney Houston's media coverage. On one side, glowing headlines like 'The Voice of a Generation' and 'Iconic Supe

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History

https://www.proquest.com/docview/2910908684?pq-origsite=primo&sourcetype=Wire%20Feeds

https://amhsnews.org/5945/arts-entertainment/celebrating-black-history-month-a-timeline-of-superstar-black-women-in-music/

https://digitalgallery.bgsu.edu/student/exhibits/show/thurs230/musicliterature

https://time.com/5369587/aretha-franklin-civil-rights/

Current Challenges:

https://heritageherald.com/2023/03/08/the-conundrum-of-being-a-black-female-artist-trailblazers-troubled-history-and-a-recovering-present-in-the-music-industry/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/imeekpo/2024/03/22/how-black-women-are-reshaping-the-music-industry/

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/14/music-industry-white-infrastructure-black-female-artists-musicians

https://youtu.be/H_HJ0msdf-g?si=S7gowakP8iCP8Pqf

https://youtu.be/2B7hQ_HPtio?si=2PLyirD3fhjZsqrB

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Whitney Houston is one of the most iconic and influential Black women in the history of music.

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Whitney Houston is one of the most iconic and influential Black women in the history of music.

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Known as "The Voice," she redefined the global perception of Black women in the entertainment industry.

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In 2009, she entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the singer with the most awards

Sold over 200 million records worldwide, the best-selling artists of all time.

First Black woman to receive consistent airtime on MTV, breaking racial barriers in the 1980s.

Winner of numerous awards, including 6 Grammys, 2 Emmys, and over 400 other accolades.

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“The Princess of Pop” vs. “Is Whitney Houston Too White?”

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“The Princess of Pop” vs. “Is Whitney Houston Too White?”

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being "not Black enough," dubbing her “Whitey Houston.”

Pop music was seen as "white," and R&B or soul music was seen as "Black.

Double Standard:
Success in predominantly white spaces was often framed as a betrayal of Black culture.

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Whitney’s art balanced strength and vulnerability:

Themes of love, resilience, and self-acceptance resonated with Black women.

Songs like "I’m Every Woman" celebrated empowerment and unity.

The Bodyguard: broke barriers by normalizing interracial romance in Hollywood.

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"Her life was a mirror to the challenges of Black womanhood in America."

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"Her life was a mirror to the challenges of Black womanhood in America."

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Representation of Black femininity and cultural identity.

Resilience in the face of societal and cultural pressures.

Her life and career sparked discussions about race, gender, and the unique struggles Black women face in the pursuit of success.

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Mahalia Jackson - "Queen of Gospel"

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Bessie Smith

Ella Fitzerald

Billie Holiday

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Ruth Brown

Etta James

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In 1967, Franklin released “Respect,” her most famous song, which became an anthem for the racial and gendered political movements of the time.

“It [reflected] the need of a nation, the need of the average man and woman in the street, the businessman, the mother, the fireman, the teacher—everyone wanted respect”

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Donna Summer

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Beyoncé

Rihanna

Janelle Monáe

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https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/07/not-black-enough-the-identity-crisis-that-haunted-whitney-houston

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/whitney-houston-biopic-review-black-music-women-artists-lizzo-doja-cat-rcna62775

https://www.abhmuseum.org/why-was-it-absurd-to-think-whitney-houston-didnt-make-black-music-she-was-black/.

https://people.com/music/whitney-houston-dead-photos-life/

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From her record-breaking music career to her ongoing personal struggles, look back at Whitney Houston's defining moments

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Intersectionality in Lauryn Hill’s Lyrics

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Intersectionality in Lauryn Hill’s Lyrics

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Hill’s music illustrates how the intersections of race, gender, and class shape Black women's experiences.

Tracks like "Doo Wop (That Thing)": Hill critiques both gender dynamics and materialism in Black communities; Hill also calls out both men and women for adhering to societal pressures that perpetuate cycles of exploitation and objectification

"To Zion": The song reflects Hill's personal struggles balancing societal expectations (as a young, famous Black woman) with her desire for motherhood. It challenges the cultural narratives that devalue Black motherhood.

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Representation and Authenticity:

Hill's work serves as a counter-narrative to stereotypical representations and tropes of Black women in media.

Spiritual and Cultural Empowerment:

Hill’s emphasis on spirituality and self-love aligns with Audre Lorde’s assertion that "self-care is an act of political warfare."

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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

https://www.britannica.com/topic/intersectionality

https://genius.com/albums/Lauryn-hill/The-miseducation-of-lauryn-hill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz928er6Xg8&t=1544s

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/audre-lorde