Mental images evoked from the sounds of Rock-music typically don't embody a Woman.
Nor an African American Woman.
These words were lyrical symbolism to Dr. Lesley Feracho's lecture as she spoke to an audience of 20 about her interest between women and Rock-music. Sponsored by and held in the African American Cultural Center, Feracho's expertise in Romance Languages and African American Studies was the perfect ending note to the Apero Africana Brown Bag Lecture.
Approximately lasting the length of a C.D., Feracho's lecture expressed the idea of womanism and a woman's place in rock-music. She focused on three social change perspectives rooted in black women: anti-oppressionists, vernacular, and communitarian.
"These three aspects are used to emphasize the idea of unity within a community, the every day use of music, and oppose different types of strategies," said Feracho as she kicked open the doors of acceptance -- particularly involving female African American musicians -- to her audience.
Feracho used biographical information and audio clips from African American Rock-artist Cree Summer and Trina Meade, lead singer of Three 5 Human. These two women encountered a lifestyle full of racial discrimination and sexism. Two elements that made it difficult for them to prosper in the music industry. And even more difficult for them to make it in the Rock-music world.
"The theme present in these artist's songs is the celebration of an identity that played with, defined, and subverted norms for black women and musicians," said Feracho.
The songs "Curious White Boy" and "Boots" by Cree Summer were chosen by Feracho to aid her analysis. These two songs address social issues of not just black women, but women of all color. According to Feracho, the lyrics of these songs were written based on Summer's personal experiences alluding to the idea of "voice" and communication.
"The idea of the voice enhances the idea of the autobiographical mind and connects the listener to the speaker due to subjectivity," stated Feracho. Her focus on these two songs by Cree Summer was to portray the strength of optimism African American Rock-musicians possess due to the historical lack of racial neutrality.
Accompanying Cree Summer, Trina Meade and her Rock-group Three 5 Human also play a loud role in the Rock-music scene. Their name itself strives for the ending of racism while their band composition unifies sexes. Named after the Three Fifths Compromise of 1850, Three 5 Human is made up of two African American men and one African American woman who, together, unmask the idea of previous social image assumptions.
"Three 5 Human's song 'Jenny' uses the concept of naming and brings to life the topic of sexual abuse and dehumanization of a being," said Feracho. The lyrics in "Jenny" tell a story from an outsider's perspective of a young girl in need of a new start. The repetition of the word "run" in this song depicts the mentality of Three 5 Human and how they seek to continue "running" and working hard to break the norm and get their voices heard while unifying all.
Feracho's lecture was far from a "one-hit wonder" and left an overall positive affect of her audience. Ending with an informal conversation over snacks and refreshments, Feracho encouraged her audience to seek "different ways to break down the doors."
No longer Rock 'n Roll, follow African American women musicians and Rock 'n Kick down the doors to music equality.
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