Dr. Lesley Feracho, whose focus of study are Romance Languages and African American studies, spoke to a crowd of 20 in the African American Center of Memorial Hall on Wednesday. Feracho's lecture entitled, Womanism and Rock-music, focused on the invisibility and empowerment of African American women within the Rock world.
"A Black woman metal head does not make sense," Feracho said. "For the African American Rock musician, I want their music and message to be heard."
How do these musicians make a stance within the music industry, when there is a lack of support?
According to Feracho, African American women in the Rock industry have strategies in creating a community and venue to get their music heard. This is where the idea of Womanism comes into play. Certain stereotypes are created when a person thinks of Rock music. An African American women is not one of them.
Throughout the lecture, Feracho discussed four main African American Rock musicians. Feracho explained how the music created by these women has underlying meanings in the lyrics.
Cree Summer, who combines Rock aesthetic with Native American influences, was one of the women Feracho discussed. "This song proves history can be erased. The lyrics to this song go all the way back to slavery," Feracho said about Summer's song, 'Curious White Boy.' Feracho pointed out one line of lyrics that read,"Inside the petting zoo, was it good for you?" Feracho believed these words show an objectification of women and stereotyping African American women. The song according to Feracho, "creates a voice for Black women and the awareness of Black history."
Musician, Tamar-kali, was another African American woman Feracho discussed. Tamar-kali's song, Boot, addresses the social issues of all women. Trina Meade, the lead singer for the band Three 5 Human, sings songs with themes ranging from women's self esteem to women's relationships, according to Feracho. The band title, Three 5 Human, gives reference to the Three Fifths Compromise of 1850, which referenced slaves as being three-fifth human.
"The Noisettes music is a celebration of the identity that defines the norms for African American women, as a women and also a musician," Feracho explained after playing the tunes of another Rock group. The Noisettes are a Rock-band out of England. According to Feracho, the Noisettes establish a female centered musical, emotional, and spiritual link within their music. "They use music to talk about issues," Feracho said.
Feracho's dream is for African American women in Rock-music stand out. She concluded the lecture by saying, "hopefully my passion will lead to future projects."
3 comments:
Having attended the talk, I'd like to add that one important point to make about the lecture is that Dr. Feracho not only spoke about African American women in rock music but Black women in rock, from the U.S. to the U.K and beyond. As a point of correction Dr. Feracho noted in her talk that the music and strategies of Black British rockers like Shingai Shoniwa from the Noisettes (here mistakenly referred to as African American, but correctly referred to by Dr. Feracho in her talk as British)or Skin from Skunk Anansie are important in looking at a more collective view of Black women and rock.
We all talk in rock not only African-American women, and for the simple reason that the rock is a style of music that moves the world in a massive way. However I have to accept that you article is really interesting and I have to congratulate you.
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