Why Black Women protect Hip Hop : This is a longer exploration of the Will Hip Hop Be Affected by #MeToo?
Hey Black Women, quick question. Why are we still protecting Hip Hop? We’ve seen the #MeToo movement tear through industries—Hollywood, media, even politics. So, why has hip hop, a genre often drenched in tales of power and excess, largely escaped the same level of scrutiny? And is it true that Black women are quietly protecting Black men from the fallout? Well, let’s unpack this.
The Loyalty Dilemma: Black Women and Black Men
Black women feel this unspoken loyalty toward Black men. It’s deeply rooted in our shared struggle against racism. Black men have historically been wrongfully vilified, so we don’t want that for another one. Sometimes it feels like speaking out against them is betraying the whole community. We’ve all seen how the media loves to take down successful Black men, and we don’t want to play into that narrative. But—and here’s the big “but”—this protective instinct can come at the cost of our own safety and dignity. Also PickMe behaviour is so inherent as a trauma informed response that it’s not surprising that women are fighting over what is #MeToo and what isn’t
Are we really going to keep pretending like these allegations are just conspiracy theories? That gold diggers are so rampant that these men are being played? Or are we ready to talk about how loyalty can sometimes be a double-edged sword? We’ve got to face the fact that, in shielding Black men from accountability, we might be perpetuating the very behaviours that hurt us the most. It’s time for a reckoning.
The Unshakeable Culture of Power
So let’s discuss why hip hop hasn’t been hit by #MeToo like other industries? The truth is, hip hop has its own rules, and it plays by them unapologetically. Power, fame, and hyper-masculinity are so deeply ingrained in the culture that it’s almost become normal to overlook the toxic behavior that comes with it. We can sing along to songs about respect and empowerment, but let’s not forget the other tracks that glorify control over women like it’s all part of the game.
Trying to hold hip hop artists accountable can feel like we’re trying to censor the art. And let’s be honest—nobody wants to lose their favorite artist to a scandal, right? So the fanbase, which includes a lot of us Black women, often separates the artist from their actions. We might side-eye it, but we’re still vibing to the music.
Racial Solidarity: The Catch-22
Here’s the tricky part. We know that Black men are already fighting so many battles—systemic racism, police brutality, you name it. Do we stand by them and risk undermining our own experiences as women? Or do we speak up, knowing that it might play into the age-old stereotypes of Black men being dangerous or hypersexual?
It’s a tightrope that Black women have been walking for years. And honestly, it’s exhausting. We have to stop pretending that protecting our men at all costs is worth our silence. We have to stop mothering them and mansplaining away any bad behaviour.
The Future of Hip Hop and Accountability
Look, hip hop isn’t immune to the changing tides. Yes, it’s a genre that thrives on challenging authority, but that doesn’t mean it gets a free pass. We’ve seen women in hip hop like Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B flipping the script, reclaiming their voices, and putting the spotlight on what they’ve been through. Slowly, more conversations are happening, and the old “boys’ club” mentality is starting to crack. I think we will see a few stars in their 50s spanked for past issues but overall there won’t be much fall out for Hip Hop.
The question is, how far are we willing to push? As Black women, we have a lot of power to demand better from the artists and the genre we love. It’s time we use that power, not just to protect our men but to protect ourselves too.
So Black Women protecting Hip Hop; maybe it’s not about destroying hip hop’s rebel spirit or core history but it’s about evolving to a collective understanding that men don’t have to hurt women to keep it street. Or maybe, just maybe it’s about letting the truth set us free as a community.
© Chelsea Black ® 2024