The Power of Black Women in the Music Industry

"You got it going on? wha wha. You got it going on? wha wha."

"T'Nasha, turn that off right now," screams my mother.

Yeah, that was fifteen year old me standing infront of the TV reciting and listening to little Kim. Everyday after school, I would throw my booksack down and turn on 106 and Park. I can vividly remember little me, listening to music I had no business listening to. What's funny is, sometimes I had no clue how inappropriate the lyrics were for my age because the beats were always so catchy. I heard my older cousins, mom, aunts listening certain tunes by my favorite female black women so I figured it was okay for me to listen to it too. See, black women in the music industry is like a sprinkle of magic that rains over us, not only in the black community, but over everyone - no matter age, or race. They grant us with ingenious culture, advocate sexuality, artistic creativity, and power.

Now, let's be honest with ourselves. Black women in the music industry shaped the world with culture. As a black woman myself, I realized our culture is the main aspect the industry gain from. Let's start from the early ages and take a look at Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, The Supremes, Bessie Smith, and Ma Rainey. All of these exquisite ladies were in the genres of Jazz, pop, swing, R&B, doo-wop, and disco beginning in the 1800's. These women and the genres influenced fashion trends, inspired the Women's Liberation, and brought the African American culture to a rise. No matter what genre black women were in, their music became prominent. The culture of the minority literally became desired by the upper class. These days major artist like Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, The City Girls, Megan Thee Stallion, followed by many more, have the "black girl culture" in a choke hole. Their fan bases all over the world are insanely through the roof, and they created that by using their influential culture and authentically being themselves, which is magical in itself.

Unfortunately, many women around the world lack self-confidence especially within their sexuality, due to many reasons. The black women in the music industry music is so strongly influential, many gain that confident through their music. Not only to women, not only to african americans, but to the world. How powerful is that? The City Girls had the whole world asking Where the Bag at? All the girls were acting up, screaming "I want a slim fine woman with some twerk with her," and PERIOD. This is truly an Era. Other women rappers like Saweetie, Kayykilo, Flo Millie, and Rubi Rose confer their sexuality to the world which gives the girls the strength they need to have confidence in their bodies and sexuality. Like if you want to show a little skin, do that - that's how much power is in their music that spreads over the public. If we go back a few eras, Little Kim displayed so much sexuality in her music and presence and that alone gave the people hat they needed to convey their sexuality within the communities without caring what other people had to say. Because of them, a lot of women confidence can't be erased even if you had an confidence eraser honey.

Set aside from giving the world what they need to look and feel good, black women artist also shows the world how creative they can be through their music. Creativity in the music industry keeps the world coming back for more and wondering what these artist will do next. Black women come up with so many innovative ways to display their music, create their music, and push their music out. Many of their creative ideas simply come from what they go through, and we all know real life situations sell to the world. Black women have it the hardest making it to the top, and they go through so many trials and tribulations to get to the top. Their stories are all unique in their own way and that alone helps them create, which gets the world going.

Furthermore, there are so many black women behind the scenes to help create the magic, such as Ethiopia Habtemariam, Sylvia Rhone, and Juliette Jones. These women are presidents of record labels and Juliette Jone, a Vice President. This is proof that black women behind the curtains are making major powerful moves in the music industry, signing artists, and keeping these companies afloat. The African American women in higher positions, holding such powerful titles is truly an inspiriton to the little African American girls that are looking to obtain a postion so great. It's proof the African American women are the glue that hold the music industry going and there is no doubt in that, no matter the position.

To conclude, no matter the title any African American woman hold inside of the music industry they are all important. They give the world an undeniable remarkable culture they can not ignore or stay away from, they give the girls their power back by advocating their sexuality, provide creative ways to keep the world entertained, and they give the women and men the confident they need by displaying a power that we all have within us. These pave the way for each other, and the women that aspire to follow in their footsteps. The music industry would not be able to hold up with out the African American women today.