Corporate media executives, journalists, artists and students will join together at the symposium “Ladies First: A Glance at Women in Hip-Hop” on Saturday, March 27 on the Princeton University campus. The event is open to the public, but paid registration is required for public attendees.
“Ladies First” will explore the various and evolving roles women play in the hip-hop music industry, highlighting the contributions women have made to the culture’s growth and mainstream acceptance, and also celebrating the continued presence of feminism in what can be a male-dominated and often misogynistic environment.
The symposium has been organized by the board members of Hip Hop: Art & Life, a student organization at Princeton University committed to promoting a greater understanding of hip-hop as a culture and art form in the Princeton community, as well as promoting its relevance to academics, politics and society.
“This symposium’s goal is to extend beyond the Princeton community and to inspire action in attendees’ communities. We want people to understand that the hip-hop generation we live in is bigger than the music, it’s our voice, and that includes the voices of women in this often perceived misogynistic culture,” said ChiChi Ude, a Princeton sophomore and vice president of Hip Hop: Art & Life.
Cornel West, Princeton’s Class of 1943 University Professor in the Center for African American Studies, will begin the symposium with opening remarks at 10 a.m. in the Frist Campus Center multipurpose rooms. West’s remarks will be followed by keynote speaker, poet and emcee Amanda Diva.
The conference also will include seminars, workshops and panel discussions focusing on topics such as domestic violence, women’s portrayal in music videos, male dominance in the business, feminism and the role hip-hop plays in relationship dynamics between men and women. Discussions and workshops will begin at 1:30 p.m. and take place in Betts Auditorium in the School of Architecture, McCosh Hall, Room 10 and the Frist Campus Center multipurpose rooms.
Guest speakers will include: Imani Perry, professor of the Center for African American Studies at Princeton; Lauren Lake, television personality, attorney and author of “Girl! Let Me Tell You;” Joy Daily, host, editor and producer of the film “Complexion Obsession;” Martha Diaz, founder of the Hip-Hop Association (H2A); Jamilah Creekmur vice president for sales and marketing of Allhiphop.com and founder of Harbor Digital Group; Shyvonne Sanganoo, singer, songwriter and marketing assistant for Bad Boy Worldwide; and Delphine Fawundu, photographer and hip-hop journalist.
A women’s tribute concert will end the symposium at 7 p.m. at the Carl A. Fields Center, 58 Prospect Ave. Singers, rappers and spoken word artists will be performing, and students are also welcome to showcase their talents during the concert’s open mic segment. All Princeton students, guest speakers and symposium attendees are welcome to the women’s tribute concert.
The symposium’s University co-sponsors are: The Lewis Center for the Arts, Center for African American Studies, Sexual Harassment /Assault Advising Resources and Education (SHARE) Office, Office of the Provost, Program in American Studies and the Office of the Vice President for Campus Life.
The Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN), a New York based non-profit organization, also is working with the student organizers of Hip Hop: Art & Life to promote, support and organize the event.
Registration is required in order to attend the event. In order to register, visit: www.hhal2010.com. Registration is free for Princeton students, faculty and staff. Registration is $20 for non-Princeton college students and $10 for high school students.
For more information, please contact student organizers Jerome Jackson at jmjackso@princeton.edu or ChiChi Ude at cude@princeton.edu.
Comments: