Written By Sholnn Z. Freeman
Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications will host a special panel discussion titled “Reporting While Black: Celebrating Women and Hip-Hop: What Have We Learned.” This event is scheduled for Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m., and will dive deep into the intersections of gender, sexuality, and empowerment within hip-hop culture.
The event will be held in the auditorium of the MET building, 300 Bryant St. NW, Washington, D.C. Students, faculty, and the public are invited to join this important conversation, as Howard’s academic community explores the challenges and triumphs of women in hip-hop and look forward to the genre’s evolving narrative. The event will feature performances by student artists Me’Kayla Rothmiller and June Aisha. Rothmiller is a sophomore TV and film major; Aisha is a marketing senior.
The “Women and Hip Hop” event celebrates hip-hop’s 50th anniversary and Women’s History Month. The event, is organized in partnership with The Hip-Hop Preservation Center,. The event marks the newest edition of the “Reporting While Black” series, presented by the Department of Media, Journalism, and Film. Initiated in 2020, this series showcases Black journalists and innovators who report on significant events and address crucial matters affecting the African American community.
The panel will feature a dynamic lineup of voices from the hip-hop community, including Martha Diaz, a celebrated hip-hop archivist and community activist known for her pioneering work in hip-hop education; Ronke Idowu Reeves, a seasoned journalist with extensive experience across major media outlets and a noted film critic; and professor Jasmine Young, director of the Warner Music/ Blavatnik Center for Music Business at Howard University and a former senior marketing director at Def Jam Records.
The panel will also showcase talented Howard University women-student rappers, who are highlighting the next generation’s contribution to the culture. Hip-hop journalist and author Ericka Blount, along with Christine McWhorter, Ph.D., a journalism professor and media literacy educator at Howard University, will moderate the panel. Blount is a lecturer in the Department of Media, Journalism, and Film.
Panelists will explore critical issues such as the portrayal of sexuality in hip-hop, the genre’s impact on women’s self-esteem, and the powerful role of hip-hop in promoting sex-positivity and challenging narratives around objectification. They will also share personal experiences and professional insights on navigating sexism in the media and music industry, highlighting the resilience and creativity of women in the face of misogyny.
