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CAUCUS MEMBERS
Monique Baptiste
Angie Beatty
Ruth Nicole Brown
Angela Garretson
Alicia Holmes
Zenzele Isoke
Shani Jamila
Tameika McHarris
Tynesha McHarris
Veronica Osario
Miriam Petty
Kimala Price
Shannel Roberts
Malika Sanders
Lisa Smith
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Only [we] can say, "when and where I
enter...then and there the whole race enters with me."
Anna Julia Cooper, 1982
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ISSUES PLATFORM
FOR THE PWC
Gender
Equality
Defend and support women’s full reproductive rights, including the
right to a safe, legal abortion.
Advocate for
full pay equity for women and end job discrimination.
Advocate for
legislation that protects against sexual harassment, molestation,
exploitation, domestic violence and rape.
Oppose sexual
objectification of women in music, music videos and mass media.
Sexual
Equality
Reject homophobia and discrimination against gays, lesbians,
bisexuals and transgender individuals and advocate for strong
measures of protection.
Advocate for legislation allowing
same-sex and transgender marriages. |
A Letter To the Ladies of the Hip Hop Generation during the
National Hip Hop Political Convention:
Now is a critical time for women, particularly women of color, to
start standing up and speaking for ourselves. On June 16-19 in
Newark, NJ a National Hip Hop Political Convention will gather to
adopt a political agenda to reflect the sentiments of the Hip Hop
Generation. It is absolutely essential that the women of our
generation have a prominent role in the development of this agenda.
If we are honest with ourselves we would have to acknowledge that
our relationship with hip hop has been love/hate at best. As much
as the hypnotic beats and soulful rhythms have inspired us, many of
the objectifying images and name-calling have damaged our
self-esteem and placed a tremendous strain on our communities.
To be blunt, sexism and misogyny is intrinsic to much of hip hop
music and culture and must be challenged. It is imperative that we
use the National Hip Hop Political Convention as a space for women
to come together to discuss the issues that are relevant to our
generation, and be proactive in establishing a course of action that
will produce and sustain a more empowering paradigm for us all.
We would like to extend an invitation to you to join us in a series
of women's gatherings that will take place during the course of the
convention. Our ultimate aim is to develop a Women's Collective
that will achieve the following:
A. Create a space where women's perspectives can be articulated,
shared and celebrated in the context of the National Hip Hop
Political Convention.
B. Develop and implement a national strategy to ensure that women
turn out in significant numbers at the convention.
C. Work toward developing a coherent message that will encourage
women and girls of our generation to take active political
leadership in their respective communities
D. Work toward developing a coherent and productive critique of Hip
Hop that emphasizes its potential impact on women and families
E. To develop a course of action that will culminate in another
national gathering of the women of color of our generation.
Our hope is that we will be able to capitalize on the momentum of
this historic occasion and encourage a broader and more central
analysis of the issues that affect not only our brothers, but the
entire Hip Hop family...
...We need to know how you feel and think about this very important
opportunity. Even if you can't make it to the convention, let your
voice be heard! For more information, please e-mail us at [email protected].
Yours truly,
Zenzele Isoke
Progressive Women's Caucus
"No one can uproot the tree which God has planted."
--Yoruba Proverb |
In
Loving Memory of
the Honorable Shirley Chisholm
1924
to 2005 |
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