According to Oxford’s online dictionary, twerking is a “dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.” I beg to differ.
My definition of twerking is an oversaturated, glamorized, false movement that needs to end. Recently, I see that I am not alone in my stance on twerking. Online media source Media Takeout, reported that Hampton University has made it a rule on their campus that any girl caught twerking will be subjected to “disciplinary measures.”
Being filmed or photographed twerking via Instagram and/or Twitter are also punishable acts according to the school.
This reminds me of the twerking incident that happened at our very own university at last year’s SUAB Block party.
A few young women were on stage twerking and they were filmed and photographed. The footage eventually made its way to chancellor, Harold L. Martin Sr., who was less than pleased with what he saw.
Let’s be real, twerking is nothing new. Girls have always twerked, but when celebrities, musicians and actors began to glamorize the dance, it took on a life of its own.
In recent news, Miley Cyrus’ VMA performance received much backlash from viewers.
Miley preformed her latest single “We Can’t Stop” and then went on to perform the smash hit “Blurred Lines” with Robin Thicke.
During the performance, she wore a nude colored latex bikini set while twerking on Robin Thicke as he preformed.
She even went as far as to take her foam finger and rub it on Robin Thicke’s private area.
The day after Miley’s tasteless performance, photos were released of celebrities’ responses to her performance.
Rihanna appeared uninterested, but One Direction and the Smith family looked confused and appalled.
The Smith’s watched the performance with an “I’m not exactly sure what’s going on” face. The woman next to the Smith’s also had a concerned look in her eyes as her hand cover her mouth.
I would associate that with an “Oh my God” feeling.
According to Huffington Post, Cyrus told songwriting brothers Timothy and Theron Thomas “I want urban, I just want something that just feels black,” for her new song “We Can’t Stop.”
On Aug. 28, Miley tweeted a quote from her father that said “Mile, if twerkin woulda been invented…. And I had a foam finger…. I woulda done the same thang you did.”-Dad”
So, your dad co-signing your phony urban behavior makes it okay to carry on with what you are doing? Wrong.
Cyrus’s desperate attempt to appear grown up and interesting has left many people disgusted. We get it Miley, you cannot sing, nor can you twerk. Give it up!
Cyrus is not the only celeb trying to capitalize on the “twerking movement.”
Rapper Juicy J announced a few weeks ago that he would be giving out a $50,000 scholarship for college to the best twerker. “Giving out a 50k scholarships to the best chick that can twerk” was the tweet sent out by Rapper Juicy J, Aug. 22, 2013.
While at the VMA’s, Juicy J was interviewed on the red carpet by Power 105.1 radio host, Angela Yee.
Juicy J was asked about the scholarship and while he kept quiet about the details for legal reasons, he did point out that he “has a lot of money” and called himself “charitable.”
What is so charitable about making young women get on stage and dance for a scholarship to college?
It is not helpful. It is degrading and inappropriate.
If you want to help, you would choose a person to receive the scholarship based on merit, community work, or something that is noble.
If Juicy J decided to make a “twerking scholarship,” then he must have thought that females would participate. This speaks volumes about our community.
The sad part is, more females than I could fathom will participate in the scholarship contest. This scholarship says that while a woman maybe intelligent and driven, if she cannot be sexy and shake her behind, nothing else matters.
We as people need to stop allowing other cultures as well as our own make a mockery of us.
We are looked at as over sexualized beings that will shake our behinds at the drop of a hat. For many of us, that is not the case.
African American people are strong, intelligent and worthy. We do a lot more than what is recognized in the media.
It is time that people wake up and realize that we are being exploited and our reputations are being diminished.
Twerking is not totally bad, but it should only be done in certain atmospheres such as a home and parties. There is a time, place and limit for everything.
—Email Briann and Cameron at [email protected]
- Brianna Bazemore & Camryn Barron, Contributors