Quasheba
Posts By: Quasheba A
HIV Stigma and Queerphobia in Pop Culture and Public Health
Disclaimer: Mentions of HIV Stigma, anti-LGBTQ+ stigma, and healthcare discrimination As I entered adulthood, I began having more access and space to talk about sex. Being raised in a household where sexual health was not discussed, and there were anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes, talking about sex and expressing curiosities about dating were new to me. One thing I noticed from conversations I had with my peers about sex (many of whom identified as cis-straight Black women), was that there was frequent speculation about other people’s sexual identities. I remember being asked a couple of times if I would engage romantically with a bisexual guy. At the time, I didn’t understand these types of questions because I, too, was queer. I couldn’t fathom why it would be my concern if I dated other… Read more »
When it’s “Errbody Business”: Bbymutha’s Sex-Positivity
Disclaimer: References to sexually explicit content and imagery. One of my favorite rappers is Chattanooga native Bbymutha. Bbymutha transforms the dimensions of Black queerness, motherhood, and womanhood in her music through her skillful lyricism that seeks to reclaim sexuality, pleasure, and agency. I was particularly drawn to Bbymutha for being unapologetically Black and Queer and for the empowering messages behind her songs, most notably, “Rules.” In this well-rounded song, Bbymutha details the lessons she’s learned and offers advice on dealing with the sexual politics of dating men. Sexual politics refers to the underlying rules for how one should engage sexually and romantically with others that may be influenced by patriarchy. Bbymutha provides a set of guidelines for being involved romantically and sexually with men in a way that is intentional… Read more »
Towards “Good” Sex: Concepts from Music and Pop Culture
Disclaimer: This blog includes references to sex, genitalia, and implicit erotic and nude imagery. For the purposes of this blog, the context of “sex” will only encompass sexual experiences outside of sexual violence. In her hit single “Tragic” from the album Heaux Tales, Jazmine Sullivan details an unsatisfying sexual experience with a casual sex partner. Throughout the song, Sullivan discusses her sexual desires and expectations that were not prioritized in the encounter with the guy. Repurposing an audio clip of Representative Maxine Waters’s response to former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s during a congressional hearing, repeating the phrase “reclaiming my time,” listeners are introduced to the idea of power and agency within sexual partnerships. Over captivating lyrics, Sullivan adds to Black popular culture discourse about the concept of “bad sex.” In heteronormative… Read more »
My Introduction to Pleasure and Sexual Liberation
Disclaimer: This blog includes references to sex and implicit erotic and nude imagery As I raced home from school, I immediately turned on Music Choice, a TV channel that aired popular music videos. I heard Slim Thug’s voice over a silhouette of Beyoncé doing body waves against silk, pink backgrounds. Everything was pink—pink wigs, pink suits, pink leather, pink eye shadow, and pink lip gloss. I remember mimicking Beyoncé’s choreography in the video and trying to keep up with the flexible, agile, and sensual movements of the dancers while following along to the lyrics, “dip it, pop it, twerk it.” A few phrases that repeatedly stuck to me were “check on me tonight,” “boy, I know you want it,” and “lookin’ like you like what you see.” I did not know… Read more »
