Stephanie Lagona's Research Project

The focus of this project is the music of Queen Latifah - prominent rapper, singer, and actor. She cleverly and sometimes subtly uses features of African American Vernacular English to showcase her identity as a strong Black Woman. She crafts her lyrics in such a way that her racial pride is evident. Despite a life of some privilege (private schooling, both parents in the home, career success), she speaks of the struggle the African American community faces - violence, poverty, and misogyny - and pays homage to Black Americans who worked for civil rights.