SOTW: Lady Traxx for WHM

March is Women's Herstory Month and in my unprecedented return to second (or is it first?) wave politics (though, according to some, I may not really understand the ramifications of such a statement since I'm not 'properly' trained in Women's Studies), here are some sights and sounds from the feminist front lines to get you through the month, wherever you may be and whichever wave you may be riding.

Ladies First, Queen Latifah
Growing up in the era of The Fly Girls, Public Enemy, and Rosie Perez, here's an anthem straight off the dance floors of the Diamond Bar Country Club parties and into the off-shoulder denim overall shorts and Cross Color outfits we were all rockin' in 1992. Before prison musicals and Maybelline commercials and even before the butch icon of Cleo (in Set It Off), this Jersey girl busted onto a hip hop scene largely dominated by the rise of masculinist proto-nationalism and personally taught me, during a show at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in 1996, that the proper feminist way to raise your hands up in the air was by making a circle with your two hands (a la the women's symbol). A fist was just another phallus in the sky.


Sexual Seduction, Kaba Modern
This eight-member dance ensemble representing UC Irvine's own 'street dance' group, Kaba Modern, an off-shoot of the annual Pilipino Cultural Nights (PCN), is now taking the national stage on MTV and Randy Jackson-produced reality show, America's Next Dance Crew. In the most recent episode, the ladies sex it up (much better than Color Me Badd ever could) to a truncated rendition of Snoop Dogg's "Sexual Seduction" (made infectiously famous as a sonic prologue to BDP's last show, Dickwhipped!). Ever since the days of Legend parties and the Ladies of Zoom dance crews, I've always wanted to dance like this:



Two selections from country music's greatest ladies. The first, an ALOTR mantra--at conferences, during the middle of hectic weeks and months, and sometimes even when dealing with friends and family. The second, a special selection by way of the ALOTR's own JT, and a survivor's guide from one who knows. Both videos warm my soft spots - first, for the melodrama and second, for the ode to carnival life.

Jesus Take the Wheel, Carrie Underwood



Better Get to Livin', Dolly Parton



And, last but not least, the much lauded or much reviled (depending on how you look at it) SNL "Women's News/Weekend Update" with Tina Fey as covered by Lady Huffington herself.



Along with their rendition of Fauxbama, SNL writers and producers have been receiving much flak for their satirical takes on the campaign. But beyond just candidate endorsements, the skit from the creator of Mean Girls (another ALOTR cinematic favorite) is an empowering reminder that us bitches will always be the ones who get things done.

Let us know your favorite moments in her-story, share with us your survivor anthems and menses fair melodies, and other great and minor feminist acts.

And a special happy birthday shout out to MFF (my favorite feminist), Mommy Balance. -(CBB)