Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at William Paterson University is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Digital Music Creation at Montclair State University, I plan to join the Management and Leadership Club to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships/working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.

Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at William Paterson University is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Digital Music Creation at Montclair State University, I plan to join the Management and Leadership Club to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships/working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.

On a crisp March evening in 2019, the Wellmont Theater in New Jersey became the stage for a magical experience that would linger in my memory like a cherished dream. The anticipation in the air was almost tangible, a palpable buzz that hummed through the crowd as they gathered in the historic theater, which itself seemed to have been wrapped in a cocoon of excitement and anticipation. As you entered the Wellmont Theater, its grandeur enveloped you. The ornate architecture, with its sweeping curves, whispered tales of countless performances that had come before. You could feel the whispers of history mingling with the electric energy of the night. The scent of popcorn and the faint echo of the audience’s excited chatter painted the scene. When the lights dimmed, an expectant hush fell over the crowd. The once-familiar space transformed into a dreamscape of vibrant colors and dynamic visuals. Sabrina Carpenter emerged from the shadows like a star awakening from a slumber, her presence commanding immediate attention. The spotlight illuminated her in a halo of light, casting her in an almost ethereal glow. Her performance was a mesmerizing symphony of sound and sight. As she moved across the stage. Her choreography was a fluid dance of grace and energy. Each song she performed felt like a chapter in a fantastical storybook. The visuals that accompanied her set were nothing short of spectacular; they painted the space with swirling hues and sparkling constellations. The stage itself seemed to pulse with a heartbeat of its own. Giant screens displayed dreamlike patterns, while lasers cut through the air like ribbons of light. The effect was transformative, as though the theater had transcended its physical boundaries, merging with the dreamscape of the performance. The crowd moved in unison. Every note sung and every beat dropped was met with cheers and applause, creating a wave of sound and emotion that surged through the venue. There was a collective sense of exhilaration, a shared experience that bound you and the rest of the audience together in a moment of pure, unadulterated joy. In between songs, Sabrina's interactions with the crowd were warm and personable. Her genuine smiles and heartfelt thanks felt like a touch of magic. The intimacy of the Wellmont Theater allowed for these moments to resonate deeply, making her every word and gesture feel like a personal gift. As the concert drew to a close, the final notes reverberated through the theater, and the lights gradually dimmed, leaving behind a lingering sense of wonder. The audience, though slowly making their way out, was still awash in the afterglow of the evening's enchantment. The experience left an indelible mark on you, like the echo of a beautiful dream that you never wanted to end. Leaving the theater, you carried with you not just the thrill of a first concert, but the magic of a night where reality had intertwined with fantasy, and where Sabrina Carpenter’s performance had painted the evening with strokes of brilliance that would remain in my heart forever.

Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at William Paterson University is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Digital Music Creation at William Paterson, I plan to join the Management and Leadership Club to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships/working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.

I step out of the plane, a strange world sits before me, with buildings that tower over my 4 year old body. Surrounded by lots of fair-skinned people with small metals going through their noses and inappropriate music blasting out of huge vehicles. Granny covered my little ears. I was like Dorothy in Oz, overwhelmed by blinding color and strange dialects. My mind was racing, my face getting hot as I panickedly looked around, “Granny, we’re not in Trinidad anymore, are we?” I was born in Trinidad & Tobago where I lived in a little farm house with my mother, aunts and 4 siblings. It was always at least 80 degrees with a refreshing beach breeze. I can still taste my favorite dish as I write this, chutney. The intense spices that were soaked into mangoes and oranges that my aunt made every week. Our neighbors loved it too. I was obliged to offer the chutney up even if I wanted more. A child saying no to an elder was like picking a flower from the Deadly Poppy Field. It was down right sinful. This close knit God-fearing community I grew up with taught me everything I thought I needed to know. Then my tornado suddenly appeared and landed us in the US, with only my mother and twin brother and everything we knew was uprooted. In the movies, America was portrayed as the Land of Free. However, free speech didn’t apply to me. Every time I spoke, classmates would laugh and ask me why I don’t pronounce my r’s or why my t’s sounded like h’s. I felt defeated and silenced. This prompted me to stop speaking altogether. And the further South we moved the more cruel the kids got. This all changed when I moved to New York. It was the first time I saw a Trinidadian flag hanging outside a window that wasn’t ours. In Brooklyn I was surrounded by kids like me for once. No one talked the same way and everyone had a story of how they got here. I was surprised to learn there was a Culture Day at my school. Everyone brought in their favorite dishes from their culture. I was elated to feel supported by my classmates. This time I wasn’t mad to offer up my chutney. After finally fitting in there, my freedom was once again revoked when I moved to New Jersey. I didn’t understand the slang used by the community. I never knew what clothes were in or out of style. This caused me to feel alone and confused. I had to resort to tactics like watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians every night just to understand American culture. Eventually my time and research helped me interpret the American way of life. Knowing how to speak to my peers after years of struggle made me feel strong, helping me master how to adapt to my new surroundings. This allowed me to recognize differences between two major cultures. I felt powerful for being able to understand two completely different countries that have had immensely impacted who I am today. I believe my tornado came with incredible opportunities. Though my yellow brick road was long and filled with obstacles, I faced each one head on. It introduced me to a whole new lifestyle. Even though I still find myself confronted by obstacles, both Trinidadian and American cultures flow through me. I strive to continue my adventure in this mystical world.

I step out of the plane, a strange world sits before me, with buildings that tower over my 4 year old body. Surrounded by lots of fair-skinned people with small metals going through their noses and inappropriate music blasting out of huge vehicles. Granny covered my little ears. I was like Dorothy in Oz, overwhelmed by blinding color and strange dialects. My mind was racing, my face getting hot as I panickedly looked around, “Granny, we’re not in Trinidad anymore, are we?” I was born in Trinidad & Tobago where I lived in a little farm house with my mother, aunts and 4 siblings. It was always at least 80 degrees with a refreshing beach breeze. I can still taste my favorite dish as I write this, chutney. The intense spices that were soaked into mangoes and oranges that my aunt made every week. Our neighbors loved it too. I was obliged to offer the chutney up even if I wanted more. A child saying no to an elder was like picking a flower from the Deadly Poppy Field. It was down right sinful. This close knit God-fearing community I grew up with taught me everything I thought I needed to know. Then my tornado suddenly appeared and landed us in the US, with only my mother and twin brother and everything we knew was uprooted. In the movies, America was portrayed as the Land of Free. However, free speech didn’t apply to me. Every time I spoke, classmates would laugh and ask me why I don’t pronounce my r’s or why my t’s sounded like h’s. I felt defeated and silenced. This prompted me to stop speaking altogether. And the further South we moved the more cruel the kids got. This all changed when I moved to New York. It was the first time I saw a Trinidadian flag hanging outside a window that wasn’t ours. In Brooklyn I was surrounded by kids like me for once. No one talked the same way and everyone had a story of how they got here. I was surprised to learn there was a Culture Day at my school. Everyone brought in their favorite dishes from their culture. I was elated to feel supported by my classmates. This time I wasn’t mad to offer up my chutney. After finally fitting in there, my freedom was once again revoked when I moved to New Jersey. I didn’t understand the slang used by the community. I never knew what clothes were in or out of style. This caused me to feel alone and confused. I had to resort to tactics like watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians every night just to understand American culture. Eventually my time and research helped me interpret the American way of life. Knowing how to speak to my peers after years of struggle made me feel strong, helping me master how to adapt to my new surroundings. This allowed me to recognize differences between two major cultures. I felt powerful for being able to understand two completely different countries that have had immensely impacted who I am today. I believe my tornado came with incredible opportunities. Though my yellow brick road was long and filled with obstacles, I faced each one head on. It introduced me to a whole new lifestyle. Even though I still find myself confronted by obstacles, both Trinidadian and American cultures flow through me. I strive to continue my adventure in this mystical world.

I step out of the plane, a strange world sits before me, with buildings that tower over my 4 year old body. Surrounded by lots of fair-skinned people with small metals going through their noses and inappropriate music blasting out of huge vehicles. Granny covered my little ears. I was like Dorothy in Oz, overwhelmed by blinding color and strange dialects. My mind was racing, my face getting hot as I panickedly looked around, “Granny, we’re not in Trinidad anymore, are we?” I was born in Trinidad & Tobago where I lived in a little farm house with my mother, aunts and 4 siblings. It was always at least 80 degrees with a refreshing beach breeze. I can still taste my favorite dish as I write this, chutney. The intense spices that were soaked into mangoes and oranges that my aunt made every week. Our neighbors loved it too. I was obliged to offer the chutney up even if I wanted more. A child saying no to an elder was like picking a flower from the Deadly Poppy Field. It was down right sinful. This close knit God-fearing community I grew up with taught me everything I thought I needed to know. Then my tornado suddenly appeared and landed us in the US, with only my mother and twin brother and everything we knew was uprooted. In the movies, America was portrayed as the Land of Free. However, free speech didn’t apply to me. Every time I spoke, classmates would laugh and ask me why I don’t pronounce my r’s or why my t’s sounded like h’s. I felt defeated and silenced. This prompted me to stop speaking altogether. And the further South we moved the more cruel the kids got. This all changed when I moved to New York. It was the first time I saw a Trinidadian flag hanging outside a window that wasn’t ours. In Brooklyn I was surrounded by kids like me for once. No one talked the same way and everyone had a story of how they got here. I was surprised to learn there was a Culture Day at my school. Everyone brought in their favorite dishes from their culture. I was elated to feel supported by my classmates. This time I wasn’t mad to offer up my chutney. After finally fitting in there, my freedom was once again revoked when I moved to New Jersey. I didn’t understand the slang used by the community. I never knew what clothes were in or out of style. This caused me to feel alone and confused. I had to resort to tactics like watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians every night just to understand American culture. Eventually my time and research helped me interpret the American way of life. Knowing how to speak to my peers after years of struggle made me feel strong, helping me master how to adapt to my new surroundings. This allowed me to recognize differences between two major cultures. I felt powerful for being able to understand two completely different countries that have had immensely impacted who I am today. I believe my tornado came with incredible opportunities. Though my yellow brick road was long and filled with obstacles, I faced each one head on. It introduced me to a whole new lifestyle. Even though I still find myself confronted by obstacles, both Trinidadian and American cultures flow through me. I strive to continue my adventure in this mystical world.

Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at The New School is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Music Production at Rider University, I plan to minor in Management and Leadership to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships and working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.

Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at The New School is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Music Production at Rider University, I plan to minor in Management and Leadership to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships and working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.

Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at The New School is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Music Production at Rider University, I plan to minor in Management and Leadership to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships and working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.

Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at The New School is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Music Production at Rider University, I plan to minor in Management and Leadership to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships and working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.

Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at The New School is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Music Production at Rider University, I plan to minor in Management and Leadership to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships and working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.

Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at The New School is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Music Production at Rider University, I plan to minor in Management and Leadership to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships and working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.

Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at The New School is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Music Production at Rider University, I plan to minor in Management and Leadership to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships and working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.

Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at The New School is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Music Production at Rider University, I plan to minor in Management and Leadership to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships and working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.

Black women. They are hardly ever seen as talented, respected or accomplished. Instead they are deemed aggressive, lazy and unmotivated. Specifically in the music industry. However, Black women have been the masterminds behind influential music for decades. Including today. As a Black woman, to even be considered in the music industry, it's necessary they dress appropriately and act accordingly. And if they don’t, they get dismissed. An example of this concerns Jhene Aiko; she appeared on several popular boy-band's 2002 releases with vibrant R&B tracks. She was then set to release her debut album but there were tensions within her record label because of her “style and manner”. She was later released from the label. This outrageous flaw in the music industry makes it very difficult for Black women to showcase their talents and abilities. Spectators, however, crave their sound, soul, and passion. Just not their race or gender. This creates an extreme disadvantage to Black women while simultaneously creating an advantage to white and male musicians. What often happens is, white and/or male musicians will take a Black woman’s unique piece of work and change it slightly to then claim a whole new creation. A great example of this is Big Mama Thornton being the blueprint to Elvis Presley's greatest songs. Thornton wrote and originally recorded Presley’s Hound Dog. She gained very little recognition or profit for Hound Dog. The song’s origins as a female empowerment tune disappeared after Presley’s version was released. Spectators adore this because it still gives them the quality of a Black woman’s work without having to give them credit. This system is very difficult to overcome but there have been some tremendously talented Black women who have fought. Such as, SZA, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys. What I want to do at The New School is to become an exception. Not only an exception but hopefully a precedent too. Just like the women I mentioned before. They set the path for aspiring Black, female artists like me. In addition to majoring in Music Production at Rider University, I plan to minor in Management and Leadership to ensure I will make change in the music industry. This will give me opportunities to collaborate with students and work towards our goals. I plan to invest in my future with internships and working on campus. With the help of this scholarship, I can beat the statistics and inspire others.