POTENT Issue #2 - The Women's Issue

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By Nneka Samuel Made famous by American and British acts in the 1970’s, punk rock is ska and reggae’s brother from Not that women the world over haven’t been present for the ride. From the late Poly Styrene another mother, borrowing greatly of X-Ray Spex to Blondie front Punk rock isn’t dead. from their innovation, soul and woman Debbie Harry to the queen Just ask purists what even sound. But finding punk’s of rebellion herself, Grace Jones, the anti-establishment quintessential fast, hard-edged women have always played a role rooted music means to resonance in the Caribbean today is in the punk rock scene, whether them and you’ll get a flurry of responses - each as personal and unique as the bands currently populating the genre. like finding a needle in a haystack. Narrow that search to Caribbean women or women of Caribbean descent in the genre and we’re talking significantly fewer numbers. via music, fashion, or every form of self-expression in between. Today, however, it seems that women who punk don’t reach the same prevalent heights as their counterparts of yesteryear. Could this be because of Punk, the very nature of the punk scene - the DIY ethic that has many bands producing their own content and
distributing their music through informal channels, as well as booking their own shows, creating their own fliers and disseminating their own zines Although based on that argument, many bands would undoubtedly prosper in today’s social media climate where free publicity is a mere hashtag, retweet or like away. Perhaps the reason for the lack of women in punk lies in the dilemma of wider accessibility with less visibility. Punk music has, after all, remained predominantly male. This lack of expansion in gender equality gives into the ageold assumption that all-female bands or female-fronted bands are somehow less capable and talented than male groups or artists. Less than 20 percent of the 120 bands participating in the 2014 Vans Warped Tour, for example, the largest traveling tour in the United States, featured at least one female - a statistic with which the event’s (male) organizer found no fault. Female artists have claimed time and again that some male performers are more likely to assume them groupies than artists. This patriarchal allegiance needs to change if women, particularly women of color, are to be encouraged to make, let alone listen to, punk music. Punk rockers of color are still met with question marks, as if the music were intended for a non-melaninrich few. This very notion is ironic, considering that the Caribbean in particular is musically diverse - reggae, dancehall, salsa, soca, calypso and a host of other genres having been birthed in this region. Nevertheless, these genres are also much more accepted, promoted and assumed in this neck of the woods. Maybe this is the reason why Cojoba, a hardcore punk band formed in Puerto Rico in 1995, is now based in New York City. The group is fronted by a female singer, Taína, and a female bassist. Their presence lends a much-needed voice to Caribbean punk rock visibility. Cojoba, whose name also refers to a tree whose seeds were used by the indigenous Taino peoples of the Caribbean to talk to the gods, released their first demo, Espiritu de Punk, in 1996. Since then, they have recorded and released numerous albums on their own distribution outfit, Anaconda Records, as well as released music by other artists. Taína and Cojoba, whose core members have changed over the band’s nearly 20 year history, have performed all over the world. This was initially thanks in part to the band’s early days and Taína’s involvement in their DIY publication, Zine Vergüenza. It featured interviews with local bands, show reviews and took up the role of educating its readers on issues like civil rights and social resistance, often prevalent in the music. Cojoba’s lasting presence on the punk rock scene lends more than visibility. Their music speaks to girls and women in the Caribbean and beyond who aspire to be more than just fans or yearn for more diversity in the very genre that claims to be diverse and politically correct. But they can’t be the only punk rockers on the scene. Where are the Cojoba’s and female punks of Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago; Jamaica, Haiti With so many movements and subgenres, punk has the potential to tap into the unheard voices from countries throughout the Caribbean. The only way punk rock can expand is if it has more voices. Following the path set by Cojoba, here’s hoping it will. POTENT Magazine | THIRTY
Page 1 and 2: OTENT FEBUARARY 2015 Potentmagazine
Page 3 and 4: Editor’s Note In the midst of put
Page 5: SOCIETY Equal Rights for Women Wome
Page 8 and 9: Women's Rights: Is the Caribbean Do
Page 10 and 11: To continue on this path spearheade
Page 12 and 13: WOMEN IN POWER By Natalie Goode-Hen
Page 14 and 15: PORTIA Simpsonmiller First Female P
Page 16 and 17: By Natalie Goode-Henry At 19, Jessi
Page 18: other gay-friendly countries. How d
Page 22: as to deny LGBTI persons entry into
Page 25 and 26: By Ligia Forbes On an ordinary busi
Page 27: services, brothels, strip clubs, pi
Page 32 and 33: KAT DA
Page 34 and 35: Through the struggle, she’s had t
Page 37 and 38: hauntingly sings on “Walk on Wate
Page 41 and 42: By Kristal Roberts Just about any m
Page 43: COMPELLING. DYNAMIC. PASSION. CARIB
Page 46: Bath and Body JOLIE BLOOM Good Vibe
Page 50 and 51: How many people can say they get to
Page 53 and 54: “[Social media] is very important
Page 55 and 56: Melanie Fiona Joan Smalls 1 2 Layer
Page 57: Kerry Washington When in Doubt, Acc
Page 63 and 64: CULTURE
Page 65 and 66: to carry on conversations with doct
Page 67 and 68: COMPELLING. DYNAMIC. PASSION. CARIB
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Page 71 and 72: Crisoire and Eric Reid picture at t
Page 73 and 74: that [tattoos] should be covered fo
Page 76 and 77: TRAVEL
Page 78 and 79: TRAVEL BELIZE The warm waters of th
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OMINICAN REPUBLIC DOMINICAN REPUBLI
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Puerto Rico
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the u.s . virgin islands
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TRAVEL The BA HA MAS Technically, t
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SOCA MOM By Genice Phillips Eva Wil
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(as part of the series) SocaMom: It
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Pg. 91 INSPIRATION: From the QUEE
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“The biggest battle that I have i
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POTENT Issue #2 - The Women's Issue

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