Karen Peck & New River have been award-winning gospel music icons for almost 30 years, garnering Grammy, GMA Dove and Singing News Fan Awards triumphs along the way.
She is an accomplished vocalist with a deep-seated love for music. Throughout her life, she has studied piano, voice and theater with passion.
Entitled Karen
Karen has become a widely used social media slur that derogatorily labels entitled white women for their tendency towards entitlement, trivial complaints and selfishness. According to Know Your Meme, this pejorative term originated in Dane Cook’s comedy routine of the same name.
Karen became increasingly commonplace after several videos surfaced of women calling the police on Black people for doing nothing more than engaging in casual conversation in public places. With recent racial-charged incidents like Covid-19 and George Floyd’s death by police, however, the term Karen has taken on a more serious tone.
Recently, people have been labeling anyone a “Karen” for any act perceived as racist. These typically middle-aged white women tend to engage in self-serving behavior and demand the right to speak with a manager just as easily as they call the cops on their Black neighbors.
No matter its origins, Karen slurs are problematic in that they offer anonymity to women who have committed overtly racist acts and make them seem less dangerous than they actually are. It’s unclear exactly why the Karen slur has become so popular but experts speculate it could be because it gives people a voice for the widespread issue of race and racism in our society today.
Rachel CrinkleLuvinASMR, better known by her YouTube handle CrinkleLuvinASMR, has been politicizing her fictional “Karen” character by altering her hairstyle and making her into a cat-owning lesbian. Insider reported that this has helped her examine her own anger and find new ways of expressing it; however she cautions that this should not be taken as an excuse to ignore racists in your life.
Many consider the Karen slur a sign of our larger issue with social expectations and privilege. It shows us we are still far away from truly addressing racial inequality and achieving true peace on Earth, particularly given the epidemic currently gripping our country.
Racist Karen
Karen has become a byword for an arrogant white woman who believes her way is always right. She’s the person who posts on Nextdoor about suspicious-looking people in her neighborhood or demands to enter grocery stores without wearing a mask.
No evidence exists to prove this character exists, but she’s part of an increasingly common trend among middle-class white women who act out due to a sense of entitlement and strong ambition for power. The character has been featured in multiple movies and has gained widespread popularity on social media platforms.
It appears that middle-class white women are becoming increasingly susceptible to racism and other forms of exploitation. They have been known for making false police reports in order to enlist the police in carrying out their racist agendas, calling the police on people who have no involvement with their behavior, and using their relative privilege against people of color in order to achieve what they desire.
This slang term has gained notoriety following a number of racist incidents against Black and brown people by white people. Examples include calling police on a Black man walking his dog on Central Park’s leash, as well as another white woman threatening to call the cops on another Black man for having the audacity to walk his pup on leash in public places.
Nicki Minaj has often referenced racist Karens in her music. Her songs “Irreplaceable” and “Karen,” both featured on Queen (2016), used the slang to refer to these groups of people. Additionally, her performance at the 2017 Super Bowl halftime show included “Say My Name,” another reference to racist Karens.
Many music fans and critics have condemned Minaj’s use of the slang, accusing her of disregarding the negative reactions these artists have faced when speaking their minds on politics or lyrics. But Minaj’s choice to include it has helped spread awareness about its prevalence – people are starting to realize there are certain types of middle-class white women who act very entitled and sometimes racist.
Rude Karen
Music artists often include rude Karens in their lyrics. Nicki Minaj is no exception to this rule, often including rude Karens on her recent album Everything on Fleek.
Typically, the phrase “rude Karen” is applied to women who are overly demanding and racist. It also serves as a slang term to describe people who are too strict and uptight.
The exact origins of the term “Karen” remain uncertain, but it’s believed to have originated in an episode of Dane Cook’s 2005 show The Friend Nobody Likes when Karen (played by Lindsay Lohan) inquires how she can be from Africa if she’s white.
Karen may have originated from the 2004 film Mean Girls, featuring Amanda Seyfried’s character who was criticised for asking her friends why they were white.
In any event, the phrase has become a widely circulated internet joke featuring an image of a middle-aged white woman with a minivan and “speak to the manager” haircut. Unfortunately, many critics have objectified this slang as misogynistic.
Gwen Snyder, a Philadelphia community organizer, tweeted that the term is misogynistic as it has its roots in black American internet culture and is often coopted by men to ridicule women online. Yet according to feminist blogger Attiah, “The ‘Karen’ meme is still more often used by black and working class women to discuss how wealthy or often white women perpetuate classism and racism.”
Another way the term is employed in music, where it’s typically employed as satire or parody of certain people or groups. For instance, the song Angry Karen featured an Australian diner known for its dubious practices and unruly patrons’ reactions when served food.
Few months back, Cardi B addressed rude Karens in her music. In one song she declared that she “swore off rude girls and dated a kaarina”.
But it’s worth pointing out that Cardi B and Nicki Minaj have had a public feud, with Cardi B saying Nicki was “subbing” her on several of her songs. This slang has been interpreted as evidence that Cardi B is jealous of Nicki’s success which she feels is undeserved.
Enemies Karen
Recently, Karens have received much criticism for their racist behaviors. From Amy Cooper’s “Central Park Karen” to Miya Ponsetto calling the cops on two Black men waiting at a Starbucks table, we have witnessed an endless cycle of these entitled white women using their privilege to racially attack those of color.
This has led to an increased awareness of Karen women, as evidence has revealed that many are acting out of a sense of personal powerlessness. They feel as though they are being treated unfairly and it is their responsibility to defend themselves; however, ironically this powerlessness often manifests itself as racism.
One way this is demonstrated is Karen’s obsession with authority, which may lead her to exaggerate her own power in an effort to maintain her perceived status. It could even turn out that Karen has become a tyrant in the process.
She may feel the need to overreact and vent her frustrations on those around her, often out of repressed anger but also because they are often those she perceives as less powerful than herself.
Nicki Minaj recently released the song “Enemies,” in which she references various Karens and how some people can have a successful relationship with them while others do not.
She emphasizes the fact that people can be friends or enemies for good or ill. Those with successful relationships understand one another and aren’t afraid to express their opinions.
In addition to social commentary, the song also has a catchy melody and intriguing beat. The tempo isn’t too fast or slow, allowing for easy listening throughout the duration.
Moreover, the sound effects added to the music are captivating. They don’t follow a typical space jazz style, but rather add to its ambience and make listening even more enjoyable.
