Loreal Bell, a Berea College English major with a communications minor, was selected as a 2013 Thomas J. Watson Fellow with the project, “Prisoner of Words: A Look into Feminist Euro Hip Hop Artists.” She traveled to the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden using interviews and documentary production as a tool for connecting with masculine women from the LGBTQ community who are involved in Hip hop culture. “Hip Hop is an artistic expression which often emphasizes male dominance and female oppression, but that doesn’t take the art form away from women,” Loreal explained.

Loreal—a  hip hop artist herself—had this to say about her selection: “The opportunity to travel and live out a dream feels so surreal and exciting at the same time. It is a representation of how progress is tangible despite obstacles.” She enjoyed learning from hip hop artists who do break dancing, graffiti art, and disc jockeying as well as emceeing.

Interested in applying for the Watson Fellowship? Visit https://legacy.berea.edu/cie/thomas-j-watson-fellowship/ to learn about deadlines, eligibility, and how to apply!