Black women rockers are breaking down the doors and finding their place on the rock scene, said Universtiy professor Lesley Feracho.

Feracho, who is jointly appointed to the department of Romance Languages and the Institute of African American Studies, was the speakear at the finall fall semester Apero Brown Bag Lecture Series.

Rockers are seen as outsiders, but “the black female rocker is even more removed,” said Feracho, who interprets the music from a perspective based on Pulitzer prize winning author Alice Walker’s black feminist theory.

Feracho played “Curious White Boy,” a song by black female rock artist Cree Summer as an example of lyrics that critique the invisibility of the black female.

“I wasn’t aware of the meaning and significance of black women trying to become involved in the metal scene,” said Megan Korngold, a junior from Alpharetta.

Topics like the sexual abuse of women cross cultural lines, Feracho said.

“The issues aren’t just racial,” she said.

It’s about “unmasking oppression,” she said, “unmasking different ways that women can fight against it.”

“It’s interesting how they fight stereotypes,” said Ashley Quick, a junior from Dacula.

There are few black female rock artists and even fewer on major labels.

“What she’s doing is giving air to musicians that aren’t popularly known,” said Ed Pavli?, published poet and University professor of English.

Feracho said she wanted attendees to leave aware of the growing group of black female rock artists.

She was “fighting against this categorization of what is black music,” Feracho said.

Other songs featured include Tamar-Kali’s song “Boot,” The Noisettes’ song “Sister Rosetta” and Atlanta-based group Three5Human’s song “Jenny.”

The Apero series will resume next semester.