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Stop trying to make 'twerk' happen

By Maurika Smutherman

On October 9, 2013

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Maurika Smutherman Entertaining Diversions Editor

Thanks to Miley Cyrus, twerking has become a national epidemic.

The term "twerk," which was added to the Oxford Dictionary Aug. 28, is a verb that means dancing to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.

Before Miley's terrible MTV Video Music Award's performance Aug. 25, twerking was merely a trend in Black culture, propelled by underground YouTube

Sensation, The Twerk Team.

Twerking wasn't a big deal because honestly, it's been around for more than 20 years.

According to the Oxford Dictionary Blog, "The 1993 song Jubilee All by D.J. Jubilee is often cited as the first known usage [of the term]."

Jubilee's New Orleans roots may have had everything to do with his use of the word.

According to XOjane.com, twerking is commonly associated with the New Orleans bounce music scene, and most likely derived from a centuries-old West African dance called the Mapouka dance.

Needless to say, twerking isn't new, which begs the question: Why is twerking so popular now?

The answer is simple - twerking, which has been a staple of Black culture for years, is just now gaining

popularity because Miley Cyrus did it.

We should have expected this when the former "Hannah Montana" star released a video twerking in pajamas to a song called "Wop" then attempted to start her own Twerk Team.

It was obvious that she was trying to shed her teenage image, so it came as no surprise when Cyrus later revealed that she wanted to achieve a "Black" sound on her new album, Bangerz.

She has described the album, which released Oct. 4, as "dirty south hip-hop."

With features from southern rappers Future, Ludacris and Nelly, her description seems to be accurate.

But is Miley using elements of Black culture (ie. twerking, rapping and wearing Jordans) as a means to revamp her image, or is she genuinely embracing it with open arms?

For those who think Cyrus is appropriating Black culture, check out what she said in the Oct. 8 issue

of Rolling Stone, "I don't keep my producers or

dancers around 'cause it makes me look cool. Those aren't my 'accessories.' They're my homies."

That's right, those Black girls twerking in the "We Can't Stop" video, and her new producer, Mike Will are her "homies."

Hey, she said it, not me.

Nonetheless, don't expect to see Miley twerking on

stage any time soon.

"People expect me to come out and twerk with my tongue out all the time. I'll probably never do that s--t again," she said.

I agree Miley; never twerk again.