Queen Bey dropped her new single, Formation, which was the first since her last album “Beyoncé” in 2014. Beyoncé not only dropped a new single, but also dropped a new music video and announced her Formation tour already. Formation has been receiving lots of criticism, especially because of her Super Bowl performance. Unlike the critics, I commend Beyoncé and didn’t think it was possible to love her even more!
I am biracial. I’m half Thai and half black. Because of this, I tend to get questions asking which race I identify more with or comments that I look more of one race than the other. As a woman of color, Formation’s message empowers me. It empowers me to be proud to be black. I’m not proud to admit that when I was younger, I used to be embarrassed to be black or when I got darker in the summer. I felt that way because of the negative stereotypes associated with being black. In the media, people of color are often portrayed as entertainers and athletes, nothing more. “I like my baby hair with baby hair and afros. I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils.” Beyoncé reminds us that black is beautiful and that is nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone is beautiful and hiding your heritage is pointless. I am beautiful with both of my heritages and I’m proud to say it. I have a black nose with Jackson Five nostrils and love it because it’s a part of who I am.
Beyoncé empowers us to be successful women of color. Her lyrics state, “You just might be a black Bill Gates in the making, cause I slay. I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making.” Anyone can be successful despite their race, and I support Beyoncé for saying it.
What did Beyoncé do that was so wrong? All she did was write an empowering song on how she was proud to be black. I recently saw a skit on the Daily Show that featured Jessica Williams and she, of course, supported Beyoncé, but there was something that caught my attention, which was that Beyoncé is an artist. Like Jessica Williams, I agree that Beyoncé is an artist, which therefore allows her to express herself. She shouldn’t have to censor herself if she decides to speak passionately about something. She wrote a powerful song and for that, I commend her. Formation represents Beyoncé’s unapologetic expression of her identity as a black woman. I support Beyoncé and that’s not going to change. As Beyoncé says, “We gon’ slay (slay), gon’ slay (okay), we slay (okay), I slay (okay).” We can all slay in whatever we do no matter the obstacles we face.
Here is the link to the skit for those that want to watch Jessica Williams.
If you haven’t seen the Beyoncé’s video, then I got you: