Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few days, you have seen either one news item, meme, Instagram photo and/or GIF relating to Beyoncé’s new video, “Formation.” The song and video which has already become a cultural phenomenon faster than all her haters could have anticipated, even made its performance debut at the Super Bowl. So, once again, Mrs. Carter has everyone talking and unfortunately, but to be expected, it’s not all good things. The song, which has been recognized as a black power anthem has received considerable calls for boycotts from *ahem* white people, due to what some believed to be an anti-police rhetoric coming from the singer (despite her simply raising awareness about police brutality). However, that is the whole point, Beyoncé is singing for her black audience, in an effort to stand unified with us and show us that her art stans not only for the BeyHive, but for pride in the black community, specifically among black women.
1. The video features Louisiana, where Hurricane Katrina took place…
2. and the drowning police car symbolizes the hundreds of black Americans who didn’t receive help during the hurricane
3. Bey shows love to Texas by telling us about the hot sauce in her purse.
4. The song/video premiered on what would have been Trayvon Martin’s birthday.
5. Just as she repped for Single Ladies, Beyoncé is calling for black women to get in formation.
6. She showed her pride of black noses, like Jay Z’s and the King of Pop himself.
7. She is telling black youth that they could be the next black billionaire.
8. She revels in her Creole heritage.
9. The “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” has become a symbol in the Black Lives Matter movement since the death of unarmed teen Michael Brown.
10. She praises baby hair and afros (which are black hairdos!)…
11. on her own baby heir, Blue Ivy.
12. And all the dancers in the video are black women wearing their natural hair styles.
13. Her performance at the Super Bowl honored the 50th anniversary of the Black Panther Party.
14. …and King of Pop, Michael Jackson, who was always proud of his blackness.
15. The black child in front of the police shows black youth deserve the chance to be seen as youths
16. By featuring Messy Mya and Big Freedia, she not only references the South, but includes the black genderqueer community too
17. The “Stop Shooting Us” addresses the very real issue of police brutality, but that doesn’t mean it is anti-police
