“Who needs a degree when your schoolin’ life?”- Beyoncé (Song-“Schoolin’ Life)
For us collegiate women, a degree is something that we are all striving hard for. However, Beyoncé Knowles Carter, has proven that you can truly be a successful well-rounded mogul without attending college.
I have been a faithful member of the Bey-Hive[1] since I was a young girl. Beyonce’s music, talent, and contributions to pop culture is why I love her so much. As a black woman, it’s not only who she is, it’s what she represents.
If you are out of the pop culture loop or want to know what’s behind the hype, I will explain.
Here are some reasons why Beyonce completely slays life.
Remarkable Talent
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 2 decades, you have probably listened to a Beyonce song. Her strong vocals, dance-worthy beats, and relatable lyrics are just a few of the reasons why Knowles has won 22 grammys. She has had over 62 grammy nominations, the most nominations for any female artist in history. The accolades are not her only amazing quality. Her performances are on an ethereal, almost extraterrestrial level. She gives the whole package: singing, choreography, special effects, and energy. The old saying is to “see Paris and die.” (Meaning that Paris should be on your bucketlist) However, I say see a Beyonce concert…You won’t regret it.
Renaissance Woman
Beyonce is a triple threat. She can sing, dance, and act, all while wearing heels. This all stems from her perfectionist attitude. It has been noted that after every performance, she watches the video of the show and critiques herself for improvements. She doesn’t just do this for ten minutes. She does this for hours making sure that every show is quintessential.
She wears many hats but one of her most cherished duties is that of a mother and wife. Her husband successful rapper Jay-Z and her daughter Blue are the loves of her life. Talk about #Goals. She is expanding her family with a set of twins. Her pregnancy announcement broke the record for most liked picture on Instagram with over 8 million likes. Let’s face it, when you are Beyonce you can’t just give birth to one baby, you have to kill the game with 2.
Black Girl Magic
As a black woman, seeing Beyonce on stage and killing everything that she does was inspiring to me. The sense of representation as a young child was important for self-esteem. She has definitely paved the way for black women to excel in the entertainment industry.
Her most recent album “Lemonade” also spoke on social justice. The narrative of “Lemonade” was dealing with issues of racial discrimination and tension. With the racial climate of today, she embodied hope for a brighter future.
World’s Favorite Feminist
Beyonce’s hit song “Flawless” changed the perception of the word “feminist”. She featured Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie to vocalize and define the term in her song. “Feminist-the person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.” -Adichie
Beyonce has personally been vocal about empowering women to be strong, independent, and fierce. She channels that in her songs, and lifestyle. She wants women to know that they can truly “Run the World.”
“We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.”—Beyoncé
Essentially, Beyonce’s mark on the world has been beautiful. She encourages others to make their own marks.
As the lyrics of her song “I Was Here” say:
I want to leave my footprints on the sand of time Know there was something that, something that I left behind When I leave this world, I’ll leave no regrets Leave something to remember, so they won’t forget
I was here, I lived, I loved, I was here I did, I’ve done, everything that I wanted And it was more than I thought it would be I will leave my mark, soul, everyone will know, I was here