It’s Time to Get In Formation- Breaking Down Queen Bey’s Political Message
The past 10 or so years have been filled with an ever-changing political and social landscape of America. From Hurricane Katrina to the Black Lives Matter movement. Many have chimed in on the many controversial events in recent American history. Everyone from politicians to high school students have given their input, even celebrities. However, many celebrities have stayed out of the controversy and stayed mum on their thoughts and opinions. One such person is Beyoncé, notoriously silent and apolitical for the most part. She stays out of the limelight and rarely does interviews. This elusiveness is what made her surprise single, which dropped the day before the Super Bowl, all the more reaction worthy. It’s important to note that Beyoncé seems to be continuing her trend of releasing her music without any publicity or announcement. This probably added to the hype that surrounds her new single, “Formation”.
Not only is this single an amazing track filled with thought provoking lyrics, the music video is filled with powerful imagery that takes Beyoncé’s low-key activism and turns it on full blast. Beyoncé brings attention to New Orleans, Black Lives Matter, and addressing some of the darker rumors about her. New Orleans takes the opening stage, with Beyoncé sitting atop a sinking New Orleans police car. A powerful image supported by scenes from New Orleans and the social injustices that fell upon the people of New Orleans post-Katrina. However, New Orleans isn’t the only political statement she tackles. She also intersperses her video with images of Martin Luther King Jr. artwork and a graffiti sign saying “Stop shooting us”. However, most strikingly, there is a scene of a lone black boy dancing in front of a police line in full gear. When the police themselves raise their hands at the boy’s prompt, it sends chills through the viewer.
Not only does she make a political statement, Beyoncé brings the audience to the social climate surround the Black identity and image. All that’s associated with Black beauty, from hair to nose shapes, Beyoncé celebrates and empowers herself and others. She takes the idea of beauty and what is socially accepted in this country, and reclaims her features as being beautiful and perfect the way she (her daughter, and husband) are. She also addresses the preposterous rumors of her and Jay-Z being involved in the Illuminati. She tears down all the jabs people have taken at her and dismisses them. She faces her haters and dares to tackle what is seen as beauty in this country. She breaks down the negative and rebuilds it into a positive message of empowerment.
Beyoncé poignantly blends the past and present struggles of the black community in America. She has scenes with her and other women in corsets, sitting in a parlor straight out of the 1900’s. She ingeniously references the social status of the Black community in a society after slavery was abolished. She points out the fact that the Black community continued to serve white racists in the 1900’s. However, she juxtaposes that imagery with strong black women now wearing the fancy corsets and black men dressed handsomely on a porch. She is cleverly showing the ascent of the Black community and the change in their social status. However, it is not enough. There is still so much to do for the Black community and the Black Lives Matter movement. She calls everyone to arms and asks for solidarity.
Beyoncé has created THE power anthem for the Black Lives Matter campaign, reinvigorating and showing her solidarity with the movement. Beyoncé takes the energy and power from her video and brought it to the Super Bowl this past Sunday. Her backup dancers were dressed in an outfit referencing Black Panther Party’s uniform. Beyoncé wore an outfit reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s famous outfit during his 1993 tour. She did not hold back. While she asserted her own culture and ethnicity, she made Black Power salutes during her performance. Beyoncé’s performance was incredibly polarizing. There is no denying that she made many people uncomfortable and many people ecstatic. Some are saying the Super Bowl is not the place for political grand standing while others feel her performance embodied the very essence of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Another thing to keep in mind, Beyonce’s video caused many to interpret the video as a message for all people of color. This has caused a lot of turmoil in online communities, as many want to generalize Beyonce’s message and direct the message away from Black Lives Matter to All Lives Matter. Many people are trying to generalize a very potent and specific message. The song and video are clearly directed towards the Black Lives Matter movement, and references all the distinctly unique history and experience that the Black community has had (and is still having) in this country.
No matter what, Beyoncé has unapologetically taken control of her own narrative. She stands tall as a black woman and will not apologize or compromise herself for anyone. This is boldly the Black Lives Matter power anthem. In the end, she will always slay.
