Black Is King: A Homage to the Original Beauty of Blackness
This weekend, Beyoncé released the highly-anticipated visual ‘Black Is King’ exclusively on Disney+ featuring music videos, dialogue from the “Lion King” and spoken word. The Beyoncé-directed feature includes star-studded appearances from Blue Ivy, Rumi Carter, Tina Knowles, Jay-Z, and many more.
‘Black Is King’ is a party for the eyes.
With a reported budget of $100 million, the cast dazzles viewers with displays of nature’s everlasting beauty and the ever-enticing displays of wealth. The film was reportedly shot in the United States, United Kingdom, and portions of South and West Africa.
‘Black is King,’ allows us to view the journey of a young king that doesn’t yet know his purpose, but soon realizes what it means to be a king. As his ancestors guide him to his rightful position in life, the viewers go on a journey of growth, betrayal, life and love.
“Let Black be synonymous with Glory.”
The most clear meaning of the film is to celebrate Blackness and tell that narrative from the mouths of Black people. Even Beyoncé admits that our stories are not often told by us.
The re-telling of the Black journey by those who live it, make powerful messages that must be told to current and future generations to come.
Throughout the film, we are reminded of our power and beauty — something that mainstream media has often stripped us of knowing. From school age, we are often taught that our roots began in slavery, but Beyoncé took us on a different journey.
While giving us wealth during the musical sequence of “Mood 4 Eva,” we are shown generational wealth for a Black family. From high-tea in a garden, being served by a white butler, to opulence on display with a high-end TV dinner Beyoncé shares with her husband — we witness Black wealth.
A form of wealth that is not often highlighted by the masses, generational wealth has been a hot button topic recently for many Black people as well as the realization that ownership is key to control. Beyoncé has repeatedly shown us the power of creating and executing your own narrative. There is power in self-realization, self-awareness and self-love — popular themes in “Black Is King.”
One of the standout portions, was the video for “Brown Skin Girl.” Not only were Black women highlighted, but brown skin women of South Asia also made cameos during this sequence. Blue Ivy may be the cherry on top of the cake for this visual. She sang her portion of “Brown Skin Girl’ wearing a beautiful debutante-styled ball gown while draped in pearls.
I personally envisioned the beauty of every little Black girl while watching a very beautiful Blue. Powerful imagery that brought a tear to my eye.
No surprise at Beyoncé’s beauty from start to finish.
Her looks were curated by her longtime stylist Zerina Akers. She donned beautiful outfits for ever single sequence of the film. From her beautiful white gown in the beginning of the film that was designed by Wendy Nichol, to the black and white stripe one-piece ensemble designed by Loza Maléombho, the looks were fierce.
Throughout the film, eyewear as well as headwear were often emphasized. My personal favorites were all the different hairstyles led by braided designs. Paying homage to the origins of braided hairstyles, Beyoncé wore floor lengthen box braids as well as braided crowns.
Talk about Black girl aesthetic through and through.
The jewelry was exaggerated like much of what we were taught about ancient African royalty.
Wendy Nichol
Loza Maléombho
“We were beauty before they knew what beauty was.”
‘Black Is King’ touched on many African spiritual themes as well. The film was a 90-minute visual love story of African and Black culture.
We started as royalty.
We are still royalty.
And to truly tap into your regal-ism, is to know your purpose in life.
The quote “We were beauty before they knew what beauty was” resonates deeply.
The erasure of what it is to be Black has been active for centuries and although many of us have become more verse in our origins, there is still work to be done. With true knowledge of self comes change, and we watched the king go through that very journey.
Beyoncé also held no punches when displaying the Godly-ness of the Black woman. Centering herself as the “Tree of Life,” further bringing home the fact that it all started with the Black woman.
Whew! BLACK WOMEN!
The overall themes, imagery and music left viewers with a sense of pride, glory, joy and power. The finale was a performance of the song “SPIRIT,” which took place in a desert setting. The dance sequence displayed the dancers in an array of beautiful colors.
Pure art at it’s finest.
Upon conclusion of the film, Beyoncé gave us a short home film of her holding her son, Sir Carter.
The text at the bottom of the video read as follows:
Dedicated to my son, Sir Carter. And to all our sons and daughters. The sun and the moon bow for you. You are the keys to the kingdom.
