By Upasna Barath
Saturday Night Live’s hilarious skit entitled “The Day Beyoncé Turned Black” was more than a humorous take on the reactions towards Beyoncé’s Super Bowl performance. In fact, it was a turning point in Beyoncé’s career not as a female artist, but as a black female artist. It was the first, truly notable time when the successful musician used her Queen B influence to make a statement that reached millions. Despite the controversy her performance sparked amongst Super Bowl viewers and even amongst her listeners, her bold statement was only the beginning. With the release of the Formation World Tour, the ‘Formation’ music video and finally, the release of Lemonade, Beyoncé is using her power to spread Black Power.
If you are unfamiliar with Beyoncé’s Super Bowl performance, here’s a run down: She performed her song ‘Formation’ alongside her dancers who were all black women dressed up in Black Panther uniforms. The Black Panther Party was an organization in California that challenged police brutality and is often mistaken as “violent”; however, the purpose of the organization was to breed self-defense for minority communities. They drew attention all across the United States for their increasing membership and their gutsy mission. So, Beyoncé’s performance was obviously seen as a statement when she sang ‘Formation’ alongside these dancers. Not only were the costumes a symbol of political and social expression, but the lyrics to the song as well:
“My daddy Alabama, Momma Louisiana/You mix that negro with that Creole make a Texas ‘Bama/I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros/I like my negro nose with Jackson Five nostrils.” Strategically placed at the beginning of the song and repeated throughout, ‘Formation’ is obviously a Black Power Anthem. This one song carries such a strong message, so it’s only fitting the rest of the album carries a similar message so what about the album it’s on?
Despite the many lyrics that hint at infidelity and disrespect from her husband Jay-Z’s side, Lemonade isn’t just about the struggles she faces in her very own marriage. Seen especially in the hour long movie, this album is the celebration of being black. The film premiered on HBO but is also available on the streaming service Tidal and comes with the album when it is purchased on iTunes. In the Lemonade film, the makeup and costumes are used to accentuate her black features while also incorporating an all-black female cast. Her song ‘Don’t Hurt Yourself’ may be viewed as an angry — but beautiful — clump of words and melody spewed at her husband and all the cheating men out there, but the Malcolm X reference in the film that is placed in between verses of the song adds dimension to the message she is trying to make. Malcolm X’s words are played over imagery of multiple black women:
“The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman, the most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” It is clear that the source of her anger isn’t just her unfaithful husband.
If this was an album about Jay-Z, the song ‘Freedom’ featuring Kendrick Lamar — a rapper whose lyrics openly express anguish towards racism in addition to total black pride — would have no place on Lemonade. Although vague, the strength of the chorus and the powerful lyrical imagery illustrates the passion both artists have for the issue at hand. The ending of the song features the voice of Hattie White, Jay-Z’s grandmother, speaking words from a speech given at her 90th birthday party. She says, “I had my ups and downs, but I always find the inner strength to pull myself up. I was served lemons, but I made lemonade.” That is what this album is about. No matter what the struggles are as a black woman — be it the systematic and internalized racism you may face or the infidelity of your husband — you can find inner strength and build pride. This metaphor is the foundation of the album and of Beyoncé’s success. Using her influence as a female artist who many look up to, Beyoncé has sewn the words that have been chanted, shouted and cried for many years into Lemonade, and people are listening.
