Beyonce dropped a new pro-black video Saturday one day before her scheduled Super Bowl 50 performance. “Formation” is a well thought-out Black History commentary on southern roots and culture. Everything about the video is testimony to black women. It covers a wide range of issues affecting black women and communities including: Colorism (Negro/Creole), nostril width, nappy hair, New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina, Black Lives Matter, Trayvon Martin, and sisterhood. Whatever Bey does meets scrutiny from someone. Even how she styles Blue Ivy’s hair is up for public debate and sparked the line: I like my baby hair with baby hair and Afros. Bey calls them “haters” I agree.
A Tribute To The Legacy Of New Orleans,Hurricane Katrina, And Black Women
New Orleans is showcased in the video. From atop a sinking police car, Bey reminds us that we must never forget the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The lack of government urgency is parallel to current conditions affecting residents of Flint, Michigan. When the car and Bey went under I felt certain that a rebirth was occurring. Remember Zora Neal Hurston’s character Janie, in “Their Eyes Were Watching God?” I’m pretty sure Bey did a reenactment to show that although black women may go under, we always come back stronger.
Formation Acknowledges Black Folks Southern Roots:
Beyonce hits us with her lineage and personal herstory with: “My daddy Alabama, Momma Louisiana, You mix that Negro with that Creole make a Texas bamma.” A couple of things happened here. First, there is the tribute to the south and south west. Bey makes us pay attention with her use of the word “negro.” It makes people who don’t mind saying the n-word uncomfortable. She owned negro, Creole, and “‘Bama,” and words that can have a negative connotation when used against black people were revamped and owned in a display of Black Pride. Brilliant. Did you catch Dr. King on the front of “Final Call?”
No Shame In The Nose Game
When she sang about the “Jackson Five nostrils” I got it immediately. People pop off about Jay-Z’s nose. In fact, our noses may be the one facial feature of black people that have never been appropriated (maybe not) Napoleon seemed to have a problem when he went on his shooting spree. It’s good to hear love for the broadness of black noses, self-love is key! I told you this was a pro-black song, right?
Black Lives Matter And Love For Trayvon Martin
Acknowledgment of Black Lives Matter plays out as a black youth dressed in a hoodie dances in front of police officers–donned in riot gear. Trayvon Martin would have turned 21. on Feb. 5. Jay-Z announced yesterday that his music streaming company Tidal is donating $1.5 million to Black Lives Matter and other civil rights organizations.
(LESFMA) Doesn’t Play Fair At All – Beyonce Remains Unbothered
Law Enforcement Supporters For Media Accountability (LESFMA) posted hate speech on their Facebook page encouraging supporters to boycott Bey’s Super Bowl Performance. The author of the post so outraged that a black woman is raising consciousness, that they had to get down and dirty calling her a self-righteous “B.” The post was removed, but not before I did a quick screen grab.
Beyonce’s Half-Time Performance Included Coldplay and Bruno Mars
While Super Bowl fans across the country chowed down on hot wings, I give thanks for having “hot sauce in the bag–swag” and totally understand why the lyrics are in the song. I’m guessing that Red Lobster will see an increase in diners thanks to the video shout out. The half-time show live performance of “Formation” was fairly good. Although the audio could have been much better. Check out a video of white people taking Bey in. I don’t know if they were impressed or not, as they were silent. I prefer the video over the live performance; it’s more personal. The Super Bowl show is over and I’m still betting that “Formation” will be a conversation starter for activating positive change in black communities. As she says in the song–she might just be a Bill Gates in the making.”Congrats Beyonce, you slayed!
See the Super Bowl performance below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5BPfRHX1SE
Featured Image: CC Ana Y Maria Quitana Flickr Creative Commons
LESMA Image: CC Facebook page
