Let me preface this by saying that "Lemonade" is phenomenal. The artistry behind the visual and lyrical aspects of the album are unreal. It’s also important to recognize that, while Beyoncé drags Jay, it’s a larger statement about how black women are treated in today’s society. All we’ve heard since the album dropped is, “Oh my god, I can’t believe Jay cheated on Beyoncé!” Everyone seems to be ignoring the fact that the album is so unapologetically black, which is a great thing.
The album seems to be named after a Hattie White quote that comes at the end of the song “Freedom.” Hattie White is not only Jay-Z’s grandmother, but was a part of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. In the song, she is quoted saying, “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.”
Beyoncé’s monologues that are placed throughout the album are written by Warsan Shire, a black poet who is even credited with the film adaptation of the album.
As the song “Forward” featuring James Blake plays, the mothers of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner are shown holding up pictures of their sons.
In the song “Don’t Hurt Yourself,” Bey plays part of a speech that Malcolm X gave. He says, “The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman.” How can this album simply be about Beyoncé calling Jay-Z out when, throughout the entire album, there are very significant references that make it clear to the listener that it’s part of a larger statement?
Since "Lemonade" came out, there’s been a lot of controversy surrounding “Becky with the good hair.” Originally, people thought it was Rachel Roy, a New York-based fashion designer. Then, when she denied there being any truth to the rumors, people began to think it was Rita Ora. Ora posted a picture of herself in a top with lemons on it and a necklace with a J around her neck. Is this a blatant attack on the queen Bey, or is Rita Ora simply showing love for the new masterpiece? She says the rumors aren’t true and that she has nothing but love for Beyoncé, but the BeyHive can’t help but speculate, I guess.
“Becky with the good hair” could be literally anyone. More than likely, though, it’s a metaphor. Becky is a traditionally white name and white people are associated with having "good hair."
As Boston University student and BeyHive member Pamela Muñoz says:
“It's referring to the fact that it's common for black men in society to view white women as the ideal woman. In a way, they look down on black women for things they can't control like how they look, or thinking that they all behave a certain way when they don't.”
