Since her Super Bowl performance last Sunday, Beyoncé has been causing a commotion (just as predicted within the lyrics of "Formation"). While Beyoncé herself was paying tribute to Michael Jackson with her costume choice, her backup dancers were dressed to reflect the Black Panthers, an activist group of the '60s who advocated for self-defense against police brutality. This coupled with scenes from her pre-released "Formation" video, including a young boy dancing in front of cops, panning out to see "stop shooting us" spray-painted on the walls, Beyoncé was sure to make waves this week.
And waves she made. Criticism has mounted, with many naming Beyoncé a racist. Yet, while Beyoncé was making a statement advocating for the Black Lives Matter campaign, I don't think she was in any way advocating racism. Beyoncé wasn't performing an anthem to rid the world of whites or even of cops, but instead she was making a statement highlighting our need for a revolution in our justice system. While the Black Panthers were indeed in favor of a more hands-on, "violent" approach, never once were they about white genocide or deeming Caucasians as less than by making us their slaves/servants. Instead, they fought for freedom when the justice system stopped fighting for them. They fought to protect one another because no one else would.
Additionally, the Black Panthers didn't advocate for only African-Americans, but instead every oppressed minority of the time.The Black Panthers have been painted in such a negative light this week, that we've forgotten about their free breakfast program for at-risk children within the Oakland community, and other volunteer efforts they provided to communities. While the Black Panthers defended themselves with "guerrilla war," they did not set out to lynch innocent men or rape unsuspecting women. There is no comparison to be made between the KKK and the Black Panthers because to do so would be to name the Black Panthers as something they never were and to excuse the depravity of what members of the KKK did.
However, the criticism mounting against Beyoncé has not only been of a racist nature, but of a sexist one too. Many of those attacking Beyoncé have focused on her gender, her marriage, and even her body type. Seconds after I first posted to Facebook with a link to Beyoncé's new video and a short status in support, someone commented, "she's a fat, racist b***h." After deleting the comment, I thought about it and realized that had Beyoncé been a male performing a song along the same lines or producing the same video as "Formation," gone would be comments on weight and body type, as well as derogatory language against the musical artist, and instead, society would be largely in support of the music, perhaps calling it "revolutionary" or "the greatest track to drop this year." And no one would have brought his wife into it, blaming him for any of her past mistakes. In all reality, "Formation" is just as much an anthem for women's rights as it is for the rights of African-Americans. With lyrics of how she made it to where she is today on her own, how she might be the new Bill Gates, and how we all slay resonates just as much with feminists.
The criticism against Beyoncé largely centers around one thing: those against her beliefs and the Black Lives Matter movement would rather leave the world be. They don't want to hear of change or enact a solution to the issue. Instead, they want their voice to be the only voice in the room. This idea that "Black Lives Matter" translates to "Black Lives Matter More" is just a way for privileged whites to remain rooted in racism (looking at you, Tomi Lahren). But, denying Beyoncé her freedom of speech and creative license will only create a greater following and a demand that something's gotta give.
A few days after Beyoncé's performance, just as tensions were running high, immaBEAST dance company released a choreographed performance to "Formation" that has the internet in awe. Multi-racial dancers work their moves in front of the camera while letters lining the back wall read, "Unity in Diversity." Make no mistake, this move by Will "WilldaBeast" Adams and Tim Milgram was deliberate in proving that Beyoncé is still supported far and wide by a multitude of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
Y'all haters corny.
