From the sheer power of "Halo" to the giddy joy of "Love on Top" to the raw sex appeal of "Partition," Beyoncé has been “slaying” the game since she got her start in Destiny’s Child. In recent days, however, Queen Bey has been using her status to do more than entertain: she has become one of the most controversial icons of inter-sectional feminism in our modern times.

It all began with her Superbowl performance of her song “Formation.” Her exclusively African American crew of dancers (dressed in garb that some considered to be similar to what the Black Panthers used to wear) received criticism for being an example of “reverse racism.” The racial undertones in the song (as well as the accompanying music video) were also criticized for being anti-police as well as anti-white in general. “Formation” is an anthem of African American pride that re-appropriates racial stereotypes and turns them into something that Beyoncé is proud to be a part of. The music video (once again containing an exclusively African American cast) has a subtle yet powerful message: police brutality is racially biased and needs to be stopped in our society.

So why all the controversy? Those who aren’t fans of Beyoncé’s messages would say that she is merely perpetuating racial tensions by being, for a lack of a better term, “anti-white.” However, I disagree: I believe that Beyoncé’s form of activism is paving the way for positive social change. Beyoncé is being criticized not because her message is controversial, but because she embodies everything that our society attempts to quash down: a strong, hard-working, socially conscious woman of color who loves herself. By not only advocating for her race but being proud of it, Beyoncé sets herself apart from the societal expectation that a woman of color should not love herself and therefore sets an example of confidence and self-love for her fans.

“But racism is over! It’s 2016! There’s no need for Beyoncé to create such controversial music!” If this is what you think, then you are sorely mistaken. Racism has not vanished from society -- from the obvious inequalities in our police system to the wage gap to the existence of debilitating stereotypes, the disease of racism has infected our entire culture. Therefore, through using her status as a renowned and adored celebrity to evoke social consciousness within her fans, Beyoncé is sowing the seeds to begin a new generation of activists. We need more women like her -- women strong and unafraid to love and take pride in the aspects of themselves that society so often tries to condemn. As she says in "Formation," “You know you that b*tch when you cause all this conversation.” We need to follow the example Queen Bey has set for us and cause a little conversation ourselves.