The recent tension in America, due to unwarranted and unaccounted police brutality on Black-Americans, is no secret. This long lived issue can be traced back further than the 1955 murder of Emmett Till to the murder of Trayvon Martin in 2012 and also the death of Freddie Gray in 2015. It is stories like these that have added significance to the modern day struggle of civil rights for the black community, and novelty to what it means to be a Black-American.
So at some point, being the underdog begins to transform from less of a circumstance and more into an identifier. Black-Americans are starting to understand that being apart of the black community is actually one of the things that makes them special, and it has been exemplified through the work of artists like Beyonce’ who have chosen to celebrate and be proud of all things Black. To this the black community could not be prouder, because we understand that pride in black history does not mean you are anti-white.
So how did Beyonce’ make us so proud? Here are my Top Three Blackest Moments of Beyonce’s Formation video:
“I like my baby hair with baby hair and afros”
The black girl natural hair movement was borderline founded Queen Bey and her sister Solange, as they were a few of the first celebrities to bring back box-braids and the natural look. Of course this line could not go un-noticed, because black women all over the world are beginning to love their natural coils once-again. Beyonce further empowered black women to stick strong with their afros, while taking a nice jab at those who commentated on why she, herself, chose to keep her daughter’s hair wild and unruly.
Church
The formation video has a lot of church reference. Everyone knows the church and “The Word” play a powerful role in the black community. The Pastor is a key staple and opinion leader amongst Black-Americans and Sunday is the day for gathering with family members, home cooked dinners and learning about God.
Black Lives Matter
The Black Lives Matter imagery is used all through the Formation video. From the little boy dancing in front of the police, to the writing on the wall stating “Stop Shooting Us”, and the police camera-like shooting style incorporated throughout the video’s production. Beyonce’ elegantly pointed out key ideals that follow one as a Black-American being the possibility that police could murder your young son, the constant cry that we are tired of the senseless murders and the lack of video footage to justify the actions of Policemen in the murders of young Black men.
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