Beyonce Does More than Entertain
Many of you likely watched the Superbowl last night and saw a phenomeal performance during half time by Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and Beyonce. If you didn't catch it, you can find the performance recorded on Youtube.
The day before the Superbowl, Beyonce released the music video to her new single Formation. What I love about this song and video is that it is not here simply to entertain---it comes with a message. The message has to do with black culture, specefically Southern black culture. The video tips its hat to New Orleans and its rich heritage of food and style. The video speaks of the horrific Huricane Katrina and it provides commentary on police brutatlity.
Rolling Stone said, "Through its affirmation of the culture, resistance and resilience of black southerners, and the slaying of black women and black queer men in particular, Beyoncé's "Formation" asks us to remember the dire circumstances of racial violence – Jim Crow, Hurricane Katrina and police brutality among them – that have shaped black life in America. She centers the voices and visuals of black women and queer black people so that they can give and get in-formation and bring the roots of current black justice movements into view. In so doing, "Formation" makes unprecedented use of a pop platform to recognize some of our nation's most marginalized groups and tell an important story about the black South and black America."
Beyonce speaks to the black South, and black America, and provides a beautiful look at the celebrations and struggles of the culture.
image source :http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/beyonces-black-southern-formation-20160208