Beyonce, finalmente.

I find sweet vindication in a superstar such as she, taking her platform as an icon, and forcing us as an audience, to acknowledge racism in this country. The events that have taken place over the past few years, shootings of young black men at the hands of armed and supposedly trained police force, is a sobering reflection of the United States.

The 'Land of the free and home of the brave' that we’ve all been taught to believe in is coming to a shattering halt, and the smoke and mirrors of the US reputation are beginning to clear. Even though we may be aware of these stories in the socio-political realm, pop-culture has yet to really, really, participate in the dialogue  – until Yoncé.

Black Panthers were a direct response towards institutionalized racism of the police force against the black community, and Beyonce’s took their iconography and mashed it with her own. She has laced their imagery, and that of the recent police shootings and portrayal of black culture in the US, into her image now. Now, when we discuss Mario Woods or Treyvon Martin, you will be reminded of Beyonce. That is powerful and THAT is what happened with the Formation vid. Keep it in the convo, y’all.

I am thankful that Beyonce took the opportunity to spark a revolution, and i RESPECT AND LOVE the fact that she used every part of her star-power to do so: as a sexy, talented, Southern black woman. SLAY.

s/o Big Freedia

Best,

MellyG