The pounding drums projecting out of my barely charged phone invites my ears and heart to the black excellence that awaits me. Ever since I was a child, Beyoncé’s unearthly talent has captivated my entire being. She fully embodied the definition of flawless to me. From “Crazy in Love” to “Halo,” her range and dedication never ceased to amaze me. As I aged, my love for Beyoncé never wavered, but the initial wow-factor steadily lessened into a sufficient appreciation.
Then, she gave this non-deserving world the stunning, ethereal, cinematic, musical experience of “Lemonade.” Beyoncé drew inspiration from Julie Dash’s black indie classic “Daughters of the Dust” to display the beauty and solidarity in black womanhood. Lemonade had such a gentle yet fierce approach to exhibiting the black meaning of sisterhood: the unbreakable, generational bond amongst black women and girls that carries us through the good, bad and genuinely vile parts of life.
Earlier that year, Beyoncé put up an iconic performance at the Superbowl in support of Black Lives Matter with a fleet of dancers in Black Panther-esque costumes. One could argue that her more recent endeavors in using her platform to challenge existing oppressive structures are elaborate marketing ploys, quite a plausible reasoning especially in this age of fashionable protest. I, however, solemnly believe that Mrs. Knowles-Carter sincerely cares about and loves our people.
Fast forward to my nearly dead phone lying against the counter with two eyes plastered to every one of Beyoncé’s movements in “Homecoming,” documentary produced by her. Beyoncé took her opportunity as the first black woman to headline Coachella to present herself as undoubtedly, unapologetically and fervently black with a side of black and a sprinkle of super black for garnish. Her entire performance gave such a sentimental, lively to one of the most important epicenters of black culture — Historically Black College Universities. With the help of a beyond gargantuan marching band, Beyoncé and friends transformed Coachella into a real HBCU “Homecoming.” She included everything from the Black national Anthem (yes, this is a real song) to a remix of the ultimate cookout song, Frankie Beverly’s “Before I Let Go.” This documentary/performance overwhelmed with F.U.B.U (For us, By us) perfection, especially with her strategic filming of only black people. In my humble yet strong opinion, I feel as though the Queen is emerging into her next level of eminence by establishing herself as black and beautiful with no chaser, and the culture is here for it!