In a world where hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter or #QueerLivesMatter constantly fill our Twitter and Facebook feeds, there is no doubt that the media plays an instrumental role in the perpetuation or dismantling of harmful stereotypes that plague our communities. It is through this platform that millennials, or anyone really, can have their voices heard and create necessary dialogue. This is especially true of well-known music artists, who use their power to encourage their audience to either evoke change or do nothing at all. And this especially holds true for none other than the Queen B herself, Beyoncé.
Recently breaking the internet with her newly released “Formation” video, Beyoncé quite literally took the world by storm with her clear political agenda. Images in the video included Beyoncé standing on a police car almost submerged in water, graffiti reading the words “Stop Shooting Us” and a young black boy dressed in a dark hoodie holding his hands up in front of armed police officers. With such powerful imagery, one would think that Beyoncé would be applauded for her attempt to bring injustices against the black community to focus.
Many people, however, did not share this sentiment. After the video’s release and her equally as controversial Super Bowl halftime performance, which featured back up dancers wearing clothing reminiscent of Black Panther Party members, Beyoncé continues to be criticized. I saw countless articles surface the internet that demanded the video be boycotted from all television stations. They argued that the video encouraged rebellion against the police and even went on to label it as racist. There were also instances of individuals blaming Beyoncé of not being genuine in her promotion of the #BlackLivesMatter movement and rather that she is simply riding on the coattails of this current trend.
After taking all this in for the last three days, I must say that I stand by Beyoncé. Of course I don’t know where her true intentions lay in any of this, but I definitely will say that I commend her attempt to at least try and bring these issues to the forefront and get people talking about them.
There are some individuals who are knowledgeable of the issues that trouble our community, but there is also an alarming amount who have no insight into these matters and need people like Beyoncé to help bring them into this conversation. An artist, or anyone in a position of power, has a responsibility to spread awareness through their celebrity and inspire positive change. We have to start somewhere. Why not through pop culture?
Ashanti Wallace, a Viewpoints Editor for the Voice, can be reached for comment at awallace16@wooster.edu