"My daddy Alabama, momma Louisiana.": Beyonce

I am going to be honest; I was not going to pick Beyoncé to be my first post. When I saw the photo of the long braids, the sky blue El Camino, and her hands spread out like she was on the cross, I thought, “Oh Lord. What is she doing now?” To be even more honest, I could not deal with watching one more Black celebrity who has the ability to reach millions, such as Beyoncé, sing, rap, and dance about nothing. It was cool that she acknowledged that Feminism was a word and that she connected to it in her last album, but I wondered if she realized that "Feminism" does not include us as Black women.

What about when you put Black and woman together? What about acknowledging that Black women and Black non-heterosexual folks are at the forefront of these battles against injustice? What about the major problems affecting cities that you grew up in prior to your fame?

I am tired of the lack of complexity in most of the work created by Black celebrities.

Then… all of a sudden I was hit with all of the beautiful imagery of New Orleans, the gorgeous skin colors of Black women, Afros, heard Big Freedia, sinking of New Orleans Police cars, saw carefree young Black girls, only Black people, the “More than a Dreamer “ piece of Martin Luther King, and "stop shooting us on the walls" and could not help my heart. There was so much to be thankful for in those beautiful 5 minutes of my life. I would be wrong to say that the imagery and the words did not feed my soul last Saturday morning.

Do you know how amazing it is to see you and nothing but you on screen? I am not from New Orleans (even though I have roots in Baton Rouge, LA by way of my grandmother), but one thing I did take away was that it is necessary to keep culture alive in spite of people trying to erase and neglect it. Together, her video and song says a lot about how the government neglects Black people in times of crisis. For example as shown during Hurricane Katrina, currently in Flint, Michigan, and in the hood, the government neglects areas where Black people are the majority. Yet and still New Orleans rises, the people of Flint, Michigan rises, and the people of the hood rises. She even slapped anyone in the face who believes that euro-centric features are the best through her use of the different shades of Black women, her use of the young Black girls that included Blue Ivy, and showcased the versatility of Black people’s hair.

I almost cried. I’m still on a high.

I just hope she continues to say something in her own way and creatively. I hopes she contiues to speak with the people and not for the people. That is what Black music is about.

Watch her amazing video at Beyonce.com

Some Lines that made “Formation” powerful to me:

What happened at the New Orleans? / Bitch I’m back on popular demand-Messy Mya

My daddy Alabama/momma Louisiana/ you mix that Negro with that Creole makes a Texas bamaaaa/ I like my baby hair with baby hair and afros/ I like my Negro nose with Jackson five nostrils. -Beyoncé

I did not come to play with you hoes/ I came to slay bitch/ I like cornbread and collard greens bitch, oh yes you best tuh’ believe it –Big Freedia