BY TARAH JOHNSON
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This year’s Black History Month has completely opened up the stage for African-American artists, with big stars like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar producing more and more works of black excellence. Both of these prestigious artists have made their marks on not only black America but the rest as the nation as well, preaching their messages of togetherness and harmony in the black community with no mercy.
With Beyoncé performing her new powerful single Formation and Kendrick taking the Grammys stage to perform several hits off of his award winning album To Pimp A Butterfly, both artists delivered powerful political messages regarding the highly controversial Black Lives Matter movement and the overall conflicts with black people and police, which has taken America by storm.
One day before the nation came together to watch Super Bowl 50, Beyoncé decided to unleash a new song and music video that upends traditional representations of black people. In celebration of Black History Month, Beyoncé doesn’t hold back in her new, high quality and visually striking video that has sparked controversy across the nation.
With just some of the scenes depicting scenes of devastating loss due to Hurricane Katrina, along with the powerful footage of a young African-American boy dancing in front of a line of armed policemen, Beyoncé’s “Formation” video doesn’t fail to break all barriers. Both the video and song scream black power, and challenge the common stereotypes surrounding African-Americans.
In a time where oppression appears to be steadily crawling its way back to our nation (did it ever really leave?), there is not a moment more perfect for Beyoncé to restore forgotten historical contexts and unhinge political messages.
Well renowned artist Kendrick Lamar faced backlash against his award-winning 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly, which is the epitome of black power and contains fiery lyrics that challenge the stereotypes that African-Americans are commonly placed it.
It came as a surprise to some that he was asked to grace the normally generic Grammy stage with this controversial album, and he certainly did not disappoint.
With a visually striking performance that entailed of a bonfire that blazed as black men who originally entered the stage as mock-inmates tore out of their holdings and transformed into energetic beings, Kendrick left all of those watching in awe as he delivered arguably one of the most powerful performances to take place at the Grammys ever. Not only was it the lyrics of his songs that entranced all viewers, it was the passion in which he delivered it in, emanating fiery rage directed towards those in white America who are the perpetrators of black oppression.
“Formation” is all about embracing black beauty, and Beyoncé should be credited for taking such a huge risk on this song. Although she most likely had an idea that a wave of protests would follow her new song, she proceeded confidently anyways, perfectly symbolizing the entire meaning behind the track: fearlessness and the power of African-Americans.
Kendrick’s stellar Grammys performance represents the struggle of all struggles, with him not only linking his own personal life being brought up in the streets of Compton to his songs, but also making it relatable for other certain members of the black America also struggling with their daily lives.
While both artists obviously made these masterpieces of songs for the enjoyment of listening, it’s actually much more, with Beyoncé rewriting America’s traditional understanding often black community, and Kendrick doing the same, also making it known where he came from and how your background doesn’t always have to bring you down, but rather make you proud of where you end up.
Both Beyoncé and Kendrick are forces to be reckoned with, and take on controversial topics like the Black Lives Matter movement and the conflicts surrounding black Americans and police brutality.
Even though some are reluctant to admit it, “Formation” and To Pimp A Butterfly stand for something bigger than ourselves, and hopefully both of these artists continue to start conversation about what needs to change regarding black oppression in the future.
