Beyoncé is one of the most popular performers in the world and the United States of America. Alongside being an international music icon, she assumed an activism role after countless events of discrimination against the African American community relating to rasicm, specifically police brutality. In response to these events, she created the song and music video “Formation” to send an empowering message to the black community and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The award winning music video that accompanied the song was released purposely the day after the birthday of the tragically deceased teenager, Trayvon Martin, who was murdered after purchasing a bag of skittles that a night guard saw as a weapon. However, the message that Beyoncé was delivering with “Formation” was more than that. Most obviously depicted in the video, she symbolizes black power and black pride.
With all the meanings behind Beyoncé’s song, there was only one mastermind who would be able to do “Formation” justice: Melina Matsoukas. The video is rich in visuals and rhythms that lets the audience know exactly what this song is about. The first time we see Beyoncé is when she is sitting on top of a flooded cop car with the word “Police” slightly submerged underwater tackles black power and police brutality. Just a few seconds later, that inscription had been completely submerged, and the last time we see that visual, the whole car is submerged (only leaving a little bit for her to be able to stand on). This symbolizes the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality, where she is urging the African American community to stand up against the police, because the power lies with the people.
The next stunning visual is the dance number inside the Louisiana household. Beyoncé and her dancers are wearing red costumes with jewelry. In African culture, red is used to symbolize blood - blood shed by Africans who died in their fight for freedom, and the shared blood of the African people - which is evident in their flags. In the corner of the frame, you are able to see a painting of an African family, indicating that this is a black household. Dancing in a black household wearing red and jewels is meant to symbolize black pride, the singer is telling the African-American community to be proud of their heritage and remember where they came from. Africa is a continent rooted with fascinating culture, and Beyoncé is trying to tell her African-American viewers that it is an honor to be a descendant of such a culturally powered continent.
Probably my favorite part of this music video is whenever I see Blue Ivy (Beyoncé’s daughter) dancing along to the song. Beyoncé sings “I like my baby heir with baby hair and afros”. With a double entendre, the singer plays with the stereotypes of African-Americans are faced with, bringing up her daughter (the “baby heir”, Blue Ivy). Prior to the release of this song and video, there were many internet posts targeting the unkemptness of Blue Ivy’s hair, petitioning that the Carter family comb her hair out. With this lyric, Beyoncé is referring to the natural hair that African American girls and women have - baby hair (small wispy hairs close to the hairline) and afros. Most black women change their hair, either chemically or by wearing wigs and weaves, in an attempt to fit in better with the Western world, or because their workplaces and schools do not accept their natural hair being shown. Having an international pop star say “natural hair is great” is especially empowering for young black girls, since they do not have the exposure to chemical hair treatments at that age.
Beyoncé’s “Formation” video has many more symbols than the ones described here. However, we can narrow down that the inspiration and theme of this song and music video was made to empower the black community in the United States of America.
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