(Photo Courtesy Of Google Images)
I’m back like a baby daddy during tax season. A lot has happened since the last time we spoke. Too much to cover, but the ongoing theme is, ‘Corny Rappers Will Corny Rap.’ But we’re not going to focus on them numb-nuts. We are going to focus on one year. Yes, it’s been one year since we were told to get in formation. A year ago, megastar Beyoncé, stood on a New Orleans Police car with her Black power fist and told us “I just might be a Black Bill Gates in the making.” We were in awe as a little boy danced in front of the police, while they had their hands up. This video and song is everything and more. To the typical ‘Pop fan,’ they won’t get it. But to Black people, Black women in particular, this is what we needed to hear.
In a world, where the Kim K’s and Kylie Jenner’s are forced down our throats as the epitome of beauty. To hear a woman say, excuse me, a Black woman say “I like my baby hair with baby hairs and afros. I like my negro nose with Jackson 5 nostrils.” It’s rejuvenating. Why should I go get my nose tweaked? I like my bell pepper nose. Why should I put chemicals in my child’s hair? My baby is beautiful as she is. This is James Brown‘s “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” with a 2016 spin. I mean she shot the video in New Orleans, one of America’s Blackest cities. Then proceeded to remind folks how New Orleans natives were treated after Hurricane Katrina. All this while asking the police to ‘Stop Shooting Us,’ as a little hooded boy danced until the police put their hands up. Black Lives Matter? Of course, and that’s just the surface of what happens in that four minutes.
The best part of “Formation” is the day after its premier, Beyoncé performed it at the Super Bowl. Alt-right America had multiple heart attacks that day. How dare that Black woman and her Black dancers show up as Black Panthers? Especially on the anniversary of the formation of the Black Panther Party and sing this Black ass song. HA!
So after a whole year, “Formation” helped usher in Lemonade. A movie/album about not only a relationship but the trials and tribulations of the American Black Woman (don’t worry I’ll discuss it on Lemonade’s anniversary). I probably said this before but I’ll say it again. At this point, if you don’t at least give Beyoncé her props, you’re probably a faux intellect who saw one documentary on the Black Hebrews and now you think you know everything. “Formation” is by far one of the best songs and videos to be released over the past decade. And if you’re in need of some motivation, remember to “Slay trick or you get eliminated.” –Pooh Bailey
