Let's start with Bey's Black Panther-esque Super Bowl performance. I know we are in a time of racism and fighting for Human Rights, but I felt that was a bit offensive, considering the millions of white fans who have always supported Beyonce. I am not turning this into a race thing, because the violence in our country against innocent black people has been ridiculously high- but ALL lives matter, not just white lives or black lives. Every single person's life in this world matters. Bey's performance belittled her non-black fans and she has no reason to make her supporters feel that way. I want to listen to her music and feel empowered, not belittled. Obviously this issue blew over because America and Football and what's more important than that in February? (My birthday but whatever).
We know Beyoncé to be a huge feminist in our society today. Her whole Flawless album had so many positive messages about standing up for yourself and not taking shit from any man (and by man I mean boy). The #IWokeUpLikeThis movement is great and it gives me even more of a reason to not wear makeup, and it also gives us another reason to post selfies, as if us girls needed any more. Now, I am speaking from what I have heard and read on the Internet, because I don't have Tidal or Spotify accounts to listen to her newly released album, Lemonade (it couldn't have been released on Apple Music?? *eye roll* ). Apparently, the entire album is about Jay-Z cheating on her and her warning him to never do it again. From previous knowledge (see: Irreplaceable lyrics), we know that if anything like this happened, all of Jay-Z's things would be in a "box to the left" and she'd be out of there like yesterday's news. So this leaves us with one of two things: either Lemonade is not about Jay-Z cheating, or 99% of what Bey has taught us about being strong women is BS when situations get tough. Hopefully it's the former, but we don't know for sure.
Why would that upset me about Beyoncé? Simple. Everyone's relationship is different, and it is ultimately up to you whether you want to stay with someone who cheated on you. Circumstances are different and no one can know what's right except for you. The issue that bothers me is that we've grown up listening to Beyonce sing and speak about not allowing that, and then she goes and takes it from Jay. Hypocritical or situational? That's why I'm hoping all the issues brought up in Lemonade are not necessarily about her and Jay, but anything else. Perhaps her mother and father's marital problems? Issues with her ex-boyfriend? (Read more here).
I can't continue to be utterly obsessed with a woman who has been so controversial lately, and frankly racist. I can't feel the same about an artist who I once loved that thinks less of me because I am white. I don't agree with many of her views lately, which is sad because I always thought I'd love Bey forever. She is still a beautiful woman and she always will be. I'm still going to dance to her songs when they play, but my opinion on her has changed greatly from what it used to be. Oh, and who cares who Becky with good hair is? Move on with your lives please.
With love, always,
NG
P.S. I know some of you will not agree with some of the things I said about race and think that I have some sort of white privilege, but that's not the case. Non-whites can be racist too, and our beloved Bey is walking down that path. If you have any issues, please message me privately and I'd be happy to have a civil conversation or discussion with you. If you're going to attack me, just save your energy and handle your inability to listen to someone else's opinion elsewhere.
