On Saturday night, Beyonce became the first African-American woman to headline Coachella, or as it will now be called from here on out, Beychella. Her performance was historic, a defining moment of culture, blackness, music, feminism and more. What Beyonce did at Beychella will be discussed for years. Beyonce’s mom Tina Lawson posted the above Instagram with this message:
I told Beyonce that i was afraid that the predominately white audience at Coachella would be confused by all of the black culture and Black college culture because it was something that they might not get. Her brave response to me made me feel a-bit selfish and ashamed. She said “I have worked very hard to get to the point where i have a true voice and At this point in my life and my career i have a responsibility to do whats best for the world and not what is most popular.” She said that her hope is that after the show young people would research this culture and see how cool it is, and young people black and white would listen to “LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING” and see how amazing the words are for us all and bridge the gap. She also hopes that it will encourage young kids to enroll in our amazing Historically Black Colleges and Universities . I stand corrected
[From Tina Lawson’s Instagram]
By all accounts, the mostly white audience at Beychella felt every minute of her performance. Of course there were people outside of Beychella who weren’t feeling it, and some of them showed up in comment sections here and elsewhere. If you weren’t feeling what Beyonce was delivering, then I don’t know what to say at this point. Beyonce knows what to say though: nothing at all. She lets her music, her performances, her visual albums and her money do the talking. Speaking of, Bey made some big donations to four HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities):
Beyonce paid tribute to historically black colleges during her groundbreaking Coachella performance, and now the singer is donating $100,000 to four black universities.
The superstar singer announced Monday the Homecoming Scholars Award Program for the 2018-2019 academic year through her BeyGOOD initiative. She plans to give $25,000 each to Tuskegee University, Bethune-Cookman University, Xavier University of Louisiana and Wilberforce University. One student from each school will receive the scholarship money.
Beyonce’s Coachella festival set was critically acclaimed, as Beyonce paid tribute to the marching bands, the dance troupes and step teams at historically black colleges.
Last year, the singer launched the Formation Scholars Awards Program, supporting creative and bold young women, in celebration of the one-year anniversary of her “Lemonade” album.
I wish I could create a detailed chart for Beyonce’s gradual and substantial change into the woman she is today. I’ve been her fan since OG Destiny’s Child (“Say My Name”-era), and I remember how she used to be: a somewhat generic pop star with few political/socio-political opinions that she would discuss publicly. I like her better now, even if I don’t understand all of the references she makes. I know that the references are not FOR me, and that’s okay – I can still enjoy her work and recognize her genius.
Photos courtesy of Getty, Instagram.
Beyoncé is gong to stay beyonce by ignoring the noise and doing things like dropping scholarships with no warning.
Makes the ridiculousness of yesterday’s comments look EVEN MORE salty.
Now I’m going to peace out because I’m sure the saltiness will be back.
I just could not understand yesterday’s saltiness, truly.
Here’s the thing.
I don’t listen to Beyonce. Her music doesn’t do anything for me. I don’t like her image sometime. BUT, i respect her work ethic, i respect her charity work, i respect her for being successful woman, successful black woman, for always giving 100 percent.
And when you are that successful, of course some people aren’t gonna like you. Some people are even gonna hate you. But that’s the price of fame.
As for her image, it’s like there’s no middle ground for women in general. They are either Whitney or Amy or Tay and Beyonce. The only one who broke that rule is Rihanna, she shows her personality and has fun, but she’s not falling apart… but Beyonce proved that she’s simply better, superior. the only time i actually felt like she’s a real person, just like any other woman, was when she talked about misscarriage. I cried and i hope we get to see more of that side, that real side of her.
It was truly awful, wasn’t it? I rarely comment but couldn’t stay quiet yesterday. Glad to see that today’s different.
Beyoncé doesn’t need to say a word at this point, her actions are more than enough. I know that her lyrics and actions are not for me specifically, but I’m still a major fan and always will be; the saltiness really puzzled me.
@Nicole, because white people are pissed they are not our savior and worst, own us.
We ain’t here for their noise and have no problem telling them.
Exactly. Beyonce is putting her money to good work. Where is the commenter who dared to compare her Lena Dunham now?
I read that comment as sarcastic. She was referring to a line in the Girls pilot where Hannah claims she wants to be a voice of a generation.
@Mumbles
You are giving that person too much credit
The pretzel wringing to diminish ha!
“She’s JUST a showgirl”
“She’s NOT a musician”
“She’s not a REAL feminist”
“That’s why she’s raising a confident rich BRAT who shouldn’t be at auctions or have a stylist!”
“Remember when she was CREOLE”
😂😂😂
Bitter Bettie’s in full effect! Ignore the desert-dry THIRST for validation of implicit racism and bias the way Beyonce does- without negativity and through words of love, support and, especially, Beyppreciation. They’re probably those secret Trump supporters we read about anyway.
Wait. Why isn’t she a feminist? Did she say something? Do something?
Yes, she is a showgirl and a singer and sometimes a songwriter. Also, showgirl as in she moves around the stage and createa the show, dances, not to be confused with a movie showgirl.
Absolutely. The comments yesterday were completely embarrassing. She’s out there being amazing, charitable and challenging, end of discussion.
I cringe thinking about them. I hope some people are spending some time reflecting on what happened yesterday.
I’m a fan since DC4 and I’m blown away by her evolution. She peaks and peaks and peaks and uses her voice and walks the walk. Such an inspiration. You go Bey.
Even then I felt they were doing something special.
This was not a girls band making whiny songs about how much they missed some guy, but singing about making their own money and standing up for themselves in all kinds of ways.
Yes! I love what she has become. And I totally agree, while I know the references are not for me, I understand the importance and am so glad someone is out there making them!
Same here.
I’ve always been sort of ambivalent about her and her music, but recently I’ve really been impressed by how she is using her voice and ignoring everyone trying to shut her up. She’s just going to do her thing and no one is going to stop her or change what she wants to do, and I’ve realized what that means to her fans.
Well said!! If you don’t get it I doubt you ever will. You’ll never know what she is to Black Women and to WOC in general. (But obviously as she’s shown us many times she is 800% for Black Wonen and it’s lovely to see.)
This whole article gives me life!
https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a19832093/beyonce-coachella-performance-why-it-matter-melissa-harris-perry/
I teared up to read how different people find different encouragements from Beychella, and ultimately a concert that empowers, and propels you out of the event –with– a sense of greater purpose!
And, that tidbit about how Bey was kind to everyone in the production down to reminding an elderly bus driver it’s time for food…
>>He remembers her saying, ‘C’mon Mr. Harrison, come get you some food too.’
That warms the cockleshells of my old cold heart.
I’ve been a fan since day one. I have so much respect and admiration for this woman. They haters can continue to be salty and stay pressedt, Bey will keep being Bey.
You know I wasnt originally a fan because I’m not a pop person. More rap or old school r&b. I bought her first solo album and hated it. However, I think it was the album four that had certain singles that made me notice. I saw a transformation and decided to buy it. Many of the songs were just ok but a few made me wonder if she was coming into her own? When she dropped “Beyonce” i was so proud of her. It seemed so real and just her. I felt it was so authentic and very cohesive (although I would have changed up a couple of songs). Lemonade just made me a fan! It was just awesome. Then I saw her in concert and I understood why she’s a star. Her work ethic is undeniable.
Goldengirlover you just chronicled my Beyonce fan cycle as well. I have been a fan since DC4, we are close in age so I followed her career and life since her growth spurts and cycles were around my cycles. I started to notice something different with her around the “I am..” albums. By the time “4” dropped something else was shifting and she came into her professional own during the “Beyonce” era. I try to applaud her work ethic as #goals.
I loved “4.” I still play it.
Yeah, yesterday’s comment section was not a good look for many commenters…
But I think it ties into something this article has made me think about. It’s the fact that Beyonce doesn’t speak. I agree with Kaiser up to a point: Beyonce speaks through her actions and her art. But Kaiser also made another important point: She doesn’t necessarily ‘get’ all the references as they are not ‘for’ her.
It is Beyonce’s mother who made this post (with permission and guidance I am sure) and explained what her daughter intended to say.
Of course she doesn’t owe any explanations and some things can just stand as they are – but if the intent is to bridge a gap I think Beyonce’s silence is actually a hindrance. And it gives all those commenters from yesterday the opportunity to keep acting as if Beyonce is still ‘just’ a popstar because they can just decide to not engage with her deeper message and judge the spectacle at the surface.
Ooh well said
I respectfully disagree with your point, BaronSamedi. Obviously nothing Beyoncé would do could ever satisfy this crowd. They just want to nitpick and hate. Someone said yesterday that they hate her because they cannot dismiss her and because she doesn’t bow down to whiteness and I think it’s very true. They don’t even realize it, swearing they are not racist while falling into the same old same old, this is quite puzzling really.
Sorry someone actually said they dont like Beyonce because “she doesnt bow down to whiteness”?????
No no! Sorry I didn’t say that the right way. My English is not very good. It was the anylisis of someone about yesterday’s situation (and many others days actually).
Oh thank god. 🙂
You know, as a white woman, I just don’t think it should all be on her. Again, this isn’t FOR me (or it is for my intersectional feminist self, but not for white women), and it’s definitely not for white cis men, for example. The pressure to be all things at once on black women is INSANE. If people don’t get it – it’s on them to get educated. Those that don’t want to understand won’t, even if she close reads and breaks down the whole damn show. And the message is stronger by her unapologetic centering of black women, in my eyes.
I stand to be corrected by our black women commenting, though, if I’m not getting it.
You said it perfectly @I,Pet Goat 2
Thanks @Tanesha86, that’s awesome to hear.
I, Pet Goat, 2, excellent comment. Someone yesterday said they wanted Beyonce to create her own festival! It was so absurd! I don’t know why it is up to black women to dismantle a system they didn’t create. We are trying to manipulate within a system designed to keep us down. Designed to ensure we are seen and treated as less than people. A system with so many barriers set in place despite advancements made. But yet black women are supposed to break down racism while those who benefit from it sit down and don’t do the work? I’m truly wondering if these people say these things in front of black people? Would they have the gall? The audacity? Probably not.
@Goldengirllover34 OMG I remember!! Create your own festival?? The audacity, indeed.
Also wanted to add that even a badass like Beyoncé has a limited amount of mental, physical, emotional energy. I’d rather she spend it on the empowerment of black women and girls, rather then waste it on those that clearly don’t deserve or appreciate it.
Well-said! ITA, for me, feminism has to be intersectional it it’s exclusionary.
ETA: Re: the comment suggesting Bey should create her own festival, did y’all see Cardi B’s statement that she spent more money on her set than she got paid to do Coachella? So wrong.
You nailed it. Yes
Okay, so I was the one who mentioned creating a festival. And let me clarify. My suggestion had nothing to do with race; it had to do with the fact that Beyonce could put on a better festival. As, Sadezilla pointed out, Beyonce lost money performing at this festival, so I just meant she could make a bigger splash, and more money doing her own festival. The points about how black women shouldn’t have to do the heavy lifting are definitely valid. But that simply wasn’t on my mind when I made my suggestion. I was just thinking, “If Bey was in charge of the whole thing, then maybe this festival wouldn’t suck so much.”
I know my white behind doesn’t understand much because I’m not living the black experience, but I appreciate Beyonce, and just made my suggestion because I think she’s too good for Coachella. Frankly, I just thought they didn’t deserve her, which is why I was a little salty yesterday.
But now I see that it doesn’t matter if Coachella deserved Beyonce. Obviously, what truly matters (which I can see from the comments here) is that the people deserved Beyonce at Coachella.
So I’ve changed my mind about my suggestion.
I think the same. She gives me a lot to consider and think about, and that is a good thing. Your point about expecting black women to be superhuman is on point. So on point.
Great comment. 🙂
Totally agree! I am a white, Australian woman so pretty far removed from a lot of the cultural references in Beyoncé’s work, and I take it as an education opportunity. If I’m curious, I will google it and find out. I’ve learned a lot about African American culture from Beyoncé’s work.
This may sound like hyperbole to some, but I have to ask the question: should an artist (that’s what I think she is) have to explain their art? Art, to me, is interpreted by how it makes you feel when you see it. I watched Beyoncé’s show in its entirety last night and finished with such a proud feeling. Her singing Lift Every Voice and Sing and her ode to my Jamaican culture, left my daughter and me dancing in our kitchen. If Beyoncé had announced that the performance was dedicated to the black experience, she would have been ripped a part and called divisive. What she did was let her work speak for her and I think that’s the point of art. People come to things with their biases.
No of course artists don’t HAVE to explain their art. My point was precisely that Beyonce doesn’t explain herself, ever.
She doesn’t give interviews, she doesn’t tweet, etc.
But the fact that she has her mother explain her thoughts behind this performance and has her making the specific point of wanting to bridge a gap is significant imho. Because apparently she DOES want to inspire a conversation and actually reach the part of her audience that might not get her references without some legwork.
I do think that if reaching out is your intent it is worth considering the method.
Of course people come to this with their own biases but it seems to me that on the one hand Beyonce is happy to let her work speak for her (and risks being misunderstood or not understood at all) while at the same time apparently wanting to open it up for all audiences. And I don’t think that her silence is the best way to accomplish that.
I respectfully disagree. Her silence allows space for people to take what they want from her art. It’s mature. She isn’t muddying the waters with her personal life. Fans want more of it, but she’s at a level where she can just allow her work, and her character through interactions with individuals, to speak for her.
I would never have made it out of rural poverty without education. My father had to drop out of school when he was twelve years old. He told me I would go to college when I was seven. He made sure I did, by paying for it. And this gave me so many chances he never had. Bless you, Beyonce!
I absolutely love that she donates to education.
Apart from giving to education, her show also provided jobs for countless people: dancers, crew, musicians.
I was one of those people, like Harry Belafante, who criticized the hell out of Beyoncé and Jay-Z a few years back for not being more out spoken on racism, poverty and the like. Then they and especially she, evolved into someone I’m so proud of. We can chart back through history and find the names of countless singers, actors, and artists who were milked by power and left penniless despite making so many others rich. What makes Beyoncé exceptional is her unabashed willingness to claim who she is. Own her words, her songs, her image. She is owning her body and her culture. She is right, she’s worked way too hard to hide the important parts of who she is. It just saddens me that black artists have to reach Beyoncé pinnacle in order to do so.
First of all, F that dude. She was doing charity work for years before that raggedy old man decided to insert himself into their business.
There’s no second of all. I can’t stand Harry Belafonte.
Why can’t you stand him?
Lol @ Reef. Harry Belafonte has some cred for the Civil Rights work he put in, but at the time I was like, “dude you should know better, go on and sit down somewhere.”.
Do you not like him because of what he said about black women? If memory serves, he broke Ertha Kitt’s heart and told her that a black woman on his arm can do nothing for him.
https://bglh-marketplace.com/2015/11/eartha-kitts-words-on-backlash-for-marrying-interracially-in-the-50s-still-ring-true-today/
It has nothing to do with Eartha Kitt though I surely don’t mind adding that to the list. It has to do with him presuming to dictate how Bey spends her money. There are single mothers all over the Houston area who Beyonce has helped with housing and tuition for aesthetician licenses. She was doing it for years. Long before I was even a fan (let me be honest, STAN), I knew this. She’s been sponsoring scholarships for years.
He was passionately defending that rapist Nate Parker because Death of a Nation was “needed” and it was a conspiracy to bring the black man down. As if we can’t read books about Turner or consume art not made by rapists.
I know some white people feel “excluded” from her recent work because it’s so centered in her black pride and feminism. But eff that. Just because it’s not specifically for you does not mean you can’t enjoy it or appreciate it for what it is.
I’m so inspired by her pride in her heritage and culture. It’s a joy to watch her celebrate herself and those like her who have been and continue to be marginalized. Her passion is infectious, and this white girl is loving every second.
Yesyesyes. Who wouldn’t be inspired by her excellence, passion, and humanity? Only those of certain demographics that can’t rid themselves of the entitlement they’ve been clothing themselves with for … ever?
I don’t feel the exclusion either – I may not have lived the cultural and personal experiences that she is singing and writing, about but I love the music, love the messages, and want to stand with her on these issues.
I don’t understand the exclusion. I don’t feel excluded when I go and see art from other cultures I see it as an addition to my cultural landscape. I straight up don’t get it.
It’s because you have a different conzeptualization of identity, I think. You don’t require an Otherized foil to constitute your own self; rather, you see it as a beautiful and specific amalgation of your lived experiences, meaning you can take actions and frameworks as opposed to specifics (e.g., Beyoncé’s uplifting positivity and pride vs “I don’t understand this cultural reference so I am not just pissed but will also take that to constitute my own identity against it”), allowing you to see the bigger picture of things, too. It’s one of the crucial psychological essences guiding politically conservative people.
I don’t get it either. I feel no exclusion, and don’t understand why I should be or why people seem happy that people would feel excluded because of race. Thankfully my parents raised me to be open minded. I don’t like pop,country, or rap music, so I don’t listen to it unless someone I’m with (my bf loves rap so I hear it in his car) already has it on and they’re enjoying it. Everyone has their own opinion and taste of entertainment like music
I never got it, either. I’m white, and I’m not upset listening to Beyonce or Kendrick Lamar and hearing references to ideas and cultures that don’t necessarily reflect my experience. Requiring all aspects of society to consistently validate your existence is a sign of immaturity and small-mindedness. POC don’t get to exist in the kind of protective racial bubble that light skin allows in America. Why you would want to take from them the spaces they’ve carved out for themselves within it is beyond me.
Not getting it either. You can like something even if it is not specifically about you.
I’m not American and had never heard of Coachella, but it’s lovely what Beyonce has done there.
I don’t get it either. If anything I think she was inviting everyone to appreciate her identity and the things she loves about her culture.
Why not learn and enjoy. It is interwoven into American identity, but so many white people act like it isn’t.
So many of our musical exports originate in black American culture, and we should celebrate that.
Very well said. I spoke to my white co-worker about this. She said she loved the Stepping. She remembered seeing it on her campus and had looked at it as annoyance rather than appreciating it. I call that progress.
I don’t get the exclusion feeling either. My opinion is hose “excluded” people (how laughable) are lying to themselves. Good music is good music, good entertainment is good entertainment and sometimes you may even learn something. How great is that?
That “exclusion” that (some) white people are feeling is actually a good thing, in my opinion.
White people need to feel uncomfortable and shut out sometimes because it’s a reminder of how marginalized members of our society feel every day simply because their cultural/social identity so often takes a backseat to mainstream-cis-hetero-whiteness. It can be humbling AF for a lot of us white peeps who frankly, need to be humbled.
We really have to learn that not everything is ours and not everything is created for white eyes and ears. And that’s not to say us white folks shouldn’t feel moved by Beyoncé’s music or that we’re not allowed to enjoy it because it wasn’t made for us. We can enjoy it for what it is– great f*cking music–while acknowledging that this isn’t ours to dissect or critique.
So yeah–it’s a net positive for me in that sometimes feeling excluded is what we as white people need to experience in order to see how much our society is centered around whiteness.
They are not excluded. They are mad because Bey dares to put her blackness on display which makes them uncomfortable and upset that its not about them.
The SNL skit that came out after Lemonade pointed that out. People are suddenly realizing she is unapologetically black
People should want to learn about and celebrate the cultures of others. I am white but I have friends who went to HBCUs and I loved hearing about their positive and happy experiences there. I say let people have their joy and if their joy is Beyonce’s unapologetic love letter to black America, shush and let them be joyful.
Beyonce is not the only celebrity to spend money and be rich and extravagant, and I bet money on the fact she’s not the only one with a stylist for her child. Criticize her for what you must, but realize that Beyonce has been a positive movement for black Americans during a time rife with racial tension (and honestly there never has been a time in the US when there wasn’t). Realize the importance of music and artist expression in black culture.
The most interesting thing about Beyoncé is how she killed the father. She was always impressive but she really become the artist that we know today when Matthew Knowles finally lost control over her carrer.
Yep. It must KILL Matthew by the way.
Oh I never noticed that! I haven’t followed her career closely enough to remember when she fired Mathew, but I def became a fan after Lemonade. Activist Beyonce is my favorite Beyonce!
I forgot about that aspect of it. It seems like once she was out from under his thumb, she really grew as a person and an artist.
I’m sure he tries to take credit for it all anyway though.
I do think there’s a connection between what Kaiser was saying up top and the departure of Matthew Knowles from her business affairs. I’ve been following Beyonce since her Destiny’s Child days and she was, at least until around the 4 album, pretty blank as a pop star. Incredible music, but vaguely empty. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that as soon as Knowles was removed from her orbit, she became who she is today.
Excellent! Make some of yesterday’s commenters look even more foolish but that was to be expected.
I LOVED Lemonade (wasn’t a huge fan beforehand) and I love what she is doing here !
Lemonade was my turning point too. I liked some DC songs and Crazy in Love is my absolute jam but Lemonade made me sit and think and believe.
I loved Lemonade as well. I didn’t pay much attention to Beyonce before Lemonade. It was an incredible work of art. That’s when I became a fan. I love that she has the freedom to speak her truth, and that she does it unapologetically.
People who are accustomed to privilege see equality as oppression.
Everything is not meant for YOU, everything is not for YOU to understand.Everything is not for you to “get”.
I am a black woman from Houston who used to watch Seinfeld when I younger.I didn’t “get” or understand some of the references(NYC,Jewish,etc) but I still loved the show.Often times I would Google things,expressions,foods(Black and White cookie 😀) because I had never heard them.
Hopefully people will Google HBCUs and learn why they exist.If not just enjoy the show this weekend’s Beychella is supposed to be even better and wilder according to one of the dancers and I will set my alarm again to watch it.
I’m a white girl from Wales, living in London, married to a Jewish guy, god mother to mixed race kids. I google stuff all the time – yesterday it was HBCUs. Now I know! I don’t understand why some (ahem, white) people are so averse to admitting they don’t know things, and finding out and appreciating stuff that’s new to them. I will never ‘get’ the white American college experience – so many aspects are alien to Brits – so the black American experience is going to to be different again – but that’s OK. Not everything is going to be relatable – I only heard about Step from posts on here, but it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate it now I know. And from what I’ve seen on Youtube Beyoncé’s show was AMAZING! .
This!! ^^ Not a Bey fan (I’m her age and mostly remember her as a pop star, which is not my style of music). I didn’t understand the importance of Beyonce headlining Coachella, so I googled it. And I read up about HBCUs and drum lines and how tight her show was and singing Lift Every Voice and Sing and then I *got* it…it really is a hugely monumental experience and a shout out of love primarily to WOC. And that is awesome! Similar to the importance of Black Panther. People need to see themselves reflected in their heroes.
I have also just googled black and white cookies and feel cheated that I have been to New York twice and not come across them!
They don’t like her because she doesn’t make them feel comfortable. She doesn’t explain being black and proud and just does the work. Instead of researching they just want to dismiss. If people really wanted to, they would have looked up the history of everything that was displayed on that stage and why most black people, men and women, were in awe. The significance of displaying the overwhelming beauty of black American culture in a loud and beautiful way. And to do it in front of a predominatrly white audience knowing they wouldn’t understand but not caring anyway. Hoping some of them may actually be tempted to learn more and read more and acknowledge more.
Let’s be real. These individuals yesterday are no better than the individuals that voted for trump that they rail against. Their sense of dismissiveness and extreme reaches are exactly what black people experience through racism. They didn’t like the loudness and proudness of Beyonce. They wanted her to shut up and know here place the same way racists want black and other minorities to shut up and know their place.
I saw the scholarship and laughed because I know they will still be salty and mad. She’s doing more than they will ever do.
At this point, I just feel sorry for her haters. She’s one of the greatests of all times and she’s a proud black woman, that makes some people mad, let them be mad. 💁
The dance break to Everybody Mad is literally my morning meditation.
I’ve been doing some thinking And I think I figured out my specific problem. I was feeling a little salty yesterday and I think it was not because of really race (I’m happy Beyoncé is a inspiration to Black girls and women) but because of class. For me, I had trouble with seeing Coachella as something significant. I felt that even though Beyoncé was awesome as always, the praise was overboard because that festival is so Inconsequential.
That was a product of a my White privilege. I realized after listening to yesterday’s discussion that of course Beyoncé, as a black woman, couldn’t afford to see Coachella as insignificant. She had to see it as a festival that dismissed women like her for a long time. And as a black woman of course she had to work extra hard to make sure that she not only broke that barrier but did 10 times better than anyone else while doing it.
When I look at it like that, I am full of amazement at how much strength and Work ethic Beyoncé must have. Really, I think I’ve got a lot Of increased respect for her.
Guys, I think I may have Joined the Beyhive.
Welcome to the hive! We can all take our places behind Adele 🙂
Adele bootyshaking in her living room while watching Bey was all of us.
Ha. I was here waiting for you (despite the fact that I think I got lumped in with the lumpers on yesterday’s thread and the Blue Ivy one). Bey has been making music pretty much since I started listening so in some ways she’s always been on the soundtrack to my life.
Put on my happy face 🎶 (Destiny’s Child not Beyonce solo, but still)
@Rapunzel, look I’m with you on the Coachella thing. I was commenting on yesterday’s thread, and I touched on that a little bit. I loathe Coachella. Capital L loathe. I wasn’t even aware that Beyonce was performing there. When people started getting hyped about the show, I tuned it out because why would she perform there?
But then I started seeing the clips/screencaps/comments, and I knew this was something special. And I went to the live feed, and I was NOT disappointed.
This is why Beyonce is a cultural icon, and why yesterday’s Coachella concert defined a generation. She got me, a consummate loather of Coachella, to get off my behind and actually WATCH her show. She redefined Coachella with her performance. She brought people to the table who previously wouldn’t have even bothered because they don’t like Coachella.
How many other artists of our generation can you say would have been able to do the same?
I didn’t understand the hate in yesterday’s post, but didn’t understand Kaiser’s hiperbole either. So I watched the whole performance.
And now I agree. It was a masterpiece.
Didn’t get all the references, I’m white, but still it spoke to me on many levels.
Maybe it didn’t speak to me as a white woman, but it did as a wife, mother, woman, sexual being and dance freak.
I’ve been on the fence about her, but I must confess, after watching all that, I am ready to acknowledge she is The GOAT.
ps: the Twin dancers were amazing. They blew my mind!
My favorite part were all the shots of her all-girl band. The bassist, the drummer and the girl on the guitar all have my heart collectively. <3
Yay Bey!
Wow. An entirely positive comment section about Beyoncé. I think it never happened before on the whole internet. I’m going to re-watch that epic performance to celebrate 🙂
Guess I should say that 25k is paltry then, right?
It will be far from paltry to the person whose education it pays for. Also, that is one donation out of MANY that she has made and will continue to make. Education is freedom. You tried though.
Ha! Ok, I have a funny story: I used to live in Aspen and one time Bey and J-Z were visiting. They and their entourage had that horrid superiority complex newly found fame brings, talking down to people etc. etc. This was a long time ago and I am sure they have changed😏. When they were leaving on the airplane it was discovered that there was a LARGE sized tabasco bottle aboard and they wanted those tiny ones room service uses. So they sent somebody back into town on a wild goose chase to find some tiny tabasco bottles, this caused the whole airport to be held up as the plane was already set for take-off. Too classic! Anyhow, it was a spectacular performance at Coachella.
I cannot wait to see what she what she does newt weekend. The first show was so good, there’s no way she can top that, right?
I wish her new tour was just her and the girls tough (Solange, Kelly and Michelle). Nobody needs to see Jay-Z. By the way, why was is so out of breath after 12 lines when his goddess of a wife was running around and dancing in heels while giving us perfect vocals? SMDH.
I saw Jay-Z at Austin City Limits, people (including me) were calling out for his wife. Solange also performed and she was breathtaking.
I actually thought the inclusion of Jay-Z made a ton of sense and was very important(but of course like always she outshone him). The whole musical performance was a tribute not only to black music in America but also to Beyonce’s own evolution as an artist. She tracked her history and so it made sense that her music family(destiny’s child), her biological family(Solange), and her chosen family(Jay-Z) were all there because each has influenced her growth as a musician and performer.
Having said that, glad Jay-Z only got little stage time.
Jay is an amazing artist in his own right but he’s always been the weak link when they perform together. Even my husband who is a huge fan has noticed this. He said Beyonce uses Jay in her songs in a manner that works and just elevates the songs. However, he doesn’t feel Jay has the same ear as her when he tries to do the same. Also, because she’s an amazing performer, he looks lackluster. He works better separately.
Poor Jay, that’s harsh, lol. I actually liked his OTR set waaay better than I expected to. I was here for his wife and of course he’s no Beyoncé but he did the job and did it really well. I enjoyed his performance a lot. I can’t wait to see them in Paris again for OTR II, and I’m also ready for another Beyoncé tour. If Jay tours alone one day and have some shows in France I may go see him too. He’s a legend in his own right after all. The man is Blue’s father! 🙂
It is but he’s better solo. Go see him solo. He has amazing stage presence on his own and his concerts are great. Beyonce is great solo as well although i have seen them perform drunk in love live. I didn’t see OTR I live but my sis in law did and she said that after seeing them perform separately live and then together she was underwhelmed by OTR I. She said it was a great show but they are both amazing in their separate shows.
Honestly, I’m coming around to the Beyonce stanning. I was always a casual fan and never had a particularly negative opinion of her to begin with, but the more she does, the more I’m moving from a general “like” to a genuine “love” of her. I can see why her fans are so dedicated. She doesn’t have to do this. She could easily cash out without taking the risk inherent to taking a stance on race in America, but she does it. And if her accomplishments have been hard won against an industry that’s against rather than with her, imagine how much harder it is for every person in America that looks like her but lacks even a fraction of her resources. Think of how much of their potential *we’re* allowing to go to waste because of bigotry.
Education is freedom. Investing in education is paramount. I could have not gone to my university of choice if it were not for scholarships. I have tremendous amount of respect for people who invest and advocate for education.
Beyonce you keep doing you.
One of my kids is a semester away from graduating, the other still has three years. They couldn’t have done it without Pell grants and other financial aid (as well as our contributions). Education shouldn’t just be for the wealthy.
Good for her. She obviously brings a lot of happiness to young black people in this country. Why not use her influence and wealth to help her fans and bring a spotlight on the importance of HBCUs?? Thumbs up Bey.
I’m happy she did not chose the most “obvious” HBCU like Howard or Spellman and whose to hightlight other, less-known universities. Good for her and the lucky students!
Agree, those institutions are doing good. I’m glad she picked the ones that are “2nd Tier” and may need the funding more.
Why are people threatened by other people empowering themselves and having pride in their culture? She’s not putting anyone down; she’s lifting people up! Saying yes, we are important too!
How does it hurt anyone else at all for Beyonce to be strong, smart and talented?
She doesn’t just lift up Black women and culture. She raises the bar for everyone.
Look what hard work can do!
Whether you like her music or style or not, how can you not appreciate the dedication and perseverance!
How wonderful for people everywhere to see a strong woman owning who she is! How inspiring and amazing!
If you’re threatened or offended by that, you should be asking yourself why?!
It’s funny how someone said she does nothing to better the world and she should give back. As I said yesterday, so many celebs give back and do amazing things in the world.
Bey has always gave back, even when she wasn’t vocal about it. She was never just a pop star, she has always along with Destiny Child, been an inspiration to (some) black women, music and women as a whole. I don’t like how people are saying, now she’s more than a popstar.
With all of the enlightening discussion going on, I feel stupid asking, but I’ll ask anyway – what is the insignia on her yellow jacket? Is it for a school? Thanks 🙂
It’s just her initials styled as Black Greek Letters as a costume reference or signal to that part of her performance. She isn’t allowed to wear actual Greek paraphernalia unless she is Greek.
The theory that Twitter is going with is that BAK stands for B(eyonce) A is actually the greek letter Delta (or 4, which is an important number for her) and K(nowles).
Kinda like she made her own sorority.. Beta Delta Kappa.
Frat/sorority insigna. It’s meant to note the historically black frats/sororities that are a lot of history behind them (look up Divine 9).
$100,000? I thought that was a typo. I wonder about the generosity of the super rich. In a better society such charity wouldn’t be needed, but here we are.
I wonder about the Buffetses, Bezoses, Oprahs, Madonnas and Beyonces. The Pritzkers and Mercers. They have more $ than they or their descendants will ever need. Clearly they do charitable work, yet the problems persist.
These are billionaires. Any one of these people could wipe American child hunger for instance (a real thing, for many children school lunch is their one consistent source of food) on their own, if they wanted.
A hundred thousand dollars for education would be a huge amount for me, a pleb, to set up for education. For Beyonce? That amount doesn’t cover the cost of air travel for the Carters in a year.
I also thought it was a typo, but a $100,000 donation is more than I can give, and it will help. Those people have more money than they can spend, but it’s not their responsibility to give it to people they don’t know and will never meet.
I used to think that way, that it was not a rich individual’s responsibility to blah blah help. My view changed because of the vast gap in this country, between rich and poor, and the fact that, in my opinion, the wealthy individuals could do a lot more. For instance, maybe provide funding for a summer meal program for children in rural areas, to replace the school lunches during summer break.
But maybe such ideas just add to the problem.
I don’t think Beyonce is a billionaire. Jay-Z might be.
Anyway, white folks voting over and over racist trashbag politicians into office is one of the main reason why there is so much poverty in this country. It sure as hell is not Beyonce’s reponsability to fix this mess.
Thank you, Kate! How about vote better!
Bey alone is probably worth several hundred million. Jay Z probably as much if not more. As for the voting, I have to disagree. Plenty of chicanery and self-dealing to go around, in both parties, and of all “identities”. At least there’s diversity lol.
Worth is not cash. I don’t believe the artists/actors/celebs in general have as much money as they claim. There’s a lot of advances, borrowing (I don’t know if that’s the right word) and that’s why they work until they die. Look at MJ who was rehearsing on the verge of death. Look at where Whitney lived at the time of her death. And so on.
1) I wouldn’t assume that this is the totality of Beyonce and Jay-z’s charitable giving, nor would I assume that we even know a little bit of what they donate.
2) for those ultra mega wealthy people? Yeah, it’s odd that they have individually more money than some nations and don’t, for instance, start a fund for guaranteed minimum income in one state. Or start a fund that would pay for school lunches for all who need it. (which, I would like to point out, Philando Castile paid for students without sometimes and the students at his school have fundraiser and wiped out the lunch debts of the entire St Paul public school district)
3) one of my most proud moments was on an anonymous board where someone was talking bait the general evilness of the GOP Tax Scam and how she and her husband would be making more money hand over fist that they neither needed nor wanted. I supplied some creative ideas for what I would give to charity if I had their money and she said they were going to do several items on my list.
I have so many feelings about the death of Philando Castile, or rather murder. He was good person. “Lunch debts” — it’s grotesque that we have such a thing in this country.
And I’m sure Bey and Jay give more privately than we’ll ever know publicly. But I’m not one to be grateful for crumbs, not when a Tidal sub costs around $10/month and bey gifted Jay a $5 million hublot watch. I point out the disparity because I’m in a position to do that. This is a worthwhile topic and the rich should be encouraged, castigated, shamed – whatever works! – into giving in a *real* way that makes a difference and not just for P.R. optics. After all, none of them got rich on their own, they rely on the public to buy whatever it is they are selling.
I’m glad to hear your suggestions made a difference to that couple. Brava.
“I wouldn’t assume that this is the totality of Beyonce and Jay-z’s charitable giving,”
^^^THIS.
Sigh, every other post when a (n almost always white) celebrity donates something, it’s “he/she gave, and that’s what matters.” Of course in a Beyonce post, even one with mostly positive comments…
You noticed that too, huh? Interesting, isn’t it.
You’re mistaken – i’ve posted similar comments about other celebs, who are white – as if that matters, since the point is … oh never mind. Look at the list of billionaires i listed.
Beyonce and Madonna are not billionaires.
Britney donated like $1 million from her Vegas show to the NCCF (children’s cancer org) to build a facility in November but hardly anyone cared as much as her child support news.
I said the same thing. If you get all your news from gossip sites especially ones that don’t focus on any postivity save for a few people, then you wouldn’t know that celebs give back.
Gossip sites focus on the gossip, and sometimes throw in the postive things for celebs they love.
We always hear about every good thing Jolie does. Beyonce and others? Not so much.
I am going to throw up. MLK yes .Beyonce and her whole $25, 000 ? I am willing to bet that her headpiece cost more than that. Where were the young students she brought to the performance who otherwise could never afford to come? Auction off everything from her performance and donate that too.
I love that Beyonce is at a point in her careerr where she can assert her blackness and her black power politics without giving a S)$$t what anyone else thinks. That performance was not for the white audience. That was a celebration of and for her people.
Wow. What a different tone from yesterday’s post. Wow. I really got aggravated by some of the comments yesterday, I am appalled by what some of you have said.
“And give me wisdom to accept the things I do not understand”. ACCEPT even if you do not comprehend!!
Anyway…
I spy some people here complaining about the amount she gave away as if she should be paying 10 scholarships for each HBCU and AS IF she owes anyone anything.
Damn, some of y’all are never happy. Salty AF!!
Good on ya, Ms. Knowles-Carter.
Does anyone else think that giving away huge sums of money to charity has got to be one of the best parts of being wealthy?
TOTALLY
…and giving back to family, too. I sometimes fantasize about winning the lottery and paying off my parents’ mortgage, paying off my bro and SIL’s mortgage, paying off my BF’s student loans, and writing some seriously huge checks for the cat shelters and some of the other charities I work with.
No, you’d give to a cat shelter? I would never have guessed. 😉
But yes, I would love to have the money to pour into some worthy causes, to make it rain, as it were. The Obama Foundation just released the names of their first Fellows – I didn’t dive deep into the bios, but there were more than a few I would like to give to!
It is the ONLY reason I would want to be rich. I am a practical Midwesterner, and I have never felt the need for designer things even when I’ve had the money for them. Wealth seems to bring misery to the wealthy, so I would forego dozens of cars and homes and enjoy what I could do for people. I’ve always wanted to do this, but admit to being even more inspired by Oprah.
Yes, that would be very fulfilling.
I also think doing something like what Jen Garner & Amy Schumer did, where they bought farms that belonged to their families, would be pretty great. If I could buy all of the homes for my families so they didn’t have to worry about a mortgage ever again, I’d like that a lot.
My 20 year old daughter and I love and respect Beyoncé. But she and I always say that we recognize that a lot of her music and message are not for us as white women—but we can still be educated, and learn and be allies (as well as being entertained.) Also-she is an inspiration for everyone for her work ethic!
Most of the music I listen to lately is not for me. I still really enjoy it!
Cynical Ann …i love this comment… it was so sweet and genuine. No one (black people) is asking that white ppl esp white women be brandished for not understanding everything black … all were hope is moreso for allies..but will push thru and love outselves without
Im glad you and yours enjoyed her performance <3
I do like her work even though I do not understand all of her references (I’m too old I guess, but I d respect the woman for her hard work, her dedication, and her talent. I wish she had put another zero behind that $100,000. She can afford it. I would love to see other artists do the same thing.
These threads made me rewatch “the day beyonce turned black” SNL skit. Because it reminded me of the people losing their minds over Beyonce…again.
I was on such a coachella high yesterday that it was disheartening reading all the comments. I was there Saturday night. Her show was awesome. It was definitely the best produced show I ever saw at Coachella. I didn’t get the hate and wonder if those people even saw the show. Anyways, I’m Asian and white and might not have got all the references (I still got most of them), but that’s ok and it didn’t stop me from appreciating the show. Beyonce was one of the artists that I was excited to see this weekend and she did not disappoint.
@Lyla, out of curiosity, I wanna ask about the crowd. I noticed when watching the live feed that the crowd was kind of quiet, and a lot of other people I know griped abt that too. I heard somewhere else that the audience noise was sort of tuned out for the live feed so that people could focus on the music.
What did you think abt the crowd there? Were they as hyped as everyone else was at home?
I haven’t watched any of clips yet, so I can’t compare. But the crowd was hyped. I felt like most of Coachella was there. Before Beyonce’s show, there was a mass of people moving towards the main stage (Coachella has 6 other stages + the do lab, Heineken house, and absolute lounge were you can dance). I kinda felt bad for the artists at the other stages that had sets during the same time as Bey, cause there were probably very few people there.
“I told Beyonce that i was afraid that the predominately white audience at Coachella would be confused by all of the black culture and Black college culture because it was something that they might not get.”
Yeah, Because we’re just ignorant white people, right? “What is all of this black culture?! I am confused and afraid!”
Yeah, no.
In any case, the comments section blew up because “defining moment of a generation” was an unbelievable amount of journalistic hyperbole.
Yeah, no. You’re being offended by imagined insults.
Except… a bunch of people pretty much did act like that in the comments here so she wasn’t far off the mark.
@N.I. looks like you’re eyes are slightly watering due to white tears you want us to care about lmao…. stop projecting and stop playing white delicate victim please… those days are gone LOL
Good for Beyoncé on the scholarships, but 100k is like pocket change to her—prob a couple weeks worth of shopping. A 25k scholarship for 1 student doesn’t go all that far, I feel like she could have made a BIGGER statement as she likes to do in her performances…
dont do that. giving is great. im just glad some black entertainers are giving back…
Obviously I missed some garbage on a previous thread, but I will say this now. Lemonade was THE BEST CONCERT I have ever attended. She is a true performer, and puts on a fabulous show for her fans. Too few do nowadays. Also, I have always thought of Coachella as “America’s Annual Booze & Blow Fest,” so having Beyonce headline it really raised my opinion of the entire event.
i came here to say BEING A BLACK WOMAN is hard…and a lot of times you have to bite your toungue…play the game all the while white women and people try to box you in and erase you and disenfranchise you among other horrors… BUT beyonce is right you hopefully can get to a point in your career and life that you are UNAPOLOGETICALLY blackity black lol and break from the imprisonment of respectability politics and the need for white validation.
so in that regard the perseverance and resilience that beyonce has been on as of late and that her sister was ALWAYS on goes to next point that BEING A BLACK WOMAN is LIT, AMAZING, and MAGICAL
carry on yal <3