It has been just over a week since the controversial Super Bowl halftime performance from Beyonce. Beyonce sang a song about black pride that wasn't an issue. The issue for many people was the outfits worn and the message she displayed to America. During this rough, racially segregated time in America, Beyonce went above and beyond social justice. She honored the Black Panther Party when she and her crew wore outfits that clearly resembled those of the Panther Party. The Black Panther Party was a violent movement of African Americans towards mainly the police force and the government of the United States.
Speaking as a fan of Beyonce and not as a white American, she was completely out of line. This is a time in America that has seen its fair share of racial profiling and disputes between African American citizens and the police force. Beyonce is well respected and has as many followers who will act upon issues by what she says. She is openly saying that violent protests against the police force is necessary for change in America. This is completely outrageous. It doesn't matter what has happened in history, we as citizens should never promote the deaths of other citizens, especially those who are out to protect the general population. The fact that someone with so much respect and power did this during the most globally watched event does not only make her ignorance obvious, but it shows the rest of the world that the United States is a divided country right now. Don't get me wrong, I do like Beyonce and I do believe there is a race issue in America, but when someone promotes violence, no matter who it is, they lose my respect. Beyonce was out of line in her attempt to make police brutality known because she supported the violence of our citizens; an unacceptable way to make this country better. In fact, Beyonce, you just may be what is wrong with this country. #sorrynotsorry
Noah,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your thought on this matter. I want to be fair to all opinions in this forum but I want to interject.
Characterizing the Black Panther Party as a "violent movement of African Americans against the police force" is at best a misunderstanding of the BPP at worse an uninformed opinion probably gleaned from second hand sources with minimal engagement in the actual pedagogy and history of Black Power movements.
I'm not suggesting that the BPP is beyond critique. There are a ton of very fair and valid criticisms that can and have been levied against them. I just think you might consider doing a bit of research before you write off these ideas.
other note: You're logic of "when someone promotes violence, no matter who it is, they lose my respect" doesn't exactly hold when you're (at least implicitly) articulating some support for the American state and the police force.
See you soon,
Prof. M
There are a number of excellent sources that discuss the BBP at length, most recently is this documentary:
Deletehttp://theblackpanthers.com/home/
Also many of the leaders of the BPP wrote books and speeches including Elaine Brown, Bobby Seale, Huey Newton, Eldridge Cleaver, and others. I'd be happy to refer you.
This actually could be a really fruitful thought for your final paper, if you have an interest in delving deeper.
Noah I am curious about a few assumptions you make with your claims. To start, you say, "Speaking as a fan of Beyonce and not as a white American..." I assume you mean that you can forfeit your whiteness (the narrative of whiteness and America, the power structure you benefit from) for the sake of your Beyonce fandom in order for you to speak as the latter. I wonder if this is even possible. To connect this back to the coursework, one would not say that Phylis Wheately was able to speak as a poet and forfeit he Blackness or her womanhood. I imagine the same logic ought to apply to your statement. With that being said, you can't "speak NOT as a white American." Your critique (though I personally believe is misguided) is levied under the guise of a white male perspective.
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