5 lessons I learned from watching Beyonce’s Black is King
Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio
CBHG Offical Audio: 5 Lessons I learned from watching Beyoncé's Black is King
Written By: Gabrielle Radford
Beyonce’s much anticipated visual album was released for streaming on Disney+ on July 31, 2020. (Isn’t everything Beyonce does “much anticipated”?) Anyway, as usual I was late to the party and finally sat down to watch it this weekend.
I pulled my teenager from her lair and onto the living room couch to join me for a watch party. Her younger sister joined us, shortly after. Because it had been out for awhile, I had seen criticisms and think-pieces online, but I entered the experience with an open mind. Five minutes into the video and I was completely sold. Beyonce said almost everything I’ve been trying to teach my kids in her opening number.
Here are just five of the lessons I learned from watching Beyonce’s Black is King with my own brown-skinned girls.
5. Black people are not a monolith. We come in all shapes and sizes. We come in various skin colors and tones. We don’t all think the same way. We are not all rappers and basketball players. Some of us play classical violin. Some of us play chess. Some of us do synchronized swimming. Others of us are just people who go to work everyday so we can provide for our families. Some of us are Beyonce and Jay Z.
4. Look to the stars. Everything shiny is not a star. In “Find Your Way Back”, we see the stars and are reminded of the great kings of the past. In “Jealous Me”, we see people who look like great kings of today, but who are really just imposters. They have the wealth, but not the wisdom that is required to be great. They cover themselves in gold and material things so you’ll look past their iniquities. Don’t be fooled by their outward appearance.
3. Speaking of outward appearances, let’s talk about fashion. The movie featured women wearing everything from form-fitting body suits to formal ball gowns. Every single wardrobe choice was stunning. We saw white, then black, and nearly every color of the rainbow, plus a few colors that I thought might make the rainbow jealous. Lupita was lovely in red. Beyonce was beautiful in yellow. You can wear any color you want, and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.
2. Look for people who remind you of yourself. They don’t necessarily have to look like you or think like you. There may come a time when you choose to run away from everything you know. That’s okay. It’s a part of growing up. You were born into a wonderful family, but it’s up to you to find your tribe. Find people who will remind you of the greatness that lies inside of you. Beyonce had a whole squad of people she took with her on her journey. Choose people who will challenge you to live a life greater than the one you are living.
1. Your hair is an accessory. My teenager has always had long beautiful curls. Her entire life, people with good intentions have told her never to cut it. But she’s not Sampson. Yes, her long hair looks good on her. But she’d be just as cute with a short afro, like me. We would be just as beautiful wearing short-cropped naturals or blond extensions going down our backs. This feature film depicted women, including Beyonce, wearing their hair in bantu knots and braids and silk press straight. Hair can absolutely be a reflection of who you are, but you can also change it as often as you change your outfit if you so choose. This is a lesson I’m still learning myself. I’m hoping my girls learn it now.
Black is King is a love song to ourselves and to our people. If the only things my daughters ever learn from me (or Beyonce) are to love themselves and to love other people, I will say that I (we) have done a good job.