Formation

                  Happy Black History Month, guys! This week, we focused on How Race Is Made and Ethnic Notions. Between race feeling and race thinking, I believe that there is a lot to discuss with a specific event that took place last Sunday. February is the one month a year dedicated to reminding us to remember the history and events that African Americans have lived through. This past week, Beyoncé performed at the most watched sporting event of the entire year, the Super Bowl. During half time, Beyoncé debuted her song “Formation” and took the audience through a visual time machine. From her powerful lyrics, to the performers thought provoking attire, and their formation, this song’s contribution to the remembrance of black history was crystal clear.

                  So, I’ll give you guys some background on the song in case you haven’t heard it or seen the music video. 1) Beyoncé’s lyrics are KICK A**! This song is basically a tribute to how she became the person she is today, where she came from, and the extremely important events in black history that should never be forgotten. 2) The symbolic imagery and rhetoric in her music video is loud! Between the dancing formation, the reference to the Black Panthers, and postbellum “free” slave attire, she is expressing what seems to me to be her identity as an African American from the South. Now that I’ve explained why I think Beyoncé’s song is clever and expressive, let me tell you about what did NOT sit with me well at all.

                  Tomi Lahren, a television host, posted a video about her ‘final thoughts’ and concerns with Beyoncé’s performance. Right off the bat Lahren says, “First it was ‘Hands up, don’t shoot’, then it was burning down buildings, then it was looting drugs stores, all the way to #OscarsSoWhite, and now even the Super bowl halftime show has become a way to politicize and advance the notion that black lives matter more”. Let me start of by saying, already in that first sentence that she voiced, I already disagree with her. Where does she get off by assuming that this performance was organized to convey and send a message that black lives matter more? (let’s remember, the movement is called “Black Lives Matter”, not “Black Lives Matter More”.

Lahren’s entire video was a rant on how this song “wasn’t about equality, it’s about ram-riding an aggressive agenda down our throats and using fame and entertainment value to do so”.  To be quite honest, she seems to have race feeling and race thinking down pretty well. She’s opinionated and clearly not afraid to express that. But really? Come on, why wouldn’t Beyoncé use the fame and the power she holds to send message to her audience. A message that says, “I’m African American, I’m proud, and I want you all to remember what we lived through and remember to love yourselves”. She has the freedom to address that and I definitely do not believe that should be seen as having an ulterior motive to “overthrow white domination” (as Lahren puts it). Overall, Tomi Lahren’s video was something that I couldn’t disagree with more and I believe she is a prime example of someone who has race thinking and race feeling embedded in them so deeply, that she is blind to the real purpose of Beyoncé’s song.
(Side note: This Saturday night after I had already uploaded this post, SNL did something incredible! They came out with a hilarious skit and showed the ridiculous reactions that Beyonce was getting from white people. Take a look for yourself here: The Day Beyonce Turned Black)

Do you all agree with how my reaction to Tomi Lahren's video? If yes, please explain as I would love to hear your thoughts about it too. If not, explain as well, because maybe I took it the wrong way and maybe you all understand where she might be coming from. How does SNL's skit ring true when making light of white people's reactions to "Formation"? What affect do you believe race thinking and race feeling could hold when it comes to watching Beyoncé’s video?

--Gabby Castriota

Tomi Lahren

Formation