Is Beyonce lemonade the most powerful black feminist piece of work?

[GetInFormationLadies]

I'm barely over the death of prince but this album as made me shed a lake ful of tears in the last day.

It's such a powerful, strong love filled album that will help all black women get through even their darkest days.

She has left behind her sugar pop to try something very risky but to follow her heart.

I can not recommend it enough.

Well that's the saddest thing I've read today. Speechless really.

As a lightskin woman myself i would REALLY love to know were me being lightskin has given me this privledge you seem to think we get.
I have been in and out of hostels and only just found a job after 2yrs of not working.

In the black community in America it plays a very big role. The reason why Beyoncé is talked about a lot about her skin is because of the benefit she receives from. There is nothing new there. You may not get the benefit but being on tv in a America helps and what role you play. It's not rocket science.

Angela and Tina turner are not very different in physical features and skin tone. When playing historical black movies things like that matter. Having Zoe is like white washing. Nina's looks would have been provocative then and pushing boundaries. Saldana doesn't. Also, if the movie makers didn't think that her features mattered they would not have given her a prosthetic nose and dark makeup to get the image a cross. Think about that.

Quencher its also not rocket science to understand that maybe because beyonce is beautiful and can sing and dance she got to were she is. I find it amazing how non lightskin women not in hollywood seem to know so much about how lightskin women get treated.
Angela basset is the near the same colour as nina
Tina is near the same colour as zoe
They gave her the nose and darkened skin because you lot would bitch over it like you always do about everything on planet earth.

This website has the link to the spoken word in between the songs.

www.bustle.com/articles/156559-transcript-of-beyonces-lemonade-because-the-words-are-just-as-important-as-the-music

From what I can see she deals with rape, black men in prison, staying in a loveless marriage, possibly the grandmothers who look after their grand children. (Its the wording that made me thing she is not talking about the mothers), forgiveness, possible suicide. That is just the few things picket up.

It's not the lyrics to the songs.

Pink, the issue is not with me. Direct it to the people who have been telling Beyoncé this since she was in destinychild. Direct it to people who impose those stereotypes on people. But to, deny the fact that it helps is silly.

It's the issues those people have that it's important in Nina Simone's movie. the most abuse she would have got in regard to her looks have come from black people, let alone racist. That is why it's important.

Maybe you should read marita Goldens book don't play in the sun about one woman's journey through the colour complex. She might give a better explanation and perspective than I would.

I am not sure Beyoncé would quite risk her career the way Nina Simone did but it's a risk she didn't need to take

Does she speak to all young black women no of course not but having a powerful role model even if she is backed up by a huge team of promoters/song writers etc (which we all know she is) it's a gamble that is to be admired and if she is speaking to many that is a good thing

I think it's a mixture of her ambition and the changes she is personally going through that is driving force behind this Beyonce has always looked for ways to stay relevant and if by doing that she is getting over a message well thats far more empowering than another singer grating on stage

Genuine question: why is it important that a woman with the exact skin tone and nose shape to nina simone play her in a film? If Saldana got the character and voice the best then why wouldn't she play her?

There are plenty of actors and actresses who don't look like the people they play, they make changes to their appearance and get prosthetics to do so. Why is it so negative to have done in this case?

Because Nina Simone wasn't promoted and marketed in the same way as she would have been if she say looked like Diana Ross (another black women who suffered prejudice but was able to break barriers)

Pretty women having tantrums are divas not such good looking women are difficult and angry particularly if they are black women

It’s as though Hollywood can only handle the idea of a less than conventionally attractive women in a lead role if those looks are achieved by prosthetics. So they can then appear swan like on the red carpet and promotional trail.

Similar to Charlize Theron in Monster. Only pretty is allowed to play ugly.

Charlize Theron won an Oscar for Monster. Isn't it a bit offensive to claim that she only got the role because she was pretty rather than because she was a good actress?

Yes how could such a beautiful looking women play such an ugly, angry vile women

Hollywood were amazed not that she wasn't good in the film but was certainly helped that she managed to transform herself with the aid of make up artists

How exactly is that offensive Queen? I never said she wasn't a good actor. But of course being beautiful helped her get that role. Do you seriously think Oscars are given on merit alone?

I really like the album. A lot.

But I'm struggling to see all the personal anger and pain as an empowered feminist statement. I could buy it if she'd chucked Jay-Z.

I don't understand why people have to engage in hyperbole. Just because something is A powerful black statement doesn't mean it is THE MOST powerful black feminist piece of work.

Like, have you ever cracked a book?

The stanning over this album is just embarrassing.

Some of this thread reminds me of the people who complained about the black lives matter campaign.
Sometimes you just can't engage with that level of stupid.

I loved that she featured the works of and credited the British somali poet warsan Shire in her album. Like chimamanda ngozi in the previous album, what's remarkable about these last two albums is that she gives recognition to black female intellectuals as well. Warsaw shire's poetry about being black, female, child of immigrants, really resonates with me and so I was so glad to hear she was being given this huge platform to showcase some of her work.

www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160425-theres-more-to-warsan-shire-than-the-beyonc-video

I do think that the only person who has used the word most powerful black feminist is the op. I have also said that, people like Gill Scott have made similar statements before and the only people who listen are some black and a very few other people. Other than that no one cares.

Is this album going to make a impact? I would say yes. If it can make people like Pearce question themselves next time they accuse a black woman for being too black and threatening, then yes.

I also, think it's great that it will open conversation about black women other than skin colour and hair. She may have included the mothers behind the young men killed, but the story should be more than that. She mentions prison which seems to be a past time for black American men.
A black woman's mental health.
The devotion to god which is sometimes inseparable from the black community. For someone, like me I would ask what it's purpose is and whether it's a hindrance on black women ability to move forward as a race.

There is a huge mental health issue in America among black women and they are not seeking help. Are they dealing with god rather than finding a therapist? Are they too poor to actually pay for one. Or have they been conditioned to not talk about their issues because they have everyone else to bare.

Some of the topics too, looks at the generations upon generations of women who support each other without the men. If they spent less time in prisons would the you boys and men be any different in America. So, how can they change that? For most black parents even in the uk, they have to bring up their children differently. You may not notice it but it happens because they have to not only protect their children from forces within the black community but racism too.

It's ok to talk about black live matter. No one in the black lives matter camp is saying other live does not matter. They are asking for black lives to be as valuable as everyone else.
This has nothing to do with black on black crimes because black people talk about that too. The only difference is it does not affect white people. Which means it's not news worthy.

In all the matters which affects black community it's the women that carry all of the burden. The women feel the need to carry the race forward. That is the burden black women have. Black women may have all different personalities and features. At the end of the day they will still be lumped in one group.

Agreed Pagwatch

Are we seriously talking about the benefits of skin tone amongst black women on a thread about Beyonce!!!! You only have to look at her pictures over the last 15 years to find an obvious correlation. Also try Rhianna, Nicky Minaj - or another black female artists with a mildly successful career.

Superstars aside, ANY basic black history book will cover this topic. It's basic. It's written in history books. Its even in books which have been written from the accounts of white people - and how they have viewed and hired blacks. Too deny it is silly and I for one, will try not to 'engage with that level of stupid'.

So... anyway....

I am really starting to appreciate the power of the black lives matter movement and feel that it's finally moved on to the next stage. Obviously there are not that many stars as rich as Beyonce who will be brave enough and able to follow in her footsteps. But hopefully with Serena et al, the ground work that the blm movement has done will grow louder via the voices of the famous, and start to give others the power to follow it AND encourage the wider world to listen without offence and feeling threatened. Hopefully!

Very interesting what the someone said up-thread about her sales. Also very positive.

Taking the seasoned opinions of the posters who are likely to appear on this thread aside, I feel her work and the power it will have in highlighting these issues to the younger generation is important. I know we have a younger generation of educated, powerful young black women but the fashion seems to be to align with the educated 'hipster' movement. Unfortunately one I have also found to be silencing of race issues whilst taking the activist label.

I really struggle with the mainstreams position on race and the lack of voice or care I hear from my even my white friends and colleagues. A voice like Beyonce's makes it harder for people to plead ignorance whilst knowing and caring about all the other injustices in the world.

Race is such a funny one isn't it? Why?

Is there any way to watch the video online? Music videos are normally on youtube but I can't find it?

Haven't heard the album but glad she's taking this direction. What's more, I hope it's more than a "Kylie does folk" or "Robbie Williams goes indie" sort of blip in her career. Not that you can compare either of those things to the importance of black feminism of course! I hope she continues in this direction, becomes a socialist and runs for president some day [wishful thinking]

About 4 weeks ago I traveled and met a group of young German men (3). I had also met a group of English people (about 12 in total) and people from Belgium (also 3).

After a few nights when the whole group were a lot more comfortable, and after a few drinks, the issue of dating came up. I was with my partner. Anyway we were talking about cultural differences according to countries, then the issue of race came up.

One person asked about dating outside of race, and another piped up and pointed to who his friend and said he looooves black women whilst proceeding to point to his butt! He then started singing some rubbish song about having a big ass - I cant remember what it was.

The whole group, with the exception of me, found it hilarious!!!!

Personally I thought it was a crap joke and secondly, regardless of my job, my education, my status, my passport, the fact I was on a pretty expensive holiday, or whatever else, my identity had just been reduced to my ass!

Of which I might say, is lacking!

One reminder that before I am a person, or a woman even, I am a black woman! There are many times in my life when it has suited me to know that and there are not many (if any) black women that will not tell you that is the case!

I do think that the only person who has used the word most powerful black feminist is the op.

Yeah, well, that's what I'm responding to! It's stupid to say so. I mean, she's quoting other black intellectuals who've done more than she has!

None of this has anything to do with BLM or colorism tbh so not sure why people are bringing that up. Racism exists and will continue to exist, even after Jay-Z and Beyonce have cashed the cheques from this latest successful album.

Nobody's minds or lives will be changed but everyone will at least have been distracted.

Let me clarify again, I mean the size of her voice and status will mean this is truly groundbreaking. Obviously others have done more, but maybe not in such a significant and wide reaching affect.

None of this has anything to do with BLM or colorism tbh so not sure why people are bringing that up. Racism exists and will continue to exist, even after Jay-Z and Beyonce have cashed the cheques from this latest successful album.

Yes it has everything to do with black lives mater. That is what the song "freedom" on the album is about.
Not only that, she looks at it from the women's perspective.

If I Amy include these two photos which I thought said a lot about the song without explaining racial abuse the women and young girls have faced in the media. It's was knowing the backstory and connecting it to song that made it poignant.

I do think that black feminist are never listened to by other feminist and it was the reason why so many black feminist tried to separate way from the European middle class feminism. They fought for white women and no one else.

In terms of shock value, I agree that it will be the biggest and loudest shout out from a black woman. I also think that it has taken people by surprise. When the New York times featured it on there from page, the comments where shocking. Am also glad that the Internet will now gives a voice to the voiceless.

I do think it will be a different kind of change from what rosa park did. Talking about rosa park, she needed the kind of influence Beyoncé has In order for her statement to have made a difference. People like claudette Colvin was ignored. Mrs parks had to pass the white standard of what constituted good characteristics to be deemed a worthy person to listen to. Martin Luther King used her for the benefit of other black lives.

It's not different to what Beyoncé has done now.