As Afrika UK gears up for the first visit to these shores of Warrior Scholar Activist Baba Zak Kondo, one of world’s leading experts on the life and death of the Eminent Prophet Omowale Malcolm X (https://alkebulan.org/omxobservance/), the slain leader’s is in headlines thanks to an unlikely source – R & B superstar Beyoncé Knowles.
As Panama Jackson, co-founder and senior editor of VerySmartBrothas.com put it: “Beyoncé Went Full Black, Apparently.” (1) On February 7th, one day after what would have been Trayvon Martin’s 21st birthday and one day before what would have been Sandra Bland’s 29th birthday, the singer released Formation, a brand new song with accompanying video. After two days it had registered over 7 million views on YouTube and has been interpreted by many as both a political statement and affirmation on self love (although references to being “a black Bill Gates” are less straightforward).
With yet more political symbolism, Formation, complete with black beret and black leather wearing, afro puffed dancers donning Black Power salutes and standing in an ‘x’ formation, was performed during the half-time show at the American Football Super Bowl the following the day. Unsurprisingly, white America was apoplectic, with former New York City Rudy Giuliani leading the charge:
“I thought that she used it as a platform to attack police officers, who are the people who protect her and protect us and keep us alive. And what we should be doing, in the African-American community and in all communities, is build up respect for police officers and focus on the fact that when something does go wrong, OK, we’ll work on that.” (2)
Giuliani also features prominently in the publicity for a protest outside National Football League offices against the singer’s so-called “race-baiting” that has been planned by a group calling itself “Proud Of The Blues” (which presumably is not a Ma Rainey appreciation society) for 16/02/16. Their mobilising points include:
· Are you offended as an American that Beyoncé pulled her race-baiting stunt at the Superbowl?
· Do you agree that it was a slap in the face to law enforcement?
· Do you agree that the Black Panthers was/is a hate group which should not be glorified?
· Come and let’s stand together. Let’s tell the NFL we don’t want hate speech & racism at the Superbowl ever again! (3)
In addition to suggesting that the performance may harm her career, UK newspaper The Sun joined the protest: “Murder, drugs, extortion… Why the hell is Beyoncé saluting the criminal Black Panthers?” (4)
In stark contrast, former Black Panther William Johnson thanked Beyoncé “For Her Courage”:
“As an original member of the Black Panther Party I thank Beyoncé for her courage to make a statement on National TV. I am sure she understood the backlash that would follow her performance @ the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl, so on behalf of The National Alumni Association of the Black Panther Party we thank you & salute you… It opens the door for us to tell our true history, because most of the youngsters, even a lot of the young activists, by the time, they were born, the Black Panther Party didn’t even exist but a lot of them had free breakfast in their schools. And a lot of them don’t know why. So it’s a chance for us to give them our true history and our legacy.” (5)
There were also words of support from the family of Omowale Malcolm X. His daughter Sis. Ilyasah Shabazz told reporters “I absolutely loved it.” Sis. Ilyasah added that someone from Beyoncé’s reached out to her and family members to participate in the Formation music video although they were not able to be involved. (6)
However, not everyone in the community joined the Beyoncé love-in. writing in The Independent, Bro. Kehinde Andrews opined: “Beyoncé’s ‘bootylicious’ sexualisation of black women isn’t inspiring – and her politics leave a lot to be desired.” He added: “Never before has so much been made over a one and a half minute performance, with everyone so quick to embrace a performance that was the epitome of style over substance… the test of Beyoncé’s politics will be what she does now, because one half time show performance does not make a revolution.” (7)
Bro. Ajamu Baraka, human rights activist, organizer, geo-political analyst Associate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies didn’t pull any punches, dismissing both the performance and her video as “conservative” and “accommodationist”:
“I cannot for the life of me understand how Beyoncé’s commodified caricature of black opposition was in any way progressive. Instead what I saw was the cultural power of neoliberal capitalism to co-opt opposition, monetize it and provide some mindless entertainment all at the same time. I didn’t see opposition; I saw the imagery and symbols of authentic black radicalism grotesquely transformed into a de-politicized spectacle by gyrating, light-skinned booty-short-clad sisters.” (8).
Offering what could be described as a more nuanced perspective, Black Agenda Report executive editor Glen Ford suggested that: “Fans and critics alike have over-interpreted Beyoncé’s latest commercial product.” He further suggested that the “movement” was the point of the matter. (9)
Since being criticized in 2012 by Harry Belafonte for “turning their back on social responsibility” (10), Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z have reportedly contributed “tens of thousands” of dollars bail for protesters in Baltimore and Ferguson (11) and donated $1.5m to Black Lives Matter (12). But with a net worth of one billion dollars, this is arguably a drop in the ocean for them. (13).
Nevertheless, some have argued that critiquing an R & B singer as if she’s a seasoned political activist/analyst misses the point and in a climate where political engagement among general community members, let alone celebrities is minimal. This is the time of year, 90 years ago, when what we know as Black History Month began. It is also the period of the assassination of Omowale Malcolm X and Black Panther Party will be 50 years old this October. It’s clear that the system of global white supremacy is taking this opportunity to eviscerate their legacies (e.g. “hate group”, etc.) It might be an idea to give more consideration to highlighting the trajectory of the “movement” from Malcolm X through the Panthers and up to the present.
(1) Jackson, Panama (08/02/16) Beyoncé Went Full Black, Apparently. I’m Here for It.http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/02/beyonce_went_full_black_apparently_i_m_here_for_it.html?wpisrc=obinsite.(2) Rosenbaum, Sophia (08/02/16) Giuliani blasts Beyoncé for ‘attack’ on cops. http://nypost.com/2016/02/08/giuliani-blasts-beyonce-for-attack-on-cops/. (3) Sky News (10/02/16) Rally Over Beyonce’s ‘Race-Baiting’ NFL Show. http://news.sky.com/story/1639324/rally-over-beyonces-race-baiting-nfl-show(4) Iggulden, Caroline (10/02/16) Murder, drugs, extortion… Why the hell is Beyonce saluting the criminal Black Panthers? http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/6921435/Murder-drugs-extortion-Why-the-hell-is-Beyonce-saluting-the-criminal-Black-Panthers.html (5) Penrice, Ronda Racha (10?02/16) Former Black Panthers react to Beyoncé’s Super Bowl performance. http://thegrio.com/2016/02/10/former-black-panthers-react-beyonce-super-bowl/ by | February 10, 2016 at 2:03 PM. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/24/uks-first-supersized-titan-jail-to-be-run-by-public-prison-service. (6) Mohr, Ian and Rosenbaum, Sophia (08/02/16) Malcolm X’s family loved Beyoncé’s Super Bowl tribute. http://pagesix.com/2016/02/08/malcom-xs-family-loved-beyonces-super-bowl-tribute/. (7) Andrews, Kehinde: Prime Minister outlines plan for reform of prisons (11/02/16). Beyonce’s ‘bootylicious’ sexualisation of black women isn’t inspiring – and her politics leave a lot to be desired.http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/beyonces-bootylicious-over-sexualisation-of-black-women-isnt-inspiring-and-her-politics-leave-a-lot-a6867561.html. (8) Baraka, Ajamu release (10/02/16) Beyonce and the Politics of Cultural Dominance. http://www.blackagendareport.com/beyonce_politics_social_dominance (9) Ford, Glen (09/02/16) Beyoncé, James Brown and Black Movements. http://www.blackagendareport.com/beyonce_james_brown_black_movements(10) Watkins, Dr. Boyce (07/2012) Harry Belafonte Calls Out Jay-Z and Beyonce for Selfishness. http://www.nationalurbanmedia.com/Harry-Belafonte-Calls-Out-Jay-Z-and-Beyonce-for-Selfishness/ (11) Glenza, Jessica (18/05/15) Jay Z and Beyoncé bailed out protesters in Baltimore and Ferguson, activist says. http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/18/jay-z-beyonce-baltimore-ferguson-protests-bail-money (12) Daisy Jones (08/02/16) Jay-Z and Beyoncé are donating $1.5m to Black Lives Matter.http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/29690/1/jay-z-and-beyonce-are-donating-1-5m-to-black-lives-matter (13) Claire Lampen (11/02/16) What Are Beyoncé and Jay Z’s Net Worth? Hip-Hop’s Royal Couple Pulls in Serious Cash. http://news.yahoo.com/beyonc-jay-zs-net-worth-150200811.html
So we ask the question:
Beyoncé at Super Bowl – Black Power tribute or commodification?
1. Are Beyoncé’s new video and super bowl performance acts of courage?
2. Was she “race-baiting”?
3. Or is she sexualising and de-politicising the “movement”?
4. Has Beyoncé provided “a chance for us to give them our true history and our legacy”?
5. Or has she belittled it?
6. What is the role of celebrities in the “movement”?
7. Should the discussion be moving away from celebrities and onto promoting (and defending) the legacies of Omowale Malcolm X and the Black Panther Party?
Our special guests are:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and UNIA-ACL Ambassador for the UK and national co-Chair of the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 30 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An Africentric Guide To Excellence.
Dr Kehinde Andrews: Is the Chair of the Organization of Black Unity (OBU) and Senior Lecturer/ Reader in Sociology Birmingham City University. OBU is a movement founded in Birmingham that have updated the Organisation of African American Unity founded in 1964 by Omowale Malcolm X.
OneNess Sankara: Long standing activist and Spoken Word Artist. OneNess has been a youth organiser associated with many organisations in the community and is a member of the Best Kept Secret Spoken Word Collective, who’s productions have revolutionised Black Political Spoken Word Theatre.
AFRIKA SPEAKS with ALKEBU-LAN on GALAXY RADIO!
Hear weekly discussions and lively debate on all issues affecting the Afrikan community, at home and abroad. We talk it straight and make it plain!
ASwA Hosted by Sis Kai Ouagadou-Mbandaka and Bro. Omowale Kwaw
CLICK HERE to view latest AFRIKA SPEAKS show details. Leave a comment and contribute to the discussion.
Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan
Galaxy Radio | 102.5fm | http://www.galaxyafiwe.com (To listen live)
MONDAY 8pm-10pm
4-6 pm Eastern Caribbean Time
12-2 pm Pacific Standard Time
1-3 pm Mountain Standard Time
2-4 pm Central Standard Time
3-4 pm Eastern Standard Time