From Superbowl Sunday to the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, the American audience, and people as a whole, have been presented with plenty of food for thought they were not necessarily prepared to chew on. Beyoncé graced us with the gift of “Formation," a Super Bowl performance met with immediate controversy and adoration, and Kendrick Lamar set the Grammy stage ablaze with a stellar performance of “Blacker the Berry” and “Alright." Both of these music moguls finished their performances with their respective audiences applauding and cheering, but it was only a matter of time before the backlash ignited on social media. So, what exactly is going on here?
It’s the same thing Nina Simone and Billie Holiday did with “Strange Fruit” and the same thing Public Enemy did with “Fight The Power," just on an entirely larger scale. Activism and art have always gone hand it hand, but in the entertainment industry today, musicians, actors and athletes have incredible power and influence they never had before. And with the enormous help of social media, conversations can be started and reach millions of people worldwide. But what we’re dealing with, in regards to Beyoncé and Kendrick, echoes the issues around race and oppression we’ve grown accustomed to hearing every day.
Since the murder of Trayvon Martin, there have been countless innocent black boys, girls, men and women who have been killed by police. The Black Lives Matter movement has been able to rile together millions of people, but as successful as the movement has been, the name has been tarnished by people who argue the opposite. Though Kendrick and Beyoncé did not make reference to the movement at all in their performances, their messages were clear. It is 2016, and racial inequality and oppression is as alive as ever. It is time for change, and these two superstars won’t be quiet about it. The songs performed stand alone as incredibly moving and thought-provoking lyrical pieces, but the performances add artistry and push people to think further. Kendrick hit the stage in a prison jumpsuit, chained and shackled, and Beyoncé entered the field in her finest militant attire, backed by an army of women wearing their Black Panther berets. As much as any Beyoncé or Kendrick fan would like to remain colorblind or blissfully ignorant, your favorite artists just won’t let you anymore.
