On September 30th, 2016 Solange Knowles released her third full-length studio album, A Seat at the Table, which features both sedative and effervescent sounds that help to confront and focus on the seemingly undying struggles of the black woman in modern America. These struggles ranging from systematic racism to the blatant brutality of our brothers and sisters. Specifically, the fourth song on the album “Cranes in the Sky,” is a look into Solange’s own personal struggle. The first verse of the song highlights the ways Solange has tried to cope with the pain her and many other women alike face.
I tried to drink it away
I tried to put one in the air
I tried to dance it away
I tried to change it with my hair
Solange sings of acts that portray an extroverted person who is seemingly happy without a care in the world. She drinks, parties, and in some essence conforms to help elude from the idea that she is hurting inside. Many black women are currently living their lives similarly to these lyrics; covering their true pain with the idea of happiness. In the world we live, it is sometimes assumed that the black woman cannot hurt, as if we are to always be strong. In the following verse, Solange speaks of a completely different way of handling the modern aches, these methods being more solitary and secluded.
I tried to keep myself busy
I ran around in circles
Think I made myself dizzy
I slept it away, I sexed it away
I read it away
These lyrics personally resonate with me because this is how I usually tend to handle most of my problems. Rather than facing them head on, I tend to hide from them and find myself finding ways to keep my mind off of them such as with schoolwork or just simply sleeping the day away so that I do not have to think about my troubles. In some cases, some women become overly promiscuous (not to say that is negative) to avoid dealing with their underlying issues. Either path gives each black woman a feeling of relief to the perpetual struggles of our people.
Solange helped to perfectly illustrate in detail the true reality of the plight of black women in this country. She eloquently explains how we attempt to cope and disguise and in essence attempt
