I was always a huge Beyonce fan. I owned every Destiny's Child CD growing up, and have always felt connected to her lyrics about being strong, unstoppable, and feminine. I followed Beyonce through the years and always dreamed of the day I would see her perform a full concert live.
I somehow got tickets to see Beyonce's Formation World Tour this year, and on June 7, 2016, with my older sister, I arrived at Citi Field to experience my first full night with Beyonce. As soon as I got off the subway, I was immediately struck by the huge crowds. Because I live in the city, I'm used to the crowds, but this crowd was different. For once, I felt a sense of togetherness. We all, obviously, look at Beyonce as a goddess. We all worked and paid money to see her and her greatness. We were all drawn towards the huge arena so we can get seated and prepare our minds and bodies for the amazing entertainer who we all admired for our own reasons.
Beyonce's latest album, "Lemonade," follows the life of a woman who has been betrayed, heartbroken, enlightened, and unapologetic. Every song on the album is a new idea on the emotional roller coaster. It's hard to think that Beyonce, a goddess among mere mortals, has felt the same things that many of us have felt. Beyonce has hit her rock bottom. Beyonce has been hurt by someone she loved. Beyonce has been a victim of our society's standards.
The concert was everything you could have asked for. It was a powerful and personal performance, sprinkled with the black girl magic that Beyonce always delivers. But as Beyonce was giving the performance of a lifetime, something beautiful was happening in the audience.
Everyone was singing their hearts out about being hurt and prospering. Everyone was thinking about their ex, or their demons, or anyone that has ever told them 'no', and they were fighting back with Beyonce's words. Every gender, sexuality, race, religion, education level, every human being there was connected to this idea of 'You hurt me, but you can't stop me'.
It was then, at the Beyonce concert, that I realized that I am not, and never will be, alone in this. Even though it's easier to believe that nobody will ever understand the situation you are in, it's not true. We have all been there. Inevitably, we will all be hurt in this world. Even Beyonce.
Even though Beyonce means something different to everyone, it was undeniable that everybody in the arena was feeling something similar. We all wanted to be stronger than whatever was holding us back. We all wanted to move on and learn from our mistakes.
"I had by ups and downs, but I always find the inner strength to pull myself up. I was served lemons, but I made lemonade." - Hattie White
Stay flawless.
