On Formation: Beyoncé's Black (Popular) Resistance
I've always been and will always remain skeptical of popular culture - but to deny the power it has over many would be foolish. I've seen what effect a Destiny's Child or later, Beyoncé song has had on the dance floor, even if the lyrics mostly would make me cringe. At 43, I don't have much time for pop culture but sometimes, something really big happens, and deserves my gaze, my time and my words. Such is the case with Beyoncé's Formation. Well, to be honest, I was going to write something about all the fuss over her so-called cultural appropriation in Coldplay's Hymn for the Weekend , but then like so many other ideas I get, I was like Meh, why bother? I know I'm going to get a lot of heat for this, but I really don't think an African American can be accused of cultural appropriation. When I think about race and India, and the general gaze that India seems to have of Africa coupled with ideas of power, well, it just doesn't cut it. I m...