Daniela Velazquez
GWSS 241 Post #3
May 19th, 2020
“Reproduction or memory, live or Memorex: all these are ways black folks have upended the status quo, shattering the glass- using quotation, sampling, storying, and saving the scraps of things to stitch together something although more powerful”. I feel that this quote by Kevin Young in “Final Chorus: Planet Rock, The End of the Record” highly encompasses what black artists like Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, and Childish Gambino have done in their music to bring social issues to light. As we have seen in Beyonce’s “Lemonade” movie, we see how she highlights sexuality, representations of femme and southern black womanhood through visual story telling. As Daphne A Brooks put it, Beyonce “executed and inspired, insurgent assault on the media”. I greatly enjoyed this week’s material because I feel that Beyonce has highly influenced the way I have presented my opinions, especially after she released “Lemonade”. I grew up in St. Louis where there is a strong divide between people who believe in social issues and justify any wrongdoings by law enforcement.
After the shooting of Micheal Brown in 2014, tensions about these two issues were high in St. Louis. It was difficult for me to express my opinions on the broken system that we live in without feeling like I was walking on eggshells. After hearing and watching “Lemonade”, I felt inspired to also make my opinions shine high and mighty after seeing Bey do it so gracefully. Despite the backlash she dealt with in the media, and high criticism on who she should be and what kind of messages she should be putting out there, it showed me that these conversations are important to bring to light proudly.
The two songs I have decided to add to this entry post are “American Idiot” by Green Day and “I’m Just A Girl” by No Doubt. Ever since I was young I have been intrigued by politically charged angsty music. I remember both of these songs being an entryway to that interest. Although, being eight years old I felt some sort of shame to this realm of interest. I'm happy to say Beyonce helped me turn that shame to pride.
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