Kristi Love | Black Excellence

We don’t know how, but in case you missed it- Beyoncé performed at Coachella over the weekend. Here’s your lesson plan outlined

Beyoncé is the First Black Woman to perform as the headliner at Coachella

HBCU Homecoming/Halftime Show Experience

• Her sorority- Beta Delta Kappa (BAK) including her line sisters (dancers)
• Her probate- introducing the ‘Bug-a-Boos
• Her step show
• The band (The Buzz)- her halftime show with a Drum Line highlighting (of course) a majorette and the percussion section
• Swag Surffin- if your HBCU didn’t play this on campus (at all), we may have to question if it’s an HBCU
• Dislocating dancers and pop-lockers
• Sphinx shaped bleachers

 

 

 

Beyoncé gave homage to:

• Fela Kuti – The Buzz played ‘Zombie’
• Nina Someone- 1954, ‘Lilac Wine’ and a small excerpt from ‘Strange Fruit’
• Malcolm X- May 5th, 1962 speech, ‘Who taught you to hate yourself’ salute to Black women
• Women Empowerment (specifically to Black Women)- ‘Ok ladies, now let’s get IN FORMATION
  • Excerpt from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 2013 Tedx Talk, “We should all be feminist”
  • An all Female line of violinist

She sang the Black National Anthem- “Lift Every Voice”

• We could end right here

Beyoncé’s fashion

• Greek attire- Bodysuits, boots, jumpers, Greek lettering
• Beyoncé’s Shield 2018- Branding and representation
• Homage to the Black Egyptian Queen Nefertiti
  

  

  

  
• Black Power/Black Fist
• Black Panther
• Infamous Bee- The Beyhive
• Military attire

Special Guest

• Her husband, Jay-Z
• Destiny’s Child reunion- her ‘sisters’, Michelle and Kelly
• Her sister/dance partner- Solange
• The Les Twins- Laurent Nicolas & Larry Nicolas Bourgeois

What did we miss? Please comment below on your favorite part of the show and more. What songs were played that we did not give props to? Beyoncé took us to Wakanda, a HBCU Homecoming, a probate, step show, and the halftime show. She gave us Black excellence and showed us poise in the midst of a wardrobe malfunction the last 10 minutes or so of her show. This two-hour show was one of her best performances to date. Lessons learned- Make no apologies for who you are. Be unapologetically Black- be YOU. Now stay woke!