Super Bowl show promoted diversity well
“But in our pop culture-crazed, message-driven world, there’s no denying celebrity voices can influence the lives of many. Celebrities such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are part of a refreshing generation of famous voices who are showing that fame can and should be used to push for social justice,” Roxanne Jones, stated on CNN.com.
In Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show, superstar Beyoncé Knowles does what “Queen Bey” does best, she gave an unforgettable, dazzling performance filled with energy. She held the audience captive and made an undeniable statement using her power as a public figure to make a political statement; that black lives matter.
After doing some research and watching the performance a few times, it is clear that there were salutes to Michael Jackson, Malcolm X, and her song choice, “Formation,” speaks to African American women, especially, with the proud and empowering lyrics.
Not only was the halftime performance a nod to powerful African American women, but to anyone who relates to her lyrics. As a female, Beyoncé is someone all women can admire. She is the epitome of a “female boss.”
Coldplay also added to the political fodder with a pro-LGBTQ performance, and the addition of long-time supporter of gay rights, Lady Gaga, singing the national anthem, this Super Bowl was a truly inspiring performance.
Hopefully, this is a sign that our society is finally becoming more tolerant of the differences of others and accepting them as a part of the American framework. The open support for causes like LGBTQ rights and #blacklivesmatter by famous individuals is a great indicator that the need for social justice is not going to be going away any time soon.
On the other side, however, there are always going to people who are critics of the performances, and of the plights of huge sections of the American population. For example, a hashtag popped up on the Internet giving Beyoncé backlash for the music video that accompanies the song she performed at the halftime show. #BoycottBeyonce took off on Twitter. And as soon as the “Queen’s” following saw this, they took to the keyboards. One Beyoncé supporter tweeted, “When she sang about Single Ladies, you were all hailing her as a queen, but now that she’s singing about being black it’s #BoycottBeyonce?”
Anyone who wants to advocate for social justice should not be boycotted, but it is entertaining to watch the haters come out of the woodwork after such a powerful, moving performance. Kudos to the people who arranged the lineup for the halftime show, but good luck trying to top it next year!