Beyonce: You Know You That B***h When You Cause All This Conversation

There’s a lot of “thoughts” (read: memes) going around throwing their 2 cents in on Beyonce’s halftime performance and her new single, Formation.

The controversy actually centers around two separate events: the video for Formation and the halftime show itself.

The video is an expression of black pride. It’s Beyonce’s explanation of her heritage and how that affects how she walks through life (or dances or slays or sings or reigns). It’s also a call for black women to “get in formation,” to be themselves and to own that identity in a culture that typically doesn’t leave space for black people, let alone women. It’s also noteworthy that there is a controversial shot of white police putting their hands up in a nod to the #blacklivesmatter movement and “hands up, don’t shoot.” This comes just before a wide shot of graffiti reading, “stop killing us.”

The halftime show was similarly politically loaded. The show began with an all black female dance ensemble that were dressed in costumes that were a pretty obvious nod to the Black Panther Party of Self Defense. A piece of choreography also had the ensemble throw their fists up in the air in another nod to the Black Panther movement.

And the internet is up in arms. The right has some things to say, the left has some things to say. Black Americans have some things to say, White Americans have some things to say. Americans and the rest of the world have some things to say.

And because of facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and reddit, most people are talking with bumper sticker slogans and memes. I’m not mad about it. This is how conversations start. And one thing everyone can agree on is Beyonce was right, “you know you that b***h when you cause all this conversation.”

Here’s what BOTH SIDES are reblogging:

Source: Boycott Beyonce (Facebook)

Source: Unapologetically Black (Facebook)

Source: Boycott Beyonce (Facebook)

Source: Twitter

Source: Fox News

My exact words after the video "Don't miss the message" @Beyonce #Formation #BlackHistoryMonth
Ladies, Power Up. pic.twitter.com/i7dJOkBHAZ

— Dara Jendayi (@Jendayi_Dara) February 7, 2016

Source: Twitter

Source: Facebook

And then there’s this super relevant and important point:

Now, it's to my understanding that there's a @coldplay, @beyonce, and @brunomars concert today, and they're also having a football game, or something, at it? ? Have you guys heard about this also, or am I going crazy? ? #Gay #SuperBowl50 #Panthers #Brancos #SFBay #SFBayArena #MayTheBestTeamWin #CongratsToBoth #Coldplay #Beyonce #BeyHive #BrunoMars

A photo posted by Eddie Williams (@imeddiewilliams) on Feb 7, 2016 at 12:54pm PST

Source: Instagram

So where does everyone fall? Drop us a comment. We want to hear your voice.