Formation: Beyoncé, SB50 and the backlash of White Tears and Fragility…
Sara Blair-­‐Medeiros, Assistant Director for Outreach, UCD
Chris “Pangie” Pangelina, Residential Education Coordinator, UCD
Tuesday, March 14th, 2017
Convention Center, 214 A
#NASPA17inFormation
Get in Formation:
Session Framework
Program Learning Outcomes:
● Learn how to incorporate popular culture into a discussion about race, gender, LGBTQIA + and performance politics in a way students will engage with
● Demonstrate understanding of how relevant popular culture impacts student understanding of societal issues
● Understand how a popular culture moment can support and further social justice conversation and provide tangible foundations for students to engage in said conversations (Photo: three young Black Girls in white dresses with hats standing in a row in a dimly lit room.) Theoretical Framework:
Helms, Cross, hooks, Crenshaw, Harris-­‐Perry, Bell
Race Issues Today
Formation
(Picture: Beyonce and dance team walking on field in black leather uniforms with black berets emulating the Black Panther’s)
Discussion Questions
• What feelings came up for you when you watched the video?
• What thoughts do you have about the video?
• Did anything surprise you/confuse you?
• What messages are you seeing in the video?
• Do you think this video is important? Why or why not? To what/whom? (Photo: Child in Black Hooded sweatshirt in foreground with arms stretched wide facing police. Police in background with hands up in “don’t shoot” stance facing child.)
Beyoncé Backlash:
Social Media, White Supremacy, and the mixed response to Formation (and SB50 Halftime)
Stay Out of Formation
“People like Peter King, have tweeted "Beyonce Formation video & #SB50 act was anti-­‐police, shameful. Repeats big lie of Michael Brown innocence. Cops deserve support, not criminals.”
“Here's the point. The point is that there are a lot of civil rights leaders that Beyoncé could emulate and talk about. Black Panthers are not someone that need to be emulated.”
Get In Formation
“Too many of us define “white ally” as “someone who is desperately needed by Black people to help them, and therefore deserves all the cookies.” Black excellence is already there, has always been there. It doesn’t need white validation, and the lack of fucks Beyoncé has for white validation from the center of her Black power is giving some white people fits.”
Discussion Questions
• What are your reactions to some of the quotes/articles?
• Thoughts? Feelings?
• What else have you heard that we did not showcase in the last few slides?
• How is the backlash related to the racial issues that are currently at the forefront of the conversation in the US?
(Photo: Bounce artist Big Freeda in a white pantsuit with embroidery on the jacket lapels sitting in an ornate gold chair with blue, white, and gold feathers fanned out like a peacock’s tail on the back of the chair. Sitting in a city street.)
Program Evaluations
1. This program has made you more comfortable incorporating popular culture into discussions about race, gender, LGBTQIA+, and performance politics
a. 90% out of 30 students stated agree or strongly agree
2. You have a better understanding of how relevant popular culture affects societal issues
a. 83% out of 30 students stated agree or strongly agree
3. This is helped you understand how a popular culture moment can support and further social justice conversations
a. 96% out of 30 stated agree or strongly agree “Amazing;; Thank you;; Great presentation. I wish it were longer and there was more discussion on how to use this info w/our students;; Great format and colors wonderfully handled;; It's nice to see one session dedicated to the profession's impact of power;; Excellent presentation;; More time!;; Very knowledgeable!;; Best ever presentation.;; Very interesting;; Outstanding-­need more of this type of presentation;; Great presentation. Liked the theory. Keep doing/giving!”
Furthering the Conversation
• Gender, Race, and Performance Politics -­‐-­‐ Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Chance the Rapper, Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Beyoncé's performance at the CMAs
• Intra-­‐Marginalized Group Appropriation and the intersections of identity (Big Freeda, Messy Maya, Slay, Yaasss, etc)
Further Questions to Consider:
• How do we create spaces for students to tell and/or express their lived narratives within Student Housing? Orientation? First-­‐Year Experience? On campus?
Questions?
Sara Blair-­‐Medeiros: [email protected] Chris “Pangie” Pangelina: [email protected] Picture: Well known New Orleans personality Messy Maya in a graphic t-­‐shirt, purple vest, sunglasses on head. Smiling in front of house on a sidewalk.
References
Evans, N. J., Forney, D. S., & Guido-DiBrito, F. (1998). Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Barnes, T. (2016). The Secret Meaning Behind Coldplay, Bruno Mars and Beyoncé's Halftime Performance. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://mic.com/articles/134597/the-secretmeaning-behind-coldplay-bruno-mars-and-beyonc-s-halftime-performance#.G0Gyx9JC6
Barnes, T. (2016). The Secret Meaning Behind Coldplay, Bruno Mars and Beyoncé's Halftime Performance. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://mic.com/articles/134597/the-secretmeaning-behind-coldplay-bruno-mars-and-beyonc-s-halftime-performance#.G0Gyx9JC6
Formation Doesn't Include Me - And That's Just Fine. (2016). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from https://thecauldron.si.com/formation-doesn-t-include-me-and-that-s-just-fine5db8055f8b75#.o7xe9zduk
NYPD: We’ll protect Beyonce if she apologizes for Super Bowl halftime show. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://thegrio.com/2016/02/20/nypd-well-protect-beyonce-if-sheapologizes-for-super-bowl-halftime-show/
Police union calls for a boycott of Beyonce world tour. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/19/us/beyonce-police-boycott/index.html
Kendrick Lamar won’t face backlash like Beyoncé: Socially conscious art, sexual expression and the policing of black women’s politics. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from
http://www.salon.com/2016/02/17/kendrick_lamar_wont_face_backlash_like_beyonce_socially_conscious_art_sexual_expression_and_the_policing_of_black_womens_politic
Ellen, B. (2016). Beyoncé: The superstar who brought black power to the Super Bowl | Observer profile. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/14/beyonce-profile-black-power-super-bowl-civil-rights
Dart, T. (2016). Texas A&M investigates alleged racial abuse of black high schoolers on visit. Retrieved August 12, 2016, from
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/12/texas-am-racial-harassment-black-high-school-students
White Fox Analyst Advises Beyonce On Which Civil Rights Leaders She Should "Emulate" (2016). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/02/11/white-foxanalyst-advises-beyonce-on-which-civi/208522
Why Are People Suddenly Afraid of Beyonce's Black Pride? (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/6873899/beyonce-formation-essay
Beyonce's Formation Is Not Anti-White, It Is Black Pride. (2016). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from https://theodysseyonline.com/wcsu/beyonces-formation-anti-white-black-pride/311942
Brown, K. (2016). White People Still Cannot Handle Beyonce's 'Formation' Video . Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://jezebel.com/white-people-still-cannot-handle-beyoncesformation-vid-1759502676
We Slay, Part I. (2016). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://newsouthnegress.com/southernslayings/
The Heartbreaking Backstory Of The Voice That Opens Beyonce's New Hit Single. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://fusion.net/story/266893/beyonce-formation-superbowlmessy-mya-new-orleans/?utm_source=twitter
Beyonce Formation Messy Mya Murder. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://www.refinery29.com/2016/02/103203/the-heartbreaking-true-story-behind-beyonce-s-formation
Nation of Islam vows to protect Beyonce if the police won’t. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://thegrio.com/2016/02/22/nation-of-islam-vows-to-protect-beyonce-if-the-policewont/
The Black Panthers - History Learning Site. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2016, from http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/the-civil-rights-movement-in-america-1945-to-1968/the-blackpanthers/
Thank you for
joining us today!
Please remember to complete
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evaluation following the
conference.
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See you in Philly in 2018!