Throughout the music video “Formation” Beyoncé demonstrates the overall theme of how the police and citizens of the United States are going through a rough patch in their relationship. There are two specific scenes where Beyoncé demonstrates this theme. One is where she is sitting on top of a police car while it is being overcome by the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina. The other scene is when a child has his hands at his side facing the police officers and they raise their hands as well as a sign of peace surrendering to the child. Both of these scenes relate to the theme that the relationship between the citizens and police is struggling, and both parties need to come together to fix it. The relationship has been going downhill due to many recent events involving police shootings and videos of police being very aggressive dealing with civilians. Beyoncé is trying to argue that the relationship between the two has been rough lately, but the community is not going to just surrender to the police after everything that has been occurring in today’s society. This relationship is going to take time to be rebuilt, and the police need to realize that the Black community needs assurance that they will not be targeted by the police just due to race. This video is representing the theme that the police need to accept responsibility, and fix this relationship to improve our society.   

The first scene is at 0:58 of the video, when Beyoncé is sitting on top of a police car that is being overcome by the flooding. The water is almost reaching the open windows of the police car. There are eight homes behind her that have been ruined by the flooding as well. The water is reaching half way on the front door on all of the homes shown in this scene. The sun is not out, the sky is very gloomy and dull with very few clouds. There are around ten telephone poles in the background behind the homes. There is a stop sign that has been knocked over and half of the red octagonal figure is underneath the water. There are a total of four cars that are in the scene and they have been flooded and the water is reaching the windows. The scene displays the effect that Hurricane Katrina had on a neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. 

The effect of Hurricane Katrina caused many people in the city of New Orleans to blame law enforcement for the amount of damage that was done. Many people lost their homes, lost family members, and their entire lives flipped upside down. In this scene Beyoncé is trying to demonstrate the theme that the police have abandoned the people of New Orleans. Many people believe that the law enforcement did not do enough to help out New Orleans, and that they waited until it was too late to act. Beyoncé is representing that Katrina was a tragedy, and we cannot let something like this happen again. Due to the fact that a portion of people failed, does not mean that we can blame all police officers. Many officers risk their lives every single day for our protection. We cannot forget that just because a portion of law enforcement did not make the right decision on one specific day. Though we cannot blame all police officers, someone needs to be held responsible for the poor decision making on this day. The police car being half underwater demonstrates that the police failed; and were not there when the people of New Orleans needed them the most. This scene is meant to show how the police and citizens have had many problems, but we must work together to try to rebuild our relationship. As civilians we must trust those in charge to respect our government, but the police must show remorse for their actions. Both parties want peace, and the police must take the first step in this process due to the fact that they are the higher authority that protects our citizens.  

The second scene is at 4:23 shows an African American child wearing a hoodie holding his hands out to his sides facing the police officers. On the other side, there are ten officers who have their hands up as well, giving the sing of peace. The police officers are in riot gear, which tells the viewer that they believed they could be in potential danger. There is a police car with the red and blue lights shinning. The sky is changing color; it seems to be around sunset. The camera shot is an over the shoulder shot, showing the back of the child’s hoodie and the police officers facing the scene, and all of them have water reaching the windows. There are two trees in the background behind the police car that are losing leaves. 

This scene shows the police surrendering and a boy dancing with joy because of the peace between the two parties. The police are not the enemy; they are just the opposite. Beyoncé is trying to tell the world that we have forgotten that the police work to protect the civilians of the United States. She is telling us that sometimes the police fail at their job, and they can make the wrong decision. We are only human, and we will make mistakes sometimes. We cannot let a few mistakes ruin a relationship that has been ongoing for hundreds of years. Beyoncé is demonstrating how we must get in formation and start to trust the police again as a society. The police surrendering will help citizens restore their respect, and trust in the police. Many people fear the police, and do not trust the police with their lives. Many people have gone through hardships due to mistakes by police officers, and it is going to be a long road of recovery. Having a child standing with his hands out, almost dancing towards the police shows the joy that people can have if they trust the police. The police want to gain our trust back, and this image of ten officers with their hands up represents just that. The overall theme that the relationship between the police and society is in a decline is prevalent throughout this video. Beyoncé is demonstrating how the police need to realize that society needs reassurance of their safety, and the police need to apologize for their mishaps. 

The theme that the relationship between the police and civilians of the United States has been declining is demonstrated during the video. Beyoncé demonstrates that the Black community has been through many tragedies and the police need to accept responsibility and fix this matter. Even though the history law enforcement has saved us from an abundance of potential threats, they still must correct their wrong-doings. Beyoncé wants us all to come together in formation and start to piece back together the relationship that has been going on for many years. This relationship is what protects our country, and enables us to feel safe in our homes. 
