When viewing a music video people often read right past the fact that the artist is trying to get across a specific message. There are a lot of different layers within Beyoncé’s “Formation” music video and lyrics, but her main motif is the movement Black Lives Matter. Beyoncé is seen as a wealthy, female, black woman in the celebrity world. However, she is more than just a famous artist who “slays”. Her song “Formation” tells us about who she really is deep down; such as her heritage, her family, and what her fame actually means to her by connecting them to real word situations. Throughout the video, Beyoncé demonstrates power through lyrics and visuals. Beyoncé’s message becomes more empowering when she is set in the scenes of past events that have taken away power and money from black people; Hurricane Katrina, police and plantations.

Beyoncé alone is seen as one of the most powerful and wealthy women in the celebrity world. One scene in which Beyoncé demonstrates the theme of power is when she is standing on top of a cop car. The stage is set in the aftermath of the New Orleans Hurricane Katrina. A police car is submerged under water surrounded by houses also under water. The types of shots used in this scene are long shots and close ups. The long shots show how Beyoncé is the only person in sight in the middle of these murky waters it gives us an idea of what is going on around her. The close ups allow us to get a better view of Beyoncé’s feeling of confidence. Her facial expression is very serious and intimidating. While she may be set in scenes that have stripped black people of their power, she is still standing tall and confident. The camera sets full attention on Beyoncé; therefore, she is the main focus of every viewer’s eyes. When she starts singing her voice is raspy and deep. There is a scene in the music video where Beyoncé features Malcolm X saying, “the most disrespected woman in America is the black woman”. Beyoncé is proving that fact wrong, being that she is a very respected and idolized black woman in today’s society. She is standing on top of the cop car because it demonstrates her feeling powerful as a black woman in today’s society, despite the events that have recently been and previously have taken place between black lives and policemen. Even though her skin color is black it doesn’t mean she can’t be powerful. She wants to end police brutality and she is proving that in this scene of the video. 

Another scene in which Beyoncé demonstrates the theme of power is when she is pictured at a plantation and she sings, “You might just be a black Bill Gates in the making, cause I slay/ I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making.” Bill gates is the richest white man in the world with a lot of power and respect. Beyoncé is telling viewers that black people can be like him too. She is standing tall with pride and her arms in the air. This shows that she has overcome all of the tragic events that have occurred and she is now more powerful than them. She is again shown on top of the cop car, but also at a Southern Plantation, when singing these lines. At the plantation she is shown in bright colored clothing and the scene around her looks pretty and happy. She is representing a white plantation owner showing that society has overcome slavery and black lives have suffered enough pain and they shouldn’t have to anymore. Like Bill Gates plantation owners were very wealthy people so she is showing how she is “a black Bill Gates in the making”. Her daughter Blue Ivy makes an appearance in the music video, giving the message a more powerful and multi-generational feel. Blue represents the innocence of black people. She is “in the making” to become a powerful black woman. She is a small black child who has never done anything to harm the world, much like many of the harmless black adults in today’s society. But many of these innocent black adults seem to be getting mistreated while she is left alone. The present generation of black lives should stay strong and fight for those little black lives so they don’t have to live through this racist society too. Black lives need to realize that they have gotten their freedom and that can’t be taken away from them. Although these incidents may have happened or are happening, that doesn’t mean black people should feel like they have less power in the present or future just because of their skin color. 

While Beyoncé may be setting forth an empowering message to all people, some viewers may disagree. One might argue that Beyoncé is degrading her heritage when set in these scenes. Admittedly, Beyoncé only shows events where power and money has been taken from black people. Viewers may say that she is only owning these events because she hasn’t had to experience them, she is famous and has millions of dollars. She is standing on top of a cop car, but she was never shot by a cop. She is standing at a plantation, but she was never a slave. She is pictured in the flooded waters of Hurricane Katrina, but she doesn’t live in New Orleans. However, she is supporting and speaking for people of her same culture. People love to listen to Beyoncé, so it is only helping to get the message across that today’s society is hurting people of the same race as someone we idol. People can say she has an unfair advantage because of her fame all they want, but famous white people are treated with the same respect as non-famous white people. It almost makes viewers feel sympathetic because of all the tragic events that people have had to go through just because of their skin color. 

The message that Beyoncé is trying to get across is very powerful and has a lot of components to it. This music video along with its lyrics is able to get its message across to people because of the fact that Beyoncé has so much fame and support from fans. She is “slaying” her cultural identity, and very determined to fight for black rights. From the beginning of the music video her connection between black lives and power is very clear. As a black woman in today’s society she has worked very hard to get to the top, and she is not allowing anyone or anything to bring her down. The title “Formation” refers to the fact that even though black people are going through these tough times they should stick together. It’s easier to get through something together rather than alone. 