I chose to analyze Formation by Beyoncé, and the accompanying music video. When I first watched the video, I had a hard time realizing the deep meaning behind the images presented. The video is powerful, and has an incredibly important message. Beyoncé strived to bring troubling issues to the forefront of the viewer’s mind, through connotative images and symbols. The issues presented are that of the oppression that has always been placed on African Americans, and that is still being forced on them.  

Firstly, I analyzed her use of the plantation house. The plantation house image is shown in a few different contexts, each highlighting another form of oppression. It is common for people to think of slavery, when thinking of a plantation house, because of how large of a role slaves played in their success. Slaves were not often allowed to be in their master’s home, but when they were, it was to clean and do their chores, nothing else. Beyoncé and other colored women are shown in the home, acting how they would in their own houses. Portraits are also hung on the walls, of African Americans, some in traditional African garments, showing that it in fact their home. Slaves created somewhat of a class system within themselves, dividing the slaves that worked in the home, and slaves that worked in fields or outdoors. House slaves often lived longer, were more respected and were superior to the field workers. In the video, she shows images of women in white and red, colors that symbolize peace, passion, and freedom. Then flashes an image of her in black, a color for mourning, outside of the house. Using the contrast in the scenes, she highlights the class system in the slave community. She also indicates another way that slaves were persecuted when she shows her daughter dressed in white, playing with girls I think meant to represent bridesmaids. Her daughter is dressed in a white dress, with a white veil in her hair, still shown in the plantation house. This is important because slaves were not allowed to marry. They often did marry, but in secret with private ceremonies like jumping the broom, and if their master found out about the marriage they would be sold and separated. Master’s feared their slaves forming bonds, because of the threat of uprisings. Her use of the plantation house, demonstrates the first appearances of African American oppression, and gives a background for the rest of the video, and her use of color and contrast in the images highlights her defiance towards these constructs.  

Next, she displays important aspects of the civil rights movement, and the adverse effects racism had on African Americans. Even after the civil war and the slaves were freed, they were given no rights and had to take part in a long battle for the rights that white men already had. They were subject to extreme discrimination, and were separated from the whites. Jim Crow laws were put in place to keep them separate, and in Plessy v. Ferguson, separate but equal became legal. The Civil Rights Movement illuminated their struggles, and that separate was too often not equal. In the video, Beyoncé is shown with a group of women in a pool, more importantly an empty pool. A common stereotype of African Americans is that they unable to swim. This is due to segregation, and the inequality that accompanied it. Swimming pools were often only available to white people, and African Americans were brutalized and discriminated against. They were not allowed to swim in the same pool as whites. The pool scene is a hint towards this discrimination, and is a defiant stab at the stereotype. Although the pool is empty, she demonstrates power through her choreography. She also does a good job of demonstrating power against discrimination, by showing natural hair. She is pictured with a group of women, wearing natural hair, which is often a source of ridicule. But as a group, they give show a sense of power, through their choreography and their unity. 

The video predominantly is made up of scenes of New Orleans, before and after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The scenes depict the poor districts, which are mostly made up of African Americans. During the disaster, African Americans were the most effected. Most being too poor to evacuate, and their neighborhoods being the most flooded. By having the New Orleans scenes flash between the previously discussed images, she exhibits the presence of discrimination in the disaster. I saw a strong connection between the plantation house and the Hurricane. The wealthy were safer during the hurricane, having the ability to get out, and being less in a less flooded area of New Orleans. This parallels to the safety and privilege found in the slaves’ class system and in the plantation home itself. 

Lastly, I analyzed the police aspect of the video. Recently there has been an epidemic of police shootings, and brutality, primarily towards African Americans. The video shows a wall graffitied with the words, “Stop Shooting Us”. This is a plead to end the racism that still seems to plague our country. The police are spotlighted in a scene where a young boy is dancing in front of a wall of swat team members. Neither side shows any sign of violence. The officers neither stop the boy or join him, eventually they hold up their hands, as if to say “we won’t hurt you”. In my opinion this is the ideal situation, contrast to what happens in reality. One of the last images is the New Orleans Police car completely submerged in the flood waters. I saw this as a way for her to tie all her points together, and leave viewers with a lasting message. Discrimination, from cops, and society as a whole has created a terrible situation for our generation to end.  All of the terrible acts, and bigotry we have committed created a metaphorical flood, and if we can’t stop the injustice and violence, we will all sink together. 

Formation, by Beyoncé is an amazing work of art that compiles the injustice and discrimination that African Americans have faced, and are still plagued by to this day. She demonstrates the history of discrimination artfully and in a way, that captures viewers’ attention, while also showing viewers what injustice is happening right now. I see the video as a continuation of The Civil Rights Movement, and a peaceful protest to the violence occurring against African Americans. More than anything the video is a call to action, for us to take the necessary steps to end the corruption and injustice.  
