In Beyoncé’s “Formation” music video, the theme of unity during hardship is presented through the concept of drowning. This theme is exemplified in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and also in the empty swimming pool scene. In the music video a large focus is on the black community and sticking together. The empowered black women that spend time with Beyoncé, and Beyoncé herself are key examples of this unity. Through the prevailing use of water, Beyoncé was able to display the hard truth of how violence and hatred affects the black community and how sticking together helps combat these issue. 

The first image where the concept of water is shown is in the pool scene. Beyoncé is in an empty swimming pool with a group of women. The women in the pool all have similar characteristics. Their hair is relaxed in an afro style, their clothing are all the same grey and white pattern, and they are all black.  By portraying these women as physically similar, Beyoncé sends a message of semblance and group camaraderie. As the scene begins, the women begin dancing in “formation”. They are shown using powerful motions such as linking arms, flexing their biceps and leaning on one another for support, all while lyrics such as “I slay, I slay” are playing. Although anyone can feel this sense of empowerment through Beyoncé’s lyrics, it is specifically directed towards black women. Beyoncé is sending a message to the black community saying “you are strong, despite the hardships you have endured”. This sends a message to the audience that black women can empower one another. The water is representational of the issue of police brutality specifically that the black community has been dealing with recently. Controversial cases dealing with police brutality such as Trayvon Martin have hindered individual success and instead led to groups coming together in the form of peaceful and non-peaceful protest. Beyoncé is telling the black community, especially women, that in the face of hardship one can only stay afloat with the help of others. 

In the Formation music video, Beyoncé is lying on a New Orleans police car. At first, this might not seem all that significant. However, New Orleans was where Hurricane Katrina happened in 2005. Not only did the hurricane devastate communities in the area, but it also left many people impoverished and helpless. The way that the hurricane cleanup was facilitated back in 2005 was questioned greatly. Many people claimed that not enough aid was given by the government, and one of the reasons for this was because New Orleans is primarily a low-income black community. Although this isn’t a proven argument, it is one known by many to be true. By alluding to this, Beyoncé threw in another reference to the black community and how the treatment of the situation affected the people of New Orleans. In the scene Beyoncé is wearing a longer red colored dress. The red is a symbol for blood, which is a consequence of ignorance and police brutality. As she lies on this car the water from the Hurricane is closing in on her. Instead of struggling to stay afloat, she simply sinks beneath the water. This symbolizes the “drowning” an individual goes through when they do not have anyone to keep them afloat during hard times. Unlike the pool scene discussed previously, Beyoncé is all by herself. Without the help of a strong community, she sunk into the violence and hatred that she faced. Violence and police brutality have been a major topic in our society recently. Correcting these life altering issues is not as easy task. However, in Formation by Beyoncé, a message is being sent that joining together will help individuals from drowning into the hatred that exists. 

The Formation music video evokes a strong sense of community for the viewer. Seeing the hardships that face the black community on a daily basis provides viewers with a new sense of empathy. This music video is directed towards the white community. Beyoncé exemplifies the suffering of the black community through significant events in our country. In the New Orleans Police car scene, this suffering was shown through Beyoncé drowning beneath the flood water. This symbolized that individuals must stick together in hard times, or they too may sink. After watching this music video, a viewer can gain a better knowledge about what it is like to be a black member of society. Things have not always been easy, as shown in the music video. A white member of society who watches this video will gain empathy for the black community and the struggles that are prevalent to them on a daily basis. 

In a perfect world, issues such as police brutality and racial injustice would not exist. However, members of the black community still suffer from these problems regularly. Until this problem is fixed, people with large social platforms such as Beyoncé will keep the conversation going with videos like Formation. Formation is able to speak to a viewer in a way that shows what it is like for someone in a different position to live. Empathy is produced by the images of the music video and the powerful lyrics Beyoncé sings. This music video is effective in creating a piece of talked about culture, instead of just complaining about inequality and social injustice. It highlights the ways that women can boost morale and help each other during trying times . Sticking together and helping out one another is what keeps individuals in the black community from drowning. Without a strong group behind you, a person is unable to stay afloat in our modern day society.
