Beyoncé is a very popular singer and performer in the world today. He has many awards and a very loyal fan base. Throughout his career he has used his albums and performances to make statements about politics and issues happening in the world. One of the strongest examples of this is one of his most recently released singles, “Formation.” In the single he comments on equality, police brutality and feminism. He uses imagery, voiceovers, and lyrics to make this point throughout the song and accompanying video. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay With twenty-four Grammy Awards, twenty MTV Music Awards, and millions of adoring fans, artist Beyoncé Knowles is undoubtedly one of the most iconic celebrities in the world today. Throughout her award-winning solo career, Beyoncé has often used her fame as a platform to promote her beliefs. For example, many of her lyrics, performances, and music videos include themes such as feminism and equality. One of the singer's most recent releases, “Formation,” is no different. The video for the new single begins with a voiceover question: "What happened to New Wil'ins?" (Beyoncé, 2016). In the background, Beyoncé crouches on the roof of a New Orleans police car, staring intently at the camera. As the video continues, it is revealed that the supporting actor and the dancers are strong, black men and women. There are many powerful scenes that connect to events happening in today's society. It's clear that Beyoncé was influenced by police brutality and feminism for this video. On February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin went from his father's house to the local convenience store and purchased iced tea and candy. On the way home, Martin was followed by George Zimmerman, the local neighborhood watch coordinator. After following Martin for several minutes, Zimmerman called 911, stating there was a suspicious black male walking the streets. Although dispatch ordered Zimmerman to stop stalking Martin, he continued to do so until a violent altercation occurred between the two. Shortly thereafter, Zimmerman shot the teenager in the chest, killing him. At trial Zimmerman was charged with the murder of Trayvon Martin but was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. The acquittal caused outrage for many who believed that Martin was racially profiled and that the murder should be classified as a civil rights violation (Yartey, 2013). Among those outraged were sisters Alicia Garza, Patrisse Collors and Opal Tometi who, in response to the shooting, founded the Black Lives Matter movement. The movement is described by Garza as “a call to action and a response to the virulent anti-Black racism that permeates our society” (2012). Black Lives Matter is still in force today and has gained recognition from major celebrities like Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z, who donated $1.5 million to the organization in 2016, just days after “Formation” debuted ( Stutz, 2016). .Exactly one day after the release of “Formation,” Beyoncé took the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show, performing the newly released single. She and her dancers were dressed in black leather and berets that many believe was a nod to the Black Panthers Party, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. The organization, originally called the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, not only provided self-defense militants to minorities in the United States, but also fought for the establishment of “true social, economic, and political equality for all races and sexes.” . (Elgot,2016). After the show, the political statements continued. Many of Beyoncé's backup dancers took to social media, tweeting a photo of themselves holding a sign that read: "Justice 4 Mario Woods." Woods was a young black man who was shot and killed by San Francisco police in December 2016. Police publicly announced that Woods was armed and holding a knife out toward an officer. However, footage of the shooting quickly disproved the claim, causing outrage among many. Beyoncé's performance of "Formation" at the Super Bowl drew very mixed reactions. Many took to social media to share their opinions. Journalist Michelle Malkin argues that the show did nothing to help advance racial equality, but rather promoted racial segregation. After the performance she wrote on Twitter: “Because nothing unites us better than an angry @Beyoncé shaking her ass and repeatedly shouting 'Nigger.' #sb50” (Malkin, 2016). While there were many similar sentiments shared, there were also many who supported and praised the singer, including several past members of the Black Panther's Party. On the official Facebook page of the National Alumni Association of the Black Panther party, several posts were shared thanking Beyoncé for the shared message. One of the most popular posts, written by William Johnson, states: “As an original member of the Black Panther Party I thank Beyoncé for her courage in making a statement on national TV. I'm sure he understood the backlash that would follow his performance on the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl, so on behalf of the National Alumni Association of the Black Panther Party we thank you and salute you” (2016). While there are many different views and opinions, it is clear that Beyoncé's performance was controversial and extremely impactful. A defining influence portrayed in the music video for "Formation" is the Black Lives Matter movement and its ideals such as equality and anti-police brutality. . Perhaps one of the most obvious examples of this comes towards the end of the video when a wall is shown with the words "Stop shooting at us" written in crude graffiti. The direct use of these words is a clear reference to the Black Lives Matter organization, which often uses the slogan while speaking out against police brutality (Donelan, 2016). Writer and critic Anna Leszkiewicz stated that the inclusion of these words is "A message from Beyoncé to eliminate those who support her music but not racial equality" (2016). Although this message was very clear, a few months after the video's release, Beyoncé wrote an open letter to the police. He writes: “We are sick and tired of the murders of young men and women in our communities. It's up to us to take a stand and demand that they "stop killing us." We don't need sympathy. We need everyone to respect our lives. (Beyoncé, 2016). The use of the phrase “stop killing us” is very similar to “stop shooting us.” One reason could be that the artist combines the two aspects and emphasizes his point of view. Another example of the theme of anti-police brutality in “Formation” is when the video depicts a young, hooded black male standing in front of a line of armed police. The boy's hands are above his head. This is a reference to the Michael Brown case. Brown was a young unarmed teenager killed by police on April 9, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown allegedly had his hands raised in surrender before he was shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson, who was never charged with the killing. (Knox, 2016). The incident led to another saying.