In February 2016, Beyonce performed a super bowl halftime show that provoked controversy all over the world through her “attacking” the police force through her lyrics and music video. Natasha Lennard, An editor from Salon Media group “Why are cops taking Beyonce’s black affirmation as an attack?” after hearing multiple police officers making the decision to boycott the halftime show. Lennard was puzzled when society began to say that Beyonce was simply being an advocate for African Americans not attacking the police force. According to Kris Ex, Beyonce released ‘formation’ for free before her super bowl performance in order to honor the Black Panther party 's 50th anniversary and Malcolm X in front of 112 million people. She also chose
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She conveys the image of riot cops raising their hands saying “hands up don’t shoot” to a dancing black little boy in a hoodie. This image also appeals to pathos of the reader because the boy in a hoodie symbolizes Trayvon Martin which can result to the feeling of sadness. Trayvon Martin was a teen male who was murdered in 2012 by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman( CNN 2016) . The Trayvon Martin case touched multiple people because an innocent male was killed and justice was not served because George Zimmerman did not get charged with murdering Trayvon . Lennard ends her commentary with pathos by stating that police who believe themselves victims of discrimination ignore the facts that unlike actually oppressed groups, the can remove their uniforms. This is a very strong statement which strikes the emotions of many people because minorities cannot change the color of their skin, unlike police who can just simply take off their uniforms. Another descriptive scene that appeals to the sadness of the reader is when Beyonce is on top of a New Orleans patrol car and it sinks in water. This scene is a reference to hurricane Katrina, which was a very trying time to the many victims who were impacted by the hurricane. Hurricane Katrina took place in 2005 , resulting in the deaths of approximately 1800 people, mostly impacting the African American community (Kim Ann Zimmerman 2015). Lennard also gives examples lyrics of the song, “ I like my baby hair, with baby hair and afros” and “ I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making” to show not only black pride but to empower other African Americans to be happy with themselves. She uses sarcasm by saying that Beyonce’s “Attack” was a simple reference to American police officers shooting black people, symbolized by a young hooded black child which refers to Trayvon
She conveys the image of riot cops raising their hands saying “hands up don’t shoot” to a dancing black little boy in a hoodie. This image also appeals to pathos of the reader because the boy in a hoodie symbolizes Trayvon Martin which can result to the feeling of sadness. Trayvon Martin was a teen male who was murdered in 2012 by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman( CNN 2016) . The Trayvon Martin case touched multiple people because an innocent male was killed and justice was not served because George Zimmerman did not get charged with murdering Trayvon . Lennard ends her commentary with pathos by stating that police who believe themselves victims of discrimination ignore the facts that unlike actually oppressed groups, the can remove their uniforms. This is a very strong statement which strikes the emotions of many people because minorities cannot change the color of their skin, unlike police who can just simply take off their uniforms. Another descriptive scene that appeals to the sadness of the reader is when Beyonce is on top of a New Orleans patrol car and it sinks in water. This scene is a reference to hurricane Katrina, which was a very trying time to the many victims who were impacted by the hurricane. Hurricane Katrina took place in 2005 , resulting in the deaths of approximately 1800 people, mostly impacting the African American community (Kim Ann Zimmerman 2015). Lennard also gives examples lyrics of the song, “ I like my baby hair, with baby hair and afros” and “ I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making” to show not only black pride but to empower other African Americans to be happy with themselves. She uses sarcasm by saying that Beyonce’s “Attack” was a simple reference to American police officers shooting black people, symbolized by a young hooded black child which refers to Trayvon