Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Is A Sumptuous Search For Divine Identity

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty ImagesThere is a lot that can be communicated through longing. That internal sense of a missing piece and yearning for completion can be all-consuming. It can change the course of your life. For most, that might be a wanting for love, or the coveting of success. But in— directed by the star herself and released Friday on the streaming service Disney+ — that longing is for the certainty of identity.

At the film's beginning, Beyoncé launches a child in a basket onto the river, echoing the biblical story of Moses. At its end, she collects him again, reborn, renewed and given access to a new, free world after enduring the tribulations of rough waters. In, water is again transformative. Its mythical power is reflected in both the pain of sailing Black people across endless oceans for subjugation and its healing potential to wash away the violence of that history.

Before"Already," John Kani as Rafiki is heard in voiceover:"I know who I am, the question is who are you?" For many Black people, that question skews existential.

There was a time when Ray Charles, to Etta James to Whitney Houston, let their talent speak for itself — erase hate and bring people together. Pure. Unbridled. Brilliant. Beautiful. Passionate talent. And now we have umm this, whatever, profiting off minorities.

Could you imagine Taylor Swift claiming White is King? The reaction would be quite different.

GOD is a woman. Period. ✌🏼💕

Of course NPR was paid to write this.

This is such bs. Between her and Oprah they have show the hypocrisy in what they are saying. They made millions off white people and now they say they are not equal? Gtfoh

Beyoncé’s family owned slaves. Cancellation is morally right.

This tweet was masterfully written.

Just how much do you get paid to write this complete bs? 😬

Im64 black, I've never been constrained. No one can hold me back. I went to college too.

She does realize there are many majority black countries in the world.

She works for the NFL

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Inside Proper Gnar, the First Black Woman-Owned, Beyoncé-Approved Skateboard Company'Skateboarders, they're always so accepting of different people. It also gives you time to be on your own. You can go skating and it's just you, your board, and your thoughts.' propergnar
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