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Gianna Adams
Professor Danley
English Comp. II
8 April 2016
The Not-So-American Dream
Since the blueprints of America were even constructed, the idea of an American Dream ran
whimsically yet profoundly through the European colonizers thoughts and desires. A dream of
success; to have a beautiful family, a good-paying job, and to have their name known. A dream to
live comfortably and well-known within their community was an idea that playfully tugged at
each corner of their minds.
The United States of America was also built on a foundation laid out by slaves. The
dehumanizing, demoralizing, and maltreatment of Africans planted and harvested crops, built
roads and railways, and constructed homes and communities. Any success the White Man had
was a gruesome thanks to the exhausted and overworked labor of a slave. While the White
Man dreamed of money and leisure, the Black Community dreamed of a free life. A life full of
decisions made by none other than themselves. They wanted to be able to hold a job and have a
family and live in equality to white people. They wanted this without question from white people
or by getting a sideways glance. They wanted to be people. They wanted to be unapologetically
black.
Beyonces song Formation is a present-day example of this black American Dream. Its to
be that wealthy American; a black wealthy American. But the emphasis is on black. Wealthy or
not, the video strongly appreciates black culture and empowers being black. Throughout her
video, Beyonce wears her hair in different styles with an emphasis on natural Black hair. She

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wears it curly and in box braids. Her dancers all wear their hair completely natural as well. Black
women in our society are constantly being told to relax their hair, because the standard of beauty
is based on white features, so Beyonce did this with the hairstyles to show that they are all black
women who are comfortable and happy with their natural hair. This is extremely smart, because
not only is it a statement on the behalf of being black, but also being a black woman. Shes
throwing in feminism along with black power.
But this black self-love doesnt stop there. Beyonce says I like my baby hair, with baby hair
and afros and the video cuts to three little girls, one being her daughter, all with their hair sitting
naturally upon their head. Beyonce has constantly been criticized for her daughters crazy hair
and for not doing something about it to make it more presentable. This is so important because
girls in our society start self-hate and self-esteem issues at a very young age, making little girls
worry and be concerned about their looks when they shouldnt. She is sticking up for her
daughter and every other little black girl who wears their hair naturally.
Beyonce doesnt just stick up for her daughter, though, but also her husband Jay-Z as well.
Like her daughter, Jay-Z has been criticized for his lips and nose because they are stereotypically
large. Again, this has to do with the standard of beauty being based off of white features, and
Beyonce is saying she loves him for his negro nose and Jackson 5 nostrils.
Yes, his nose is large. Yes, his lips are large. And she loves it.
Another extremely important aspect of this video is the attire. The majority of this video is set
in a plantation house, assumingly at the time of slavery. The women, including the little girls, are
all wearing white dresses. The adult women are also wearing corsets. White was worn by free
slaves at this time, who were still being oppressed. This oppression is symbolized by the corsets.
That, even though technically free, they were still bound by the rules of a white society. It then

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cuts to men wearing black, with Beyonce now in a black dress, standing in front of the plantation
house. This is a huge statement, because black attire represents a more free and empowered
people. Not only this, but the fact she is covered in jewelry, symbolizing her own personal
wealth as a black woman, and flipping off the camera is a big f-- you to the white oppressor.
This plantation-set location for the majority of the video is quite interesting, because the
mindset of the song is to be an empowered black person, which is not something very typical at
this point in time. Black people at this time were not very vocal due to the fear of being punished
for speaking out so freely. It would be one thing for the entire video to be present-day, but it says
something much more to be set in a time of slavery and harsh oppression. The other half of the
video is present-day, but more specifically present-day New Orleans, which is also posthurricane Katrina. The point of this is to stress how little has been done to help Ward 9, which is
shown by the pictures and video clips of wrecked homes still submerged in water.
The video not only alludes to Ward 9 by being set in New-Orleans, but also the heart of black
culture. The Mardi-Gras parade is shown, and you can see a church and a hair salon in this scene.
God, natural hair, food; black culture. In the midst of this it cuts to a short glimpse of a man
holding a newspaper with MLK on the front with the title The Truth- More Than A Dreamer.
Martin Luther King Jr. is a huge part of black history and the advancement of the black
community. Including him, along with that title, is not only homage to him but also saying we
still are not too much farther ahead of where he has gotten us. Its somewhat of a reality check.
Stop shooting us is written on a wall while a young black boy dances freely in front of a line of
police officers in riot gear, and the police car finally sinks completely. This signifies her final
message and her call to action.

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Finally, the most beautiful part of this video, is the actual formation in which the women
are dancing. They are dancing in an X formation, and at one point doing so in a swimming
pool. X is referring to Malcolm X, who is another very important and significant AfricanAmerican leader and black rights activist. The swimming pool symbolizes the drowning of the
black community, just as the sinking police car symbolizes the deterioration of the justice
system. But put the X-formation together with the pool and you get a very strong message: as
black people and as black women, Beyonce is saying that no matter what, the black community
will stick together. Even if they feel as though they are drowning they have each other, they have
God, and through both they create solidarity and will do so with no apology for who they are.

WORKS CITED
Beyonce. Formation (Explicit). YouTube. Youtube, 06 Feb. 2016. Web. 4 Apr. 2016.
My African-American History Class.