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Masai Pace

Professor Johnson

WRI 1301 -W3

07 April 2023

Writing Exercise #8: Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

Syreeta Mcfadden’s editorial titled “Beyoncé's Formation reclaims black America's narrative

from the margins” discusses the political implications of Beyoncé’s video ‘Formation’. The

article notes that the song and its video are both provocative and personal, reflecting on the

experiences of black and queer bodies who have been disproportionately affected by police

violence and government inaction. The article praises the video’s ability to present black

humanity in a way that has not been frequently represented in popular culture. Through the use

various archetypes and striking imagery, Beyoncé encapusilates southern American blackness,

while also shining a light on the injustices faced by the black community. The article also praises

Beyoncé’s for embracing the language of the black queer community by including the term

“slay” in her song. The author states that Formation is a protest against white supremacist

violence and a celebration of the black American identity and experience. In the author’s

opinion, “The potency of Formation doesn’t come from its overt politics: it comes from the

juxtaposition of lyric with the images, which organically present black humanity in ways we’ve

haven’t seen frequently represented in popular art or culture.” (Mcfadden 2016).

The purpose of McFadden’s article is to convey her admiration for Beyoncé’s video Formation

and its representation of blackness in America. The author believes that Beyoncé’s work is an

important step towards giving African American’s the voice that has long since been denied to
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them. McFadden states that “Formation compels its viewers to acknowledge the beautiful

complexity of history, culture and customs, with levity and passion. It compels us to reclaim the

black American narrative from its margin and make it center.” (Mcfadden 2016).

Mcfadden’s article has enough evidence to support her claim. The article uses direct quotes from

Beyoncé’s video to support its claims about the song's powerful representation of blackness. For

example, Mcfadden uses the quote “My daddy Alabama, Mama Louisiana. You mix that Negro

with that Creole make a Texas bama” to illustrate how Beyoncé uses the pride she has in her own

identity to demonstrate the intersection of identities within blackness. Mcfadden also provides

evidence to support her claim that Formation presents southern blackness in a way not

commonly seen in popular culture by highlighting the video’s use of archetypical southern black

women and use its use of distinctly southern imagery and vernacular.

Referring to the author's tone, she is not unwelcoming or hostile. She appears to be very

enthused about the topic and excited to share her opinion. There is not much room for

improvement in the article as it is a solid opinion piece.

Works Cited

McFadden, S. (2017, August 8). Beyoncé’s Formation reclaims black America’s narrative from

the margins. The Guardian.https://t.ly/6RdN