Dissecting the "Black is King" Controversy

Like many others, I tuned into Disney+ to watch Beyoncé’s Black is King, her visual interpretation of The Lion King story. In the age of racial violence and tension, I’ve been even more intentional about taking in images that humanize my skinfolk. Shortly after watching Beyoncé’s newest project, my social media timeline became replete with criticisms from what seemed to be every community I belong to.

(2020) Black is King: A Film by Beyoncé

It is no secret that I am a Black woman. It is no secret that I am of Haitian descent. And I make it painstakingly clear that I am a woman who follows the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. It is the intersections of these identities that allowed me to enjoy Black is King as what it is, art.

Black Women & The Fight for Representation

Black is King’s visuals, although overwhelmingly of West African cultures, sought to uplift women of all shades and backgrounds. Black women, specifically dark-skinned women, are tired of the erasure of their images. Beyoncé is what the Black community would consider a light-skinned Black woman. Believe it or not, light-skinned Black women exist in West Africa. People tend to forget the vast diversity of hue that is present in the African continent. And please know...people do not have to be from North Africa or of European descent to display lighter hues. Sigh! Biology people… biology!

The inclusion of South Asian women and girls in Black is King was to uplift our Asian sisters who too suffer the aftereffects of imperialism and white supremacy. Colorism is real and is rampant in melanin-ated communities worldwide. I personally saw no problem with it because… the racial categories of man are completely idiotic but impact us all. I understand the anger that darker skin Black women felt with the inclusion of non-Black women. Black women are always erased in the media. I, too, am exhausted with the lack of opportunities given to darker skinned Black women in diverse lead roles. We are always type casted into drug addicts, sex workers, uneducated, poor roles to perpetuate the worldwide idea that “unambiguous Black women are somewhat inferior”. I’m tired of it too!

As many critics pointed out, Black is King’s representation of Black men was consistent. All the men featured were undoubtedly Black, dark skinned and had generalized African features. Hollywood, despite who’s at the helm of creative freedom, has always felt more comfortable with lighter skin, racially ambiguous, and/or non-Black/non-White women. Yes, Black men and Black women both have struggles with representation BUT it is the unambiguous Black woman that is hardly featured at all in both Black and White creative projects.

Art is an extension of the artist.

For those who criticize the lack of focus on dark-skinned Black women… remember, Beyoncé herself is a light-skinned woman. It would have been just as painful for Beyoncé to only show dark skinned Black women while remaining the lead. Remember, we battle two things in representation, racism and colorism. Forgoing one for the other is still problematic. In this case, inclusion was the best choice for an artist that is impacted by racism but benefits from colorism. I do wish that there were a variety of Black men shown too. Light skinned Black men do exist. Their erasure is also a problem and they bare the brunt of colorism too.

We need more Black voices to show that we are not Monolithic, Periodt!

For those that complained East African culture/beauty wasn’t featured, I say create said visuals. West African cultures were featured because the Diaspora primarily descended from those regions. Beyoncé is a Black woman from the Americas (the foundational ground for the African Diaspora). The Black community needs a multitude of creators to diversify our representation. It is unfair to place all that responsibility on a single artist. No artist is an avatar for the communities they identify with. Their art is reflective of themselves and themselves alone. Whether it connects to a specific community or not is consequential.

Push Back from the Christian Community

I understand why my brethren in faith were put off from the visuals presented in Black is King. Anything that points into inward godliness or self uplift, if not careful, can mere the lines of pride and idolatry. Beyoncé used a lot of imagery that captured traditional African spirituality. Religion is a sensitive topic and I feel there is a thin line between its intellectualization and its radicalism. I will attempt to blend these two modes of interpretation but I may fail. Well here it goes…

The Unfortunate Conflation of White American Historical Ideas & Western Christianity

Christianity, well mainly Western Christianity, is plagued with racism. Knowing history, man’s sin and lust for power is why it has become so. Take that how you may. Nevertheless, the vilification of all things African to sustain this way of thinking and life has radicalized American Christianity in such a way to overly demonize African spirituality more than spiritual practices from other regions. If something doesn’t profess Jesus and the God of Abraham explicitly, it is deemed anti-Christianity. This same logic is simultaneously, and quite subconsciously, held parallel to the thought that if something doesn’t uplift the normative culture (in this case, White cultural standards), it is anti-White.

The loud cast down of Beyonce’s “witchcraft” and access to “our children via Disney” is laughable to me. I have not seen Eastern religions and spiritualities demonized to this same scale. Yoga, which is based in Eastern spiritual disciplines, has been embraced by the Western world and many of its churches. Disney has forever used elements of non-Christian religions and spiritual images. From Mulan being guided by ancestral spirits to Hercules’ mere existence and power from Zeus to The Little Mermaid [if you understand mermaid lore worldwide, these stem from indigenous/aboriginal (including African spirituality)]. These are just three examples but I can call it out in every single Disney movie because magic, which is the overly simple representation of other spiritual practices and what the church calls “witchcraft”, is always present.

Correction Through Love vs. Judgement & Condemnation

Beyond Disney, these themes are pervasive in everything media in America. If the Christian community intends to vilify Black is King, shouldn’t we also denounce the display and recognition of other faiths as well? Do you know how absurd that sounds? As Christians, we are to live in the world but not be of it. It seems that the overly critical response to Black is King and every other “non-Christian” and undeniably African thing pushes the agenda of judgement. The Bible tells us to judge OTHER CHRISTIANS according to the Word of God. We can’t hold people to a standard they do not prescribe to. Until they do, our judgement comes from pride and legalism instead of love and guidance. But that’s just how God has helped me understand it.

I am a follower of Christ and do not condemn people for holding other beliefs and/or for continuing practices that differ from mine. Christ himself went against legalistic leaders, communed and broke bread with the very people that society regarded as “inferior, unclean, and/or unholy”. Being of Haitian descent may skew my take on this BUT the fear surrounding other spiritualities only births ignorant faith. I respect Haitian Vodou and made it a point to understand what it is for myself. The Haitian Christian community vilifies Vodou because of the Western branded interpretation of it. I respect those who practice Vodou, which is actually part of Catholicism in Haiti believe it or not. The Western media will not tell you that. I’ve engaged in wonderful conversations with those of other religions and faiths to understand and believe it or not, my not vilifying their practices made them open to understanding my faith in Jesus Christ. Well I’ve digressed a bit. I really do love talking about Jesus and his example because using the term "Christian" is so vague and completely focuses on the institution of church rather than the divine man that inspired its creation.

When society vilifies something they do not seek to understand, it fails to help those young in faith and age to grow in their faith by knowledge and choice. Africans and those of African descent ARE NOT ALL Christians or Catholics. We practice a multitude of spiritualities. Beyonce’s Black is King is for ALL people. If you didn’t connect with it, or if you felt fear when watching it… then do what you feel is right for yourself. I do challenge you to really question the root of those feelings. Discernment and fear can become conflated if one doesn’t really grow in faith by questioning. Church inspired fear does a disservice to genuine faith. God has revealed so much to me when I curiously seek Him. Questioning means you are seeking to understand God for yourself and wanting to know His will more.

Those are my thoughts regarding the crazy aftermath of Black is King. They are not representative of the many communities I belong to but are only my own.

What are your thoughts around Black is King? Drop a comment below.