Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
86
Beyoncé – Freedom ft. Kendrick Lamar
Ayan Dadwani
Freedom
Freedom
Freedom is the tenth track on Beyoncé's "Lemonade". The theme of the track is "Hope", as it deals with issues related to cheating and racism among the African-American community, especially against the women in the community.
Beyoncé collabs with Kendrick Lamar for this track, and the two also address the Black Lives Matter movement and historical racism, hoping to inspire the African-American community to stand up and remain strong in unity.
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé is an American singer-songwriter born and raised in Houston, Texas. The artist was originally part of girl group "Destiny's Child", before pursuing a solo career. She is a known advocate for anti-racism and considered a symbol for the cause.
Artists
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is an American rapper and songwriter. Much like Beyoncé, Lamar is widely known for his inspirational lyrics dealing with African-American racism and inspiring people to stand up for their rights.
Lyrics: Empowerment
Inspiration for African-American women
- "I'm telling these tears, "go and fall away, fall away"/May the last one burn into flames"
Beyoncé illustrates the power of black women, their determination and strength against oppression. Rather than succumbing to despair and hardship, they choose to use it as a tool to grow even stronger. This is evident with the formation of Black Lives Matter – all three founders are black women. Beyoncé also spreads the message that we shouldn't have to bottle up how we feel, but rather express it and use it to empower and unify us.
- "But mama, don't cry for me, ride for me/Try for me, live for me/Breathe for me, sing for me/Honestly guidin' me/I could be more than I gotta be"
This excerpt from Kendrick's verse correlates with Beyoncé's above lines about African-American women and their power. Kendrick illustrates everything a black woman can do, how much strength and potential they have, as fighters.
Lyrics: Black Lives Matter
Racism & Black Lives Matter
- "I'ma walk, I'ma march on the regular/Painting white flags blue"
Marching for one's rights are a common form of peaceful protest. Beyoncé is employing this strategy in order to secure her rights, along with using flags as a symbol for apathy and defeat towards racism. Rather than letting oneself be oppressed, Beyoncé is saying she'll turn their "white flags blue", as in inspiring them to combat the oppression and fight for their rights.
- "I break chains all by myself/Won't let my freedom rot in hell"
Beyoncé makes a direct reference to the "chains of oppression" that trap victims of racism as they're pushed down by society. But she's not going to let her freedom die, she insists that as a powerful woman, she can break free of this chain link that has followed the African-American community for generations.
- "Hey! I'ma keep running/Cause a winner don't quit on themselves"
Though a simple line, it's an effective one. Beyoncé reminds her peers that, despite what they've been told by society, they're not inferior to anyone. They're just as strong, just as beautiful, just as powerful, and just as deserving of rights. She encourages them not to give up, to keep fighting, and to never be content with a half-baked solution. Never be satisfied by anything less than equality.
History of Oppression
It's no secret that African-Americans go thorugh severe, nightmarish racism in American history and still today. Major atrocities are committed against them, and many of these are addressed in the lyrics of "Freedom".
Lyrics: History
"I'mma wade, I'mma wave through the wate...
"I'mma wade, I'mma wave through the waters
Tell the tide, don't move"
While these lines can be interpreted in many different ways, in the context of the song, I have chosen to interpret it as a reference to American slavery and the Underground Railroad. Often, refugees would hear songs that were actually secret messages to help them travel along the path. One song in particular went like this:
"Wade in the water.
Wade in the water, children.
God’s gonna trouble the water"
"Stole from me, lied to me, nation hypocrisy"
"Stole from me, lied to me, nation hypocrisy"
In this line from Kendrick's verse, he acknowledges the use of slave labor from white people in American history, despite the "American dream" of equality – in other words, the hypocrisy and lies of America. Even afterwards, African-Americans suffered devastating, crushing oppression which took a toll on them for generations to come.
The "stole from me" refers not only to African treasures being stolen from their people, but also the people themselves. Their lives, their families, and their freedom. It's a powerful statement that serves as a call-out as well as a call to action.
"I'mma riot, I'mma riot through your borde...
"I'mma riot, I'mma riot through your borders
Call me bulletproof"
I find this line to be especially significant due to an earlier one–
"I'ma walk, I'ma march on the regular
Painting white flags blue"
Beyoncé knows her rights, but she also knows that sometimes you have to fight to get what you want. Protest is essential sometimes, and she's inspiring the oppressed everywhere to stand up for their rights against their oppressors, to do whatever it takes to earn what is rightfully theirs. This likely even references the historical slave rebellions, which put fear into the hearts of slaveowners.
Performance
Performance
The music video is not legally available on Youtube, however audio is provided here: http://videos.sapo.pt/TwKUn9acmEInIvrOGQgg.