Introduction (9)
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Introduction
At its core, Black is King documentary where Beyonce Knowles takes the lead as a singer talks about the richness and beauty of blackness without it coming out as contrived and wealthy. The documentary is part of Beyonce’s second visual album after Lemonade. Describing the movie as a visual album would be an injustice since it is a film about itself. In essence, the documentary brings the global focus and retells the lion king story across several continents and countries. Black is King follows human Simba’s journey alongside Beyonce as its ethereal guide and narrator (Brooks, & Martin, 2019) . Using similar sound clips from the Lion King movie, the story transitions well, shaping the entire story. Further, all the protagonists in the documentary are all recreated as real-life individuals with substance and personality. Worth noting, this documentary offers various production styles; sometimes, the sequences are minimal, as seen in songs such as Bigger, where Beyonce sings in open spaces. In contrast, in songs such as My Power there are colorful, loud, high energy dances and vibrant imagery. Black is King is a sight to behold that provides the audience with slow scenes of quietness as they soak in and absorb the remarkable beauty and the bright colors on dark brown skin colors. The purpose of this essay is to provide an account of Black is King documentary by Beyonce Knowles- one of the world’s most talented and popular singer. The text also highlights the lessons about black masculinity, black femininity, and black culture as brought out by Beyonce and other cast members. Additionally, it addresses how the movie stars artistically respond to oppression, discrimination, and dehumanization meted on black people.
About Black is King
The plot unfolds with a scene with a tiny basket flowing down a stream. Additionally, a prince is born on a beach lane. The audience witness as the prince’s mother tells him about his purpose and significance before performing rituals on him and joining a group of other women holding their newborns. The newborn prince is anointed by the ancestor using white paint and in a similar manner by one of the elders. The ruling King then gifts the prince with a small scepter gold in color as a token and tells him that his ancestors will continue to guide them and overlook them from the stars. The young boy now a little grown lured by a monkey to walk into a warehouse where he meets a man that has snakes. When asked who he is he fails to respond. He then remains in the warehouse, adorning himself with this gold and gambling as his ancestors watch him. This is evident in the song Don’t Jealous Me. A gang of Bikers arrives surrounding the prince. The then King later manages to save the prince’s life, but he is killed in the escapade. The uncle to the prince tells him to elope the village, leaving him to take over the throne. In a spiritual lane, the blue man sits alone as the ancestors lead his throne.
The prince wishes he has a carefree life that is free of the blue man and his ancestors. He stays in a luxurious mansion that has feasts, expensive and beautiful clothes, and where he has access to as many servants as he would like. The prince recalls the moments his uncle used to band on a drum making him drop hi scepter in the water. There is a game of human chess going on in the compound, which reminds him of his father. His father had trained him to play the game, that symbolizes the duality of bad and good things. The prince eventually matures and relocates to the city where he now dreams of nothing else except having fun with girls in a hearse. He keeps seeing his uncle as his driver who heckles him about the golden scepter he dropped in the water. He manages to stumble from the car. He wakes up to the realization that chasing only after material wealth is not sustainable. At this point, he is encouraged to seek his true identity and purpose in life. His ancestors let him know that he would be meeting his true self at the shore when the blue man suddenly enters the sea. Eventually, the prince becomes reunited with the only lover he knew in his childhood, as depicted in the song Brown Skill Girl. The two marry in Keys to the Kingdom even though the prince is filled with self-doubt. Additionally, the prince is told by his ancestors to go back to the river where he locates the scepter. He becomes reunited with the village elders who anoint him with a white paint once again before floating upwards in a spirituals lane. In the long run, the prince is reunited with his father breaking down in his presence. The ancestors remind the prince of the power he possesses, prompting him to assemble an army of women to join him in the war against his uncle. Eventually, they drive his uncle away from the Kingdom, and the prince takes back his throne. The ancestors introduce the new queen and king and their baby as the Kings lifts the newborn in the air.
Characters’ Lessons about Black Femininity, Black Masculinity, and the Black Community
Black is King presents the ideology that black masculinity is mainly centered on matters to do with the community, leadership, and honoring ancestors. Throughout their lives, black people have faced numerous obstacles. They are always under looming pressure to make a decision how they want to steer their world and decide the kind of man they wish to become. In the film, a quote goes, “As King, I was most proud of one thing, having you as my son.” This was planned to assure God talking to black men when they are going through tough times. God provides an assurance they will be okay. In essence, this represented how men always walk the world aimlessly; it shows that they need to be embraced at times. Black is King provides a plan for men of color to do away with masculinity. There is a quote that was read out by a black man in the movie. The man said. “We’ve been conditioned to be inside of a box. We’ve been created with this image that Black men are supposed to be this way. And I feel like we’re kings. We have to take responsibility of stepping outside of those barriers that they’ve put us in for the next generation.” This shows the role of colonialism and slavery in creating forced and toxic social and religious traditions onto black men. In essence, such notions have played a role in exacerbating violence, particularly against women and girls. Further, it has led to the destruction of self and queerphobia. Most importantly, the documentary shows that the world can also thrive when black people take a step into kingship in the society (Kunda, 2019). Moreover, kingship should be based on dominance, hierarchy, and oppression, but rather it should embrace the African egalitarian ways deeply rooted in community stewardship.
Characters Response to Oppression, Discrimination, and Dehumanization of Black People
The characters have different responses regarding the systemic oppression that has been meted on people of color for a long time. One thing that cuts across is the fact that all the characters believe in the power of blackness. In her mission to elevate and foster black unity and black beauty, Beyonce goes out of her way to express her support for the black movement. Beyonce holds many titles of a singer, dancer, actress, songwriter but not a politician or a historian. She oversteps her boundaries because nobody else seems to be paying attention to the lives of black people. Most governments have failed to show any empathy, particularly for the vulnerable members of society that comprise women and young girls. Society now depends on kind celebrities that follow in the footsteps of icons such as Oprah, who dedicate themselves to bridge the racial discrimination gap. All the characters in Black is King all come together to honor the culture and history of Africa, sharing directorial duties and screen time with African auteurs.
Conclusion
The documentary Black is King featuring many artists among Beyonce is about the importance of purpose and identity in life. Most black people continue to face violence and racial discrimination. The movie characters have one simple message to people of color; they are kings, and they should be proud of themselves. The documentary brings the global focus and retells the lion king story across several continents and countries. All the protagonists in the documentary are all recreated as real-life individuals with substance and personality. It is clear that the characters and Beyonce are not happy with the oppression and dehumanization of black people. The characters are on a mission to elevate and foster black unity and black beauty. The documentary shows that the world can thrive when black people take over kingship. The film maintains that kingship should not only be based on dominance, hierarchy, and oppression, but rather it should embrace the African egalitarian ways that are deeply rooted in community stewardship.
Works Cited
Brooks, K. D., & Martin, K. L. (Eds.). (2019). The Lemonade Reader: Beyoncé, Black Feminism and Spirituality. Routledge.
Kunda, L. (2019). Must Stay Woke: Black Celebrity Voices of Dissent in the Post Post-Racial Era.
