Introduction (8)

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Introduction

At its core, Black is King documentary where Beyonce Knowles takes 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 itself. In essence, the documentary brings the global focus and retells the lion king story across several continents and countries. Black is King follows the journey of human Simba 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 a variety in 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 visual feast that provides the audience with slow scenes of stillness as they soak in and absorb the striking beauty and the duality of bright colors on deep 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 starts in the movie 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 who are also holding their newborns. The newborn prince is anointed by the ancestor using white paint and in a similar manner by an elder. The King then gifts the prince with a small golden scepter 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 enticed by a monkey to enter a warehouse where he meets a man with snakes. When asked who he is he does not answer. He then stays in the warehouse adorning himself with gold and gambling as his ancestors watch him. This is evident in the song Don’t Jealous Me. A biker gang arrives surrounding the prince. The king later manages to shave the princes’ life but he is killed in the escapade. The prince’s uncle tells the boy to flee 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. As is, he lives in a luxurious mansion full of feasts, expensive 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 and this reminds him about his father. It was his father that has taught him to play the game which was a symbol of the duality of good and bad. The prince grows and moves to the city where he now dreams of nothing but partying with girls in a hearse. He keeps seeing his uncle as his driver who continues to taunt him about the golden scepter he dropped in the water. He manages to stumble out of the car. He wakes up to the realization that pursuing 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 clue man walks into the sea. Eventually, the prince becomes reunited with his childhood love 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 return to the river where he locates the scepter. He becomes reunited with the elders who anoint him with 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 keep reminding 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 out of the kingdom and the prince takes back his throne. The ancestors introduce the new king and queen 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 regarding how they want to navigate their world and deciding the kind of man they wish to become. In the film, there is a quote that goes “ As King, I was most proud of one thing, having you as my son”. This was intended to be an assurance of 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 at times need to be embraced as well. Black is King provides a blueprint for men of color to decolonize masculinity. There is a quote that was read out by an African-American man in the film. 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 for 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 thrive when black men step into kingship (Kunda, 2019). Moreover, 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.

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 talks about the importance of having purpose and identity in life. Most black people continue to face violence and racial discrimination. The characters in the movie 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 as well 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 men step into 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.