Beyoncé activism

Sienna iniestra

Beyoncé

INDEX

Why did I choose her?

Early life

Who is she?

Influences

Contributions

Challenges

Why did i choose her?

I chose Beyoncé as the subject of my presentation because she embodies empowerment, talent, and resilience. Beyoncé's influence extends far beyond her music; she's an advocate for social justice, women's rights, and empowerment. Her ability to continuously reinvent herself while staying true to her values is inspiring.

Who is she?

Beyoncé, whose full name is Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, is a highly acclaimed American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She was born on September 4, 1981, in Houston, Texas. Beyoncé rose to fame as the lead singer of the girl group Destiny's Child, which achieved great success in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After the group disbanded, she embarked on a successful solo career, releasing several critically acclaimed albums. Her debut solo album, "Dangerously in Love" (2003), topped the charts and earned her five Grammy Awards. She has since released several more successful albums, including "B'Day" (2006), "I Am... Sasha Fierce" (2008), "4" (2011), "Beyoncé" (2013), "Lemonade" (2016), and her latest being Renaissance (2022). In addition to her music career, Beyoncé has also ventured into acting. She has appeared in films such as "Dreamgirls" (2006), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination, and "The Lion King" (2019), in which she voiced the character of Nala and contributed to the film's soundtrack. She has also been involved in various activism movements and is known for her advocacy for women's empowerment and racial equality .

Early life

Beyoncé's childhood was marked by her early passion for music and performing. From a young age, she showed a strong interest in singing and dancing. At the age of nine, she formed the singing-rapping girl group Destiny's Child (originally called Girls Tyme) with her childhood friends. The group faced some setbacks initially, including losing on the Star Search television talent show and being dropped from a recording contract. However, their fortunes changed in 1997 when they signed with Columbia Records and released their debut album, which yielded the hit single "No, No, No Part 2" . Beyoncé attended St. James Elementary, a private school in Houston's Third Ward neighborhood. It was during her time there that she formed a friendship with classmate LeToya Luckett, who would later become a member of Destiny's Child. Beyoncé's dedication to her craft was evident even at a young age, as she enrolled in dance and jazz classes and won a talent competition at the age of seven .

Challenges

Beyoncé has been open about the challenges she faced during her pregnancy with twins, Sir and Rumi. She revealed that her pregnancy was unexpected and that she had to undergo an emergency C-section due to complications with one of her babies' hearts. After giving birth, Beyoncé faced the challenge of getting back to work and performing at Coachella. She mentioned that it was difficult to feel like herself again after pregnancy and that it was challenging to bring her full energy and personality to her performances. Beyoncé has taken on the challenge of using her platform and resources to make a positive impact. She has been involved in various charitable endeavors, including providing aid to Hurricane Harvey victims in Houston, donating mattresses to those in need, and supporting relief efforts in Puerto Rico and Mexico. Beyoncé has challenged societal norms and advocated for gender equality. In her essay titled "Gender Equality Is A Myth," she highlighted the inequalities faced by women and emphasized the need for unified efforts to address them

Contributions

Beyoncé has been a vocal advocate for feminism and female empowerment. Many of her songs, such as "Run the World (Girls)" and "Single Ladies," carry empowering messages for women. She has used her platform to promote gender equality and challenge societal norms. Beyoncé has shown support for various social movements. She performed a Black Panther-inspired halftime show at the Super Bowl, which sparked conversations about racial justice. She has also backed the Black Lives Matter movement and awarded Colin Kaepernick the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award for his activism against police brutality. Beyoncé has celebrated and highlighted Black culture and heritage in her work. Her performances at Coachella in 2018 paid tribute to historically Black colleges and universities. She also directed and produced the visual album "Black Is King," which celebrates African culture and the African diaspora's journey of self-discovery and heritage. Beyoncé has been involved in philanthropic efforts to address various issues. She has supported organizations such as Feeding America, The Houston Food Bank, and The Global Food Banking Network to fight food insecurity and injustice. She has also contributed to causes like climate change awareness and access to clean drinking water. Beyoncé has used her music and visuals to address social and racial justice issues. Her album "Lemonade" includes powerful songs and visuals that tackle themes of racial profiling, police brutality, and the empowerment of black women. She has also released songs like "Formation," which celebrate African American culture and address social and political issues

Influences

Beyoncé showed her support for Colin Kaepernick, who protested against police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem, by awarding him the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award at the 2017 Sports Illustrated awards. Beyoncé encouraged her millions of fans to sign a petition seeking justice for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was tragically killed during a police raid in her own home in March 2020. Beyoncé has supported the Black Lives Matter movement in various ways. During the BET Awards in June 2020, she dedicated her humanitarian award to BLM activists and called for continued efforts to support the Black community and the importance of voting. Beyoncé has become a voice for black feminism, addressing issues affecting black women through her music and advocating for gender equality and empowerment. Beyoncé paid tribute to the great Black activist Malcolm X during her halftime performance at the Super Bowl, with dancers and musicians arranging themselves into an "X" and raising their fists for Black solidarity

Bibliography

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2024, 21 marzo). Beyonce | Biography, Songs, Movies, Grammy Awards, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Beyonce Beyonce: The life Story You May not know. (2022, 11 octubre). https://www.vividseats.com/blog/beyonce-life-story-you-may-not-know Penrose, N. (2017, 7 diciembre). 7 Times Beyonce Proved She Was an Activist. Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/beyonce-activist-8061796/ Leffler, S. (2024, 28 febrero). 8 Reasons to Celebrate Beyoncé’s Activism. LIVEKINDLY. https://www.livekindly.com/beyonces-activism/ Harrison, S. (2018, 16 junio). How Beyoncé Became an Activist Icon - Savannah Harrison - Medium. Medium. https://medium.com/@harrisos2/how-beyonc%C3%A9-became-an-activist-icon-513f890e96b4 Marsh, N. (2020, 4 septiembre). Beyoncé's Activism For the Black Community | POPSUGAR Celebrity. POPSUGAR Celebrity. https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/beyonces-activism-for-black-community-47632516