"Beychella" is a moment for black women

On April 14th, Beyonce became the first black woman to headline at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. This year’s festival has seen more black female acts showcased than ever before. Currently, music is seeing a renaissance of black female vocalists and rappers. SZA and Cardi B are two other highly anticipated black female acts that have seen major success with their album releases. This year, 24 acts are black female acts, which is a high for Coachella.

Beyonce’s set paid homage to historically black colleges and universities and showcased an overwhelming amount of blackness to a predominately white Coachella audience. She used the setting of an HBCU homecoming classic to celebrate black college culture in a way we’ve never seen before and has never been done before. She featured an all-star band with a drum line and orchestra made up of talented working musicians; her dance line turned into a group of majorette girls that are the gems of black college culture; and she even featured skits reinacting what it's like to cross into a fraternity--the pledges called “Bugaboos” crossing Beta Phi Kappa.

Her set was so celebratory of black culture that she even included the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. She gave a nod to Black Power advocate, Malcolm X, by stating a famous quote of his-- “The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” Beyonce’s two hour Coachella set was meant to empower and show respect to black women in America. DJ Khalid wasn’t playing when he said, “After this performance, they’re going to have to change the name to Beychella.”

As for other black female acts, Cardi B paid homage to the late Left Eye of the legendary girl group TLC. She wore all white and her hair in ponytails like Left Eye in her set which she titled Boachella. While Cardi B’s music and set is on the other side of the black female empowerment spectrum, its still, nonetheless, on the spectrum and she is indeed a role model to black women. Her set told a story of how she became a self made “shmillionaire” from being a stripper. Her set included booty and strippers galore and celebrated feminist freedom that women have over their own bodies. Not to mention, she did her whole 30 minute set while in her third trimester of pregnancy. She’s at the height of her career and despite naysayers, she’s proving that women can have both their career and a family.

Other black female performances included Chloe x Halle, who just released their debut album “The Kids Are Alright” and are signed to Beyonce’s label, Parkwood. Lion Babe and Kelela were also highly anticipated performers at the festival. For this festival, seeing its first black female performer to headline and the most top-billed black female acts than ever before, 2018 Coachella was a win for black women everywhere.