Beyoncé Pens Open Letter to Explain Inspiration Behind ‘Black is King’ Visual Album

Published: Sunday 28th Jun 2020 by Rashad

Fresh from taking home multiple trophies from the 2020 BET Awards (as we reported here), Beyoncé is placing the lens on her forthcoming film, ‘Black is King.’

Designed to promote her chart-topping ‘Lion King’ companion album, ‘The Gift’ (2019), word of the self-directed effort’s arrival came as quite the shock over the weekend after its trailer leaked.

Making its official premiere during tonight’s virtual BET Awards ceremony, the sneak peak was followed by a heartfelt letter penned to describe the deeper meanings of the July 31-due African-inspired visual.

Lifted to Instagram minutes ago, click below to read it:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

I typically keep comments short and sweet, but I just watched the trailer with my family and I’m excited. 🎶please don’t get me hype🎶🤪 “Black Is King” is a labor of love. It is my passion project that I have been filming, researching and editing day and night for the past year. I’ve given it my all and now it’s yours. It was originally filmed as a companion piece to “The Lion King: The Gift” soundtrack and meant to celebrate the breadth and beauty of Black ancestry. I could never have imagined that a year later, all the hard work that went into this production would serve a greater purpose. The events of 2020 have made the film’s vision and message even more relevant, as people across the world embark on a historic journey. We are all in search of safety and light. Many of us want change. I believe that when Black people tell our own stories, we can shift the axis of the world and tell our REAL history of generational wealth and richness of soul that are not told in our history books. With this visual album, I wanted to present elements of Black history and African tradition, with a modern twist and a universal message, and what it truly means to find your self-identity and build a legacy. I spent a lot of time exploring and absorbing the lessons of past generations and the rich history of different African customs. While working on this film, there were moments where I’ve felt overwhelmed, like many others on my creative team, but it was important to create a film that instills pride and knowledge. I only hope that from watching, you leave feeling inspired to continue building a legacy that impacts the world in an immeasurable way. I pray that everyone sees the beauty and resilience of our people. This is a story of how the people left MOST BROKEN have EXTRAORDINARY gifts.❤️✊🏾 Thank you to Blitz, Emmanuel, Ibra, Jenn, Pierre, Dikayl, Kwasi and all the brilliant creatives. Thank you to all at Disney for giving this Black woman the opportunity to tell this story. This experience has been an affirmation of a grander purpose. My only goal is that you watch it with your family and that it gives you pride. Love y’all, B

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on

“The captions reads:
I typically keep comments short and sweet, but I just watched the trailer with my family and I’m excited. 🎶please don’t get me hype🎶🤪 “Black Is King” is a labor of love. It is my passion project that I have been filming, researching and editing day and night for the past year. I’ve given it my all and now it’s yours. It was originally filmed as a companion piece to “The Lion King: The Gift” soundtrack and meant to celebrate the breadth and beauty of Black ancestry. I could never have imagined that a year later, all the hard work that went into this production would serve a greater purpose.
The events of 2020 have made the film’s vision and message even more relevant, as people across the world embark on a historic journey. We are all in search of safety and light. Many of us want change. I believe that when Black people tell our own stories, we can shift the axis of the world and tell our REAL history of generational wealth and richness of soul that are not told in our history books.
With this visual album, I wanted to present elements of Black history and African tradition, with a modern twist and a universal message, and what it truly means to find your self-identity and build a legacy.
I spent a lot of time exploring and absorbing the lessons of past generations and the rich history of different African customs. While working on this film, there were moments where I’ve felt overwhelmed, like many others on my creative team, but it was important to create a film that instills pride and knowledge.
I only hope that from watching, you leave feeling inspired to continue building a legacy that impacts the world in an immeasurable way. I pray that everyone sees the beauty and resilience of our people.
This is a story of how the people left MOST BROKEN have EXTRAORDINARY gifts.❤️✊🏾 Thank you to Blitz, Emmanuel, Ibra, Jenn, Pierre, Dikayl, Kwasi and all the brilliant creatives. Thank you to all at Disney for giving this Black woman the opportunity to tell this story.
This experience has been an affirmation of a grander purpose. My only goal is that you watch it with your family and that it gives you pride.
Love y’all,
B”

Your thoughts?

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  1. Fancy BISH June 28, 2020

    Yaaaas, I’m here for ALL of it ❤️ 👊🏽🤴🏾🤳🏽

  2. Clarks0o0ñ June 29, 2020

    They are dragging her on Twitter for doing black face. Lol

    The way people like beyonce view africa, like it’s a paradise, or something. Lol
    Smh
    Africans on Twitter are blasting her heavily

    • You’ll Gag June 29, 2020

      No they arent lmao!!! Youve never even been to a country in Africa..its not just barren land just full of poverty idiot…and here you are again on another Beyoncé post looking stupid..youll be tuned into Black Is King..a film by Beyoncé for Black people .learn your roots troll

  3. tyty June 29, 2020

    Many actual Africans who leave on the continent don’t understand why the Twitter woke folks be in a uproar…. they understand that this isn’t a project aimed at them. They wander why black people in the diaspora fuss over a huge star like bey wanting to connect and appreciate where she comes from. I have a very close friend who lives in SA and she tells me the average African doesn’t understand or even know about the disconnect AA have with their african culture. AA need to connect with their culture like what bey is doing to the average African in actual Africa not on twitter being the woke police is neither offensive or that fascinating. I say AA because most other blacks in the west still have strong cultural ties to their roots and can easily trace where they come from like uk for example.

    • Jazz June 29, 2020

      Black Americans have their own culture. Many cultures actually. Their connection to Africa was lost over 400 years ago. There’s a disconnect between Africans and Black Americans period. Most Africans think they’re better than Blacks. They think Blacks have no culture, all while dressing like them, singing their music, using their slang and tapping into other aspects of Black culture that are being used WORLDWIDE! You tried it.

      • tyty June 29, 2020

        Why don’t you actually go to Africa cause I’ve been to both Zimbabwe and SA and trust me you thinking to highly of yourself most black Africans have never come across Americans so they don’t have an opinion of Americans apart from what you might see on tv or social media. At best they are indifferent. To them you’re just another black person from a different culture or place.

    • Fancy BISH June 29, 2020

      @tyty and Jazz, I like the discussion ya’ll are having #BlackIsKing 🤳🏽

    • Swirly June 29, 2020

      But AA’s roots are in America….. no shade to the Motherland. We indeed honor our ancestors but as Jazz stated, we have our own culture. I’m probably 6 or 7+ generations removed from Africa.

      • Arjuna Hakim August 30, 2020

        6 or 7 generations is a second or two when you consider your entire historical dna. Don’t marginalize your own greatness simply because you may not be fully aware of it. Peace

  4. MessyBoots June 29, 2020

    I read that entire caption w/ Queen Bey’s infamous southern Texas drawl in the back of my head. 👸🏾🙌🏾

  5. Monica Denise June 29, 2020

    More of the same from Baddie Bey. No one wants this from her.

  6. Unnatural June 29, 2020

    i always crack up when i they Beyonce pens because yall know she cant talk😆. But let the pandering continue. Did yall see the black face photos 😏

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