Five things Beyonce’ Taught me by Watching Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce’
I sat in the movie theatre yesterday reliving my Renaissance experience. Watching this movie brought me joy all over again, Beyonce’ just has a way of cheering you up, even when you really don’t want to be happy. Beyonce’ is my birthday twin and I have always felt connected to her in a way that I could never explain. Watching this movie has made me reflect on so many things about myself, here is what I learned from Beyonce:
1.) Getting Older is Cool: I am not quite forty f*cking two like my good sis, but as I approach 40 in the next few years it scares me. 40 is like the unknown door that I do not want to open but it is approaching soon, and I get scared as hell to walk into it. I feel like 40 is filled with weight gain, hair lost and aging parents. Beyonce’ showed me that turning 40 isn’t a bad thing and that your 40s will be some of the best times of your life.
2.) It’s Okay for a Black Woman to Demand Respect: Beyonce’ wears so many hats, mother, wife, daughter, sister, cousin, friend and businesswoman. She showed all sides of herself in this movie. She showed the soft and nurturing side as she mothered her children, the vulnerable side as she thanked her mother for being such a good example, and the boss chick Virgo side as she had to check a few people because they tried to play her like she didn’t know what she is talking about lol!
3.) Root for the Underdogs: Beyonce’ always discovers the folks who are unknown but talented and gives them a light. She hired one of her dancers right off social media who literally danced her wig off and kept going. Amari Marshall is a beautiful plus size dark skin Black woman who is also a fan favorite, graced the Renaissance stage with so much energy and grit. Did you guys see that Fatima Robinson was her director of choreography? She is famously known as a good friend and choreographer of the late Aaliyah. Seeing her on screen was a pleasant blast from the past and reminded me of my dreams of wanting to be a VJ for MTV or BET!
4.) Ballroom Culture is the Sh*t: Beyonce pulled out all the stops and worked with some of Ballroom’s biggest stars and LGBTQIA+ advocates: Honey (my favorite) and Cha-Cha Balenciaga, TS Madison, Big Freedia, Kevin JZ Prodigy, and Kevin Aviance. This often overlooked and disenfranchised group of people got to shine on this tour.
5.) It is Okay to Be Yourself: Over the last few years being my authentic self has been challenged and it has left me feeling a bit unsure of the woman and person I have become. Beyonce’ has reassured me that being who I am is enough and to not care what people think about me!