If "Formation" taught fans anything, it's that Beyoncé doesn't shy away from making a statement. In response to the devastating deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, both at the hands of police officers, the singer decided to send a strong message that #BlackLivesMatter. She's supported the movement before, but this time, Beyoncé gave her entire website a makeover. The homepage of Beyonce.com now prominently features a powerful message condemning the untimely deaths of black individuals in America — and that's not all. She includes links for anyone interested in taking action against such injustice. It's a powerful and proactive move; considering the singer has more than 77 million Instagram followers, she has the ability to spark change and inspire others to speak out.
Here's an excerpt from Bey's post, which is worth reading in full:
We are sick and tired of the killings of young men and women in our communities. It is up to us to take a stand and demand that they "stop killing us." We don't need sympathy. We need everyone to respect our lives. We are going to stand up as a community and fight against anyone who believes that murder or any violent action by those who are sworn to protect us should consistently go unpunished.
Adding emphasis, the message is written in all caps. She goes on to express that this is a "human fight" and that no matter a person's race, gender, or sexual orientation, she's fighting for anyone who "feels marginalized, who is struggling for freedom and human rights." She also adds that "fear is not an excuse. Hate will not win." In such a time of frustration and sadness, that last part can't be repeated enough.
If she had just ended the message there, it would still be noteworthy. But making the post all the more powerful, she makes sure people know that they can speak up. It's easy to feel helpless and frustrated when such tragedies occur, but calling politicians and demanding change is a tangible action any of us can take. As for how to do that, if you click on the text box on Bey's site, a new box appears on the side that features three options. You can contact your local congressperson, voice protest on behalf of Sterling by contacting Louisiana state legislators, or voice protest on behalf of Castile by contacting Minnesota state legislators. As she writes herself,
We all have the power to channel our anger and frustration into action. We must use our voices to contact the politicians and legislators in our districts and demand social and judicial changes.
So, what are you waiting for? Follow in Beyoncé's footsteps and channel your feelings into action.
