Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé. Beyoncé as a Pillar for the Black and LGBTQIA+ Community in America

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Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé was released internationally on November 30th, 2023. Being a huge fan of Beyoncés latest album, I ran directly to theaters to watch the show myself, (not being able to have attended the live tour this year).

Surrounded by fellow Beyoncé fans who stood up to sing, cry and yell with the singer, the two hour and 48 minute documentary of the artist's 2023 Renaissance Tour went by in no time. An experience that I urge everyone to have.

Yet, despite the incredible visuals and audio quality, what I mostly took away from the documentary was the emphasis on Black and LGBTQIA+ pride. If you have even listened to one second of RENAISSANCE, you know that these are vital themes, with the constant appearance of musical artist Kevin JZ Prodigy and rapper BEAM. Beyoncé reiterates these themes in her documentary, hiring a mostly African American and queer team (both background dancers, crew, etc), and speaking of the struggles that Black people face in the music industry.

Through the invitation of other Black artists onto stage, such as Diana Ross, Megan Thee Stallion, or Kendrick Lamar, it is no surprise that the fans showcased in the documentary are in tears at seeing their heroine sing the “battle songs” of COZY, ALIEN SUPERSTAR, ENERGY, Black Pride, River Deep Mountain, AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM, PURE/HONEY and Alright. What Beyoncé does is create a safe community in an America that wishes to silence pride. Although the fact that these songs have upbeat rhythms, their lyrics are incredibly profound and related to the polarized nature of the United States in the year 2023. While other artists have been seen to back down from political conversations, Beyoncé makes the conversations her shows. She utilizes her platform by handing it to others.

The artist further emphasizes her support of the LGBTQIA+ community, through the inclusion of various cultural references in her songs, and traditional dance moves into her choreography. Beyoncé highlights the style of voguing, a deeply rooted African American and queer dance style, not to monetize it, but to give it the pride that it deserves. What she manages to make a fun and lively environment, actually sheds light on a culture that has been silenced by the music industry and pop culture.

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During the documentary, Beyoncé stated that she wished to “create a space where everyone is there, where they are the new beginning. That is what the Renaissance is about”. A new beginning, a re-birth for pop culture and the way that minorities are treated in the mass media. I believe that she more than successfully achieved this, providing a safe stage for the marginalized populations of America.

What she has given the rest of her fans is a seed of education, where the community allows for and seeks growth.

If you have an afternoon, go watch the movie. You will leave with an unexplainable feeling of community, and perhaps, the desire to be part of the renaissance.