While I am obviously getting older, I still consider myself relatively young…relatively. I also think I’m still cool enough that teenagers and young adults don’t give me strange looks when I talk about the latest topics of discussion or the hottest trends of their generation.
I also feel fairly confident in my ability to at least consider things from the perspective of a younger person, even if it is a perspective I don’t agree with.
However, as of late, I’ve been feeling a bit older. Not in the physical sense, but more from the logical sense. I find myself vigorously shaking my head from side-to-side when I see something that seems normal to a large population of people, yet disturbing to me. But that’s not it. I’ve noticed that I more frequently say things like, “that is a shame,” “it doesn’t make any sense,” “what is the purpose of that,” “they should be ashamed of themselves,” or that one uttering pretty much every person has heard – particularly in the Black community: “umm-umm.”
Perhaps I am losing that relatable characteristic I had in regards to teenagers and young adults, because I find things more and more baffling and disturbing than seemingly ever before. Or maybe it is because such things are at the forefront even more than before. It could also be a tolerance thing. Perhaps I am so tired of all the senseless violence, sexual degradation and the cultural insensitivity that I have simply had enough of any act, physical attribute or verbal reference that attributes to the aforementioned.
Here’s a recent example to ponder. Beyonce, the multiplatinum-selling songstress who we watched evolve from a teenager in the girl group Destiny’s Child into a renowned solo artist, was the opening act for this year’s Grammy Awards.
Beyonce performed “Drunk in Love,” a song off her most-recent self-titled fifth album. She was accompanied by her husband, rap superstar, Jay-Z. Before I go any further, I must preface by saying I generally like both Jay-Z and Beyonce’s music as well as the strides they’ve been able to achieve professionally. However, I was thoroughly disappointed with Beyonce’s performance, or rather the dance moves that often emulated a stripper. The singer, who is no stranger to revealing outfits, wore a thong bodysuit with geometric cutouts in the back.
As I watched Beyonce gyrate on the stage, my mind raced back to the Beyonce of years ago. Naturally, as time progresses we all evolve in some manner or another; be it physically, emotionally, etc. Our tastes also change and things that may have been top priority items for us in our younger years may actually scrape the bottom of the barrel as we mature or have varied life experiences.
With that said, I understand that Beyonce in 2014 is a tremendously different person than she was in 1990. She’s had different personal and professional experiences that have shaped her into the woman she is today. But even while considering that, I found myself wondering why it was so important for Beyonce, who has achieved so much, to perform in such a manner. Given her professional acclaim and status, it seemed such acts were beneath her caliber.
I know it’s not necessarily fair to assume all celebrities who are in the public eye behave in a manner that is indicative of a responsible role model, but at what point is there more accountability?
Beyonce has made it. She’s reached her professional height time and time again. So perhaps because of that, she feels it is OK to present herself in whatever manner she wants. My concern is not for Beyonce, it is for the millions of girls and young women who saw that performance (and others by multitudes of artists) and think it’s OK to dress that way everyday – not just when performing on stage. My concern is for the over-sexualization these types of behaviors promote, which leads to a plethora of problems including promiscuity, rape and low self-esteem among other things.
I am just becoming increasingly tired and less tolerant of things that can ultimately have a negative impact on this society in general and our community in particular.
I certainly don’t want to sound like a pessimist, but consider all the ills facing our country and world today. Consider how the occurrences of school shootings are rapidly increasing. Consider the women and men of this world who are so fixated on having certain physical assets that they undergo surgery to alter their appearance. Think about the countless people who are contributing to or dying from acts of violence.
All these behaviors derive from somewhere. And while the entertainment industry and celebrities aren’t the only culprits, their attention-seeking behaviors are certainly contributors.
You can email comments to Shannon Williams at shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
