Out the gate, I asked myself do I really want to go? I’ve been exhausted lately with all of the things, but really wanted to see the friend that extended the invitation. Beyonce Mass sounded a bit sensational.
Being fully aware of 2018 Bay Area antics, I had my suspicions. To be honest the enamor and fanfare for Beyonce’s music doesn't resonate with me the same way it used to, and honestly, that wasn’t the draw for me. I was interested in how her music would spark conversation around Black women's issues.
I have so much respect for Mrs. Carter Knowles, and what she is doing for the culture via visual symbolism (Orishas), social activism (featuring the mothers of unarmed Black men in her videos), gender equity (the all-female band she employed), and her overall Diasporic reach (you name it, it's there, just look).
“An excerpt of the event description written by 7x7’s Matt Charnock “Praise Bey: Grace Cathedral to Host a Beyoncé Mass...” - “This is a service that uses Beyoncé’s music as a tool to engender positive, empowering conversation about black women. ”
I thought, “Oh ok, they getting ready to have some real talk in the Catholic church?” A space that has never really made me, as a Black woman feel entirely confident/at peace. I grew up in the Catholic church by way of attending Catholic school from middle through high school. Long story, take it up with Oakland Unified.
[7x7 continued] "This is not a service deifying Beyoncé," said Reverend Yolanda Norton, the SF Theological Seminary professor who will lead the service as part of Grace Cathedral's pop-culture worship series [...]
“Question (DC voice)? You not deifying her? Why not? Chile, you’ve deified for less. In this day and age homegurl is a saint and then some.”
[7x7 continued] “ [the mass is] a collaboration with The Vine (Grace Cathedral's contemporary group) and represents one portion of a three-part series to be held[...]created with the intention of lifting up the voices of those largely marginalized and oppressed by the Church, particularly women, non-believers, gay and transgender men and women, and communities of color[...]Norton's perspective, Beyonce's work in the world represents an intersection point of modern-day inclusion, but also limelights the societal strifes felt by many, particularly women of color.
Baby, when I say they skirted all around the Black women’s portion. I believe I heard a bit about Fannie Lou Hamer, or someone of the like, somebody’s mama, wanting to strike back, then a quick dash for choosing love. Wait, what? Fast forward to a segment around the issues of other marginalized communities between breaks in a Beyonce song, call and response style. I became totally unresponsive. If there are other parts to this series that reflect the issues affecting other communities, why couldn’t you focus on Black women’s issues? Our issues must generate some kind of taste in the mouth, so much so, that they historically mandate crowding with other “spiritual” foods.
I do agree that Beyonce tows an intersectional line as she has been known to recycle, reduce, and reuse from the gay community. What I am reminding you of is your offer to focus on Black women for a service, just a service. That’s Black women in every sense of the word that includes trans women, queer women, etc. hold the Dolezal. In layman's terms I think you missed the mark.
“The routes I wanted the service to take:
1. Biblical text being rooted in Northern Africa
2. African Deities across Creole culture being paired with Catholic Saints
3. Speaking directly to issues affecting Black Women
(a). Representation (b). Respect (c). Reclaiming Our Time (d). Performance as Ritual (e). All of the Above”
It just felt like another issue moonlighting Black Women's attributes while not really including Black Women in the mix. When the communities reflective of the majority of San Francisco’s current demographics show up to see Beyonce in concert they auto include themselves in the narrative. Allowing her to project on them with the hopes that they will be able to reflect some of her essence in their everyday life. Reflect the mannerisms, colloquialisms, and urban dictionary searches, all the while retaining one of the most limited editions of understanding what goes into being like her and the women she comes from.
Perhaps with the current Catholic framework just doesn't work. To talk about Black Women briefly, then pray for them around the same rendition of the father, son and holy spirit responsible for the most brute forms of patriarchy and colonialism don't work for me. Thank you for the honorable mention. I get what you were trying to do, so maybe you rewrite the story to tell a different story. But please tell the story. I’d be interested in hearing a lecture at SF State. I left during the Eucharist.
I had to go, Felicia was waiting on me at the door.
