Shani Ritchey Muhammad

Marissa Evans wrote an emotional article about Beyoncé's birthday concert for the @latimes 🌸 "Beyoncé’s birthday show transcended the decades of creativity, love and growth that she pours into her work and journey in womanhood. Seeing Beyoncé perform at any of her shows on this tour was bound to be a soul-restoring experience. But seeing her perform on her birthday and get to celebrate among the BeyHive holds a special significance. We watched her make a speech that left many of us with lumps in our throats or tears rolling down our face as she talked about turning 42 and expressing gratitude that she was still alive and here with us performing, for the healing power of music, the support and love of her family and friends and fans and for the stretch marks and extra pounds that come with aging, body changes and womanhood. The reality is too many Black women don’t make it to 42 and too many are not celebrated. We’re dying from childbirth. We’re dying from violence. We’re going missing and hardly anyone is looking for us. We’re overlooked and undervalued. In an era when the pleas and battle cries of “support Black women” and “protect Black women” often ring hollow, displays of reverence and joy over Black women’s existence is often fleeting. When Black women attempt to celebrate their achievements and survival when others won’t or to speak their truth about experiences with racism, prejudice, violence and misogynoir, there’s a virtual shushing that tends to happen. Black women are pressured to be the backbone for people, institutions and systems when their backs are already breaking or broken. Being part of the BeyHive often means Beyoncé’s music takes the weight of the world off of our backs whether its a three-minute song or a near three-hour concert. The BeyHive protects Beyoncé because her existence and music have so often offered refuge from the world when loud and proud versions of love, support and positivity can be hard to find." 🔗latimes.com/entertainment-ar…