By Matiara Huff
So today we will discuss B, and by B, I mean the Queen. If you still don’t know who I am talking about, then I’m happy to tell you that today we discuss Beyoncé. Now I hope you are as excited as I am!
Beyoncé Knowles was born in Houston, TX on September 4, 1981. Beyonce found fame with the band Destiny’s Child, She, Kelly Rowland, and Lativia Robertson pushed their way to the top with their first albums Men In Black, and The Writing’s on the Wall. After the band separated, Beyoncé released her first solo album Dangerously In Love, which sold 317,000 copies in the first week. As of 2012, that album has sold 11 million copies worldwide. After the other members of the Destiny’s Child released their solo albums with numbers nowhere near Beyoncé’s, they trio decided to reunite and created one more album, Destiny Fulfilled. Since then, Beyoncé has released five more albums and has become the third most honored person at the Grammy’s, with a total of 17 awards and 46 nominations.
Beyoncé has had an incredible impact on not just the music industry, but on people of color, and especially women of color. Throughout her career, she has alluded to being a feminist. These hints have raised the question, “Is Beyoncé a feminist?” When her most recent album came out, those questions were clearly answered. Since the album was released, she has done countless interviews explaining her feminist views, and how she really didn’t want to call herself a feminist because of the stereotypes that come with it. But because of her coming out as a feminist, she has gained more loyal supporters than ever, and created more awareness about feminism and its actual meaning. Because of the success of her most recent album, the self-titled Beyoncé, Beyoncé is now releasing a platinum version of it with 2 new songs on November 24, 2014. To me, it’s refreshing to see more women standing up for feminism in such a vocal way like Beyoncé has.