“Black Feminist in Public: Veronica Chambers on the Power and Meaning of Beyoncé - Ms. Magazine” plus 2 more

Black Feminist in Public: Veronica Chambers on the Power and Meaning of Beyoncé - Ms. Magazine
Who Did Jay-Z Cheat on Beyoncé with? - New Idea
Tyra Banks calls herself 'cray-cray' after VERY eccentric 2008 interview with Beyonce resurfaces - Daily Mail

Black Feminist in Public: Veronica Chambers on the Power and Meaning of Beyoncé - Ms. Magazine

Posted: 18 Feb 2020 05:00 AM PST

Black Feminist in Public is a new series of conversations between creative black women and Janell Hobson, a Ms. scholar whose work focuses on the intersections of history, popular culture and representations of women of African descent.

Veronica Chambers is a prolific writer, author, journalist and editor. Her editorial projects include the New York Times' Past Tense, a storytelling archive based on recently discovered photographs digitized by the Times; her anthology, The Meaning of Michelle, featuring 16 writers reflecting on the life of the first black First Lady of the United States; and, now, the recently published Queen Bey: A Celebration of the Power and Creativity of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.

She talked to Ms. about the new anthology, and the black feminist lens that shapes her work.

What led you to work on this collection on Beyoncé?

I had actually edited a previous collection called The Meaning of Michelle, which was about Michelle Obama. And it was my first anthology that I edited, even though I've been in a number of them. And after it was over, my editor said we should do another one. I thought, who could we possibly do after having spent two years thinking about Michelle Obama? And she suggested Beyoncé. So, it was kind of an interesting next step because they're so different. But obviously they both impact culture in big ways.

Not to mention the two women also had a partnership.

Yes. It's funny, because Beyoncé also came up in the Michelle Obama anthology.

What would you say they have in common?

They both embody black womanhood in the 21st century; they're both known for being iconic for the choices they've made, for the path they've carved. There literally was never anyone like a Michelle Obama. And in a similar way there's never been anyone quite like Beyoncé. And so, I think that their fans see in them both a fierce sense of independence, so much intelligence, and talent. They're both women who really have created a unique kind of power. And in that way, I think the books are interesting companion pieces because one of the things that I'm really interested in is power, creativity, freedom. And they both address those issues in different ways.

Obviously, we haven't had a black First Lady before Michelle Obama. But when you say we've never seen anyone like Beyoncé, she is someone who is coming out of a lineage that includes black women pop stars like Diana Ross and Whitney Houston. What makes her different when you say there's never been anyone like her?

I think she's really interesting because of the way that she created Beyoncé the business. You know what I mean? Obviously, Diana Ross was such a trailblazer, and Whitney Houston had so much talent, but I think in the way Beyoncé has owned her career, it's really unique. In the way that she drops a secret album. The way that she creates these visual albums, the way that she's not signed to a label. People sign to her, like Adidas signs up to work with her. It's not like she's a spokesperson for anyone else.

I think just from a business point of view, the amount of financial independence she has, the amount of creative independence she has, and the way that she really gets to call the shots is really unique for any kind of musician. But I think particularly for a black woman singer, I think it's never been done quite that way before.

What most intrigues you about Beyoncé?

If you really listen to her music—and for the book that was luckily part of my job to really listen—you can tell she's reading books, she's evolving. One of the things that's so powerful, and I think one of the things that really carries her fan group, is that as Beyoncé learns, she brings it into the music and then she carries it further.

If you look at her social media, you can see early visits to the Louvre, pictures of her with the Mona Lisa, then her taking Blue to Paris when she's younger… and then they're shooting in the Louvre for the "Apeshit" video. She had thought about those paintings and that artwork and the heritage of the French lineage of New Orleans. She thought about it all. I think people who dismiss her as somehow being a lightweight or a pretty girl with some lucky breaks—as if you can create at that level without thinking critically!—that is actually just another sign of misogyny and how women are discounted for what they create. When we make exquisite things, people assume there are fairies in the night who do it with magic dust instead of looking at the work and the research and the effort that goes into it.

Oh, absolutely. And you realize that she's definitely doing the research. I think that there is a two-way communication going on between the pop star and her audience, whether they're fans or not. That's also what makes her very compelling. I became a Beyoncé fan, and not just a Beyoncé scholar, after Lemonade, which was so phenomenal: the visual, the spoken word, it really came together so well, and while it could have just stayed on the level of her marital strife with Jay-Z, she just took that narrative to this next level where it became poetic, historical and political.

Oh my God, there's just so many layers in it. And I think that's the beautiful thing. I'm still listening to The Lion King: The Gift album, and I just think all the references to Afrobeat and the connection to the motherland, and women and men, and strength and spirituality, beauty—there's just so much there, and it makes it not boring.

You asked what makes her different from some of the artists that preceded her, and obviously she's in a pantheon of greats, but when you think of all the people who were part of that early '90s R&B moment, what's made her continually interesting is that she continues to tell a different story, and she connects the dots between one story and another and another. She has a Scheherazade quality to her music, so you don't feel like you're handed an album made by a label. You're on this kind of storytelling journey. It's like: Where is she now? What's going on? Where are we going next? And the same way you trust a great writer to carry you along, I think her fan base is so powerful because there's a lot of trust there, and she doesn't disappoint. She always delivers what she's promised.

How did you select the authors for this particular volume on Beyoncé?

When I think about an anthology, I think about a great dinner party. I think about: Who do you want to have at the table? And I'm such a big fan of Luvvie Ajayi, I just think she's so funny and smart, so I definitely wanted to have her. I'm a big fan of Brittney Cooper who was already in the Meaning of Michelle anthology, so I wanted her back. Also, Melissa Harris-Perry. I had approached both Melissa and Mankappr Conteh, who was a former student of hers, and I went to them both individually, partly because I know that Melissa teaches Beyoncé and talked about her and I thought it would be interesting for them to write about their perspectives, both generationally but also about Beyoncé in the classroom. Mankappr ended up writing her piece first, and then Melissa weaved her piece into that. Candice Benbow is in the book. I love her! Of course, I admire Michael Eric Dyson so much, and Sir Edward Enninful, the editor of British Vogue who is such an interesting person in fashion.

I wanted to talk about different things: fashion, music, womanhood, colorism. I brought in different voices to set the table, so to speak. I love a good dinner party.

I notice a number of these authors are self-identified black feminists. Would you identify this project as a black feminist anthology?

Absolutely. I came up in a lineage of having been in school and reading people like Barbara Smith, and so I feel like everything I do is rooted in the idea of black feminism. Mostly because of that Anna Julia Cooper idea—"when and where I enter the whole race enters with me"—so I know my work through a black feminist lens isn't limited. It's actually a really powerful and wide lens to work through.

What are you hoping to accomplish with this anthology?

The great thing about this anthology for me has been really just giving people a way into thinking about the music, just like the Lemonade Reader does in terms of bringing it into the classroom. I just love the conversations and the sparks that come from the different essays. I like the fact that writers keep talking to each other.

I also think that anthologies are great. I'm a mom, and one of the things that I love about anthologies is you can dip in and read a five-page essay and get back out. I think that there is a way that you can consume anthologies that makes it really great for our moment.

And I just love being part of that conversation. I love when people say, I read this one piece and it really spoke to me, and I think that's powerful. I also feel like it's a great companion piece to my Michelle Obama anthology because, especially as women, I think we're constantly curious about how we make a life for ourselves, what are the choices we make with marriage, with motherhood, with friendship, with family. And I think that's what's at the heart of this book, of these two books. What they have in common is that they're deep dives into the choices that these two iconic women have made that have led to where they are today.

Who Did Jay-Z Cheat on Beyoncé with? - New Idea

Posted: 17 Feb 2020 09:07 PM PST

Young Hov & Queen B

Beyoncé Knowles needs no introduction! Fierce, beautiful, and talented, our savage diva has empowered women, seduced men, and inspired young girls all over the world. She found mainstream success in the legendary girl group Destiny's Child before going solo and debuting her single 'Crazy In Love' with Jay-Z in 2002.

Beyonce and Jay-Z at MTV's "Spankin' New Music Week"

Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter left his hard-knock life in Brooklyn when he became one of the biggest Hip Hop artists and business moguls of all time. He launched his career with 'Big Pimpin', '99 Problems', and '03 Bonnie & Clyde' before owning Roc-A-Fella Records (now Roc Nation), Rocawear, and major shares in Tidal.

Love At First Flight

Jay-Z first met Beyoncé on a flight to Cancun for the MTV Spring Break Festival in 2000. She was only 18 and he was 30, but the 12-year age gap didn't stop them from getting along. The two sat next to each other, struck up a friendship, and kept in touch through phone calls.

He rapped about that moment years later in his song '713': "We played it cool at the pool of the Cancun, VMA. Confidence you exude make the fools stay away. Me, I played my room, let the fools have they say. Fate had me sittin' next to you on the plane. And I knew straight away."

Falling Crazy In Love

The two had undeniable chemistry, but they took things slow. In an interview with Seventeen Magazine, she talked about why they didn't start dating immediately. "I was 18 when we first met, 19 when we first started dating. There was no rush – no one expected me to run off and get married."

Jay-Z and Beyonce at the 2010 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival

Low-Key Dating

Beyoncé told Oprah in an OWN interview: "We were friends first for a year and a half before we went on any dates, we were on the phone for a year and a half, and that foundation is so important for a relationship. Just to have someone who you just like is so important, and someone who is honest."

Despite being "just friends", we frequently saw them enjoying courtside NBA basketball games together. Media and tabloids were abuzz with speculations of their romance, but they didn't start officially dating until 2001.

High-Profile Couple

After several years of going out, they made their official debut as a couple at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards. Fans and media were in a frenzy as two of the biggest music stars in the industry became an item!

The First Cheating Rumours

The couple secretly split in 2005 amid rumours that Jay-Z was unfaithful. However, a source claims that Beyonce wanted to focus on her career and needed some space. Whatever the reason was, they were apart for an entire year until they got back together in 2006.

Putting A Ring On It

They got engaged in Paris, and not long after, got married on April 4, 2008. It was an intimate ceremony with a few close friends and family in Jay-Z's New York apartment. On top of exchanging beautiful wedding rings, they also got matching ring finger tattoos with the number four in Roman numerals. How sweet!

Starting A Family

The usually private Beyoncé announced her first pregnancy on-stage at the 2011 MTV Music Awards, but she lost her baby to a miscarriage that year. Things turned around in 2012 when they were blessed with their first baby girl Blue Ivy!

Jay-Z, Beyonce and their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards

The Solange Scandal

Who can forget about the infamous elevator incident? Leaked security footage showed Solange and Jay-Z in a heated argument at the 2014 Met Gala. People assumed she was defending her beloved sister, but the family never directly explained why. This sparked a new wave of divorce rumours from tabloids and fans.

They've since released a vague statement, saying: "Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family."

Making Music

Over the years, they made lots of sweet music and videos as a couple, showing the world just how much they loved each other. In 2014, they performed together on stages all over the world for their On The Run Tour, looking madly in love as they sang in front of thousands of fans. From playful club bangers to sexy songs, here are some of their best collaborations ever:

Beyoncé Serves Lemonade

In 2016, Beyoncé served us with a full-blown audio-visual masterpiece about infidelity, forgiveness, and love. Every song began with personal spoken word poetry, followed by hard-hitting lyrics and hypnotic choreography.

The music videos were brutally honest, tackling the different phases of a woman betrayed by the love of her life. As expected, fans obsessed over the lyrics and who "Becky with the good hair" really was. Needless to say, the tea was piping hot.

Jay-Z's Rumoured Affairs

So did Jay-Z cheat? In 2017, he confirmed the cheating allegations with The New York Times. When he released his latest album, his song '4:44' addressed the countless mistakes he's made in the past through his lyrics.

"And if my children knew, I don't even know what I would do. If they ain't look at me the same, I would probably die with all the shame. 'You did what with who?' What good is a ménage à trois when you have a soulmate? 'You risked that for Blue?'" Another line says: "Yeah, I'll f*** up a good thing if you let me. Let me alone, Becky."

Rihanna (2004)

Was she more than Jay-Z's protege? Riri's former publicist Jonathan Hay confessed to the Daily News that he started the rumour of an affair to launch her career. "The PR stunt that I did was out of desperation to help break 'Pon de Replay'. It was reckless and I didn't think it was going to work."

Liv (2008)

The independent rapper released a song titled 'Mrs. Carter' where she spits an open letter to Jay-Z's wife for clout. In an interview with Hollywood Life, she tells us what happened after they hit it off one night. "Then one of his bodyguards approached me and said, 'Jay wants your number. He's gonna call you when he's back in town,' I was like, that's so wrong. I wasn't going to disrespect B like that."

Rita Ora (2016)

The former Roc Nation artist uploaded a Snapchat post wearing a lemon bikini and a 'J' necklace. Rita denied the rumours and says she's looked up to both of them as idols growing up. She had a sense of humour about it, telling The Sunday Times: "Hey, all I want to say to that is, dude, if I were Becky with the good hair, wouldn't I actually have to have good hair? Look at it. It's all weave and extensions."

Rachel Roy (2016)

Speculations spread like wildfire when Rachel posted a photo the day Beyoncé's Lemonade album dropped. She captioned her post with "Good hair don't care, but we will take good lighting, for selfies. or self truths, always. live in the light #nodramaqueens". Beyoncé's hardcore fans, the Bey Hive, attacked her on social media, and even mistakenly involved Rachel Ray!

Saving The Marriage

Beyoncé shared what she's learned as a loving wife to Jay-Z with Seventeen Magazine."I guess probably that we're all human. I don't care if you're picture-perfect on every magazine cover, and you're the most handsome, successful, coolest guy – you still get sad, and you still get your feelings hurt, and you still get confused and vulnerable and nervous and scared. You have to find a person you can make it through the tough times with."

In an interview with CNN, Jay-Z got candid about how they made their family a top priority. "For us, we chose to fight for our love, for our family, to give our kids a different outcome."

Couples Therapy

In an interview with David Letterman, Jay-Z confessed: "I did something that I had no business doing, and I regret it.'' He then continued explaining how they worked through everything hand-in-hand. "We did the hard work of going to therapy. We love each other, so we really put in the work for years. I like to believe we're in a better place today. I'm proud of the father and the husband that I am today. Let me stick with this and come through the other side. I see how that looks."

On another piece with The New York Times, he added that their music was cathartic in healing their relationship. "We were using our art almost like a therapy session. And we started making music together."

Pregnant With Twins

After all the heartache, the power couple is still together and in it for the long run. In 2017, they announced their joyful pregnancy with twins on Instagram!

Renewing Vows

In 2018, the Carters renewed their vows with their three kids present: their oldest daughter Ivy Blue and their twins Rumi and Sir. They debuted home videos and footage from the ceremony during an emotional performance for their On The Run II tour. By the end of the show, the projector screen had the words 'This is real love' on it – and we couldn't agree more!

Love Is Everything

As the saying goes, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." – and that's exactly what Jay-Z and Beyoncé did. Staying in love as a famous couple is never easy, and they've stood the test of time.

Tyra Banks calls herself 'cray-cray' after VERY eccentric 2008 interview with Beyonce resurfaces - Daily Mail

Posted: 16 Feb 2020 10:51 AM PST

Tyra Banks isn't afraid to make fun of herself.

So the 46-year-old former model did just that after a very interesting 2008 clip from her old show The Tyra Banks Show started to make its rounds on the internet this past week.

Tyra took to Twitter on Saturday to admit she was a bit 'cray-cray' when she interviewed superstar Beyonce over one decade ago.

Eccentric! Tyra Banks poked fun at herself on Twitter this weekend after a very quirky 2008 interview with Beyonce resurfaced

Flashback: 'I was Cray-Cray. Sorry (not sorry) @Beyonce,' the America's Next Top Model star responded on Twitter of the hilarious video

In the video, the retired Victoria's Secret Angel is seen asking the Queen Bey, 38, some personalized rapid fire questions that appear to make the artist a bit uncomfortable.

'Buy-once, when was the last time you bought something in a store?' she asked as her first question.

Banks had no shortage of jokes, going on to ask: 'Seanc-é, if you could communicate with anybody who's passed away, who would it be? Brie-yoncé, what's your favorite type of cheese?'

As the questions rolled, the singer appeared a bit confused by Tyra's plays on her name.

'I was Cray-Cray. Sorry (not sorry) @Beyonce,' the America's Next Top Model star responded on Twitter of the hilarious video.

Hot seat: In the video, the retired Victoria's Secret Angel is seen asking the Queen Bey, 38, some personalized rapid fire questions that appear to make the artist a bit uncomfortable

Looking back: Beyonce had gone on the show to promote her third solo album, I Am... Sasha Fierce

Go-getter: 'Buy-once, when was the last time you bought something in a store?' she asked as her first question

Recently, Tyra made headlines after opening up about her career and the major discrimination that she faced along the way.

'I lost my very first opportunity with Victoria's Secret,' she said during an interview with Yahoo.

'The hairdresser did not know what to do with my hair. And was spraying water and putting heat and all kinds of stuff, and it was just a frizzy mess. Had no idea what to do with my hair texture. And I get on the set, and they sent me home because my hair looked bad.'

Looking FIERCE: Beyonce rocked an elegant teased look while promoting her new album

Ongoing: As the interview went on, the singer appeared a bit confused by Tyra's plays on her name

She went on to say that she 'begged' her agent for another shot just a year later.

'I called my hairdresser the night before, and I said, 'Can you do my hair?'

She continued: 'I wrapped it, slept in that scarf, got in the cab the next morning. Right before I opened the Victoria's Secret studio door, I took the scarf off and walked in...Cut to 10 years of a contract with them.'

Back then: Tyra is seen taking on the runway for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 1999

Working it: She revealed she went on to hold a contract for the famous brand for 10 years

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