Don’t Be Mad At Beyonce If People Want To Kiss Her Ass
When news broke yesterday that Beyonce Knowles was selected to receive a journalism award for her Essence feature story, “Eat, Play, Love,” by the New York Association of Black Journalists, I was stunned – to put it mildly.
In fact, my initial response on Facebook was:
“Wow…Beyonce is winning journalism awards now? I quit.”
Followed swiftly by:
“I think I’ve been going about this journalism thing all wrong. I should get some blonde extensions, learn how to make it clap while saying “uh-oh” and talk about the simple things in life like jumping off of yachts.
That’s the ticket.
*Shreds all rough drafts of articles that empower the Black community and puts on leotard.”
Stunned, I said…to put it mildly.
It’s not that Queen Bey makes a living gyrating and writhing around the globe, nor even that I would stand before a jury and sweet, fictitious 8-pound baby Jesus and claim beyond a reasonable doubt that she hired a ghostwriter. (Shout-out to the ghostwriter; you did your thing!)
No, I’m stunned because the NYABJ proved with that one insulting decision that they are willing to kiss Beyonce’s ass at the expense of hard-working journalists everywhere.
There is no way in the hell that they can convince anyone that not one, single, solitary article in the “arts and entertainment” category was more “artistic” and “entertaining” than a diary about discovering a love for artichokes and learning to appreciate the little things.
“We don’t believe you, you need more people,” as Beyonce’s husband would say.
In addition to Beyonce, a Lifetime Achievement award is being presented to Robert Naylor, a thirty-year vet who chaired the Associated Press Diversity Council and a founding member of the LGBT Task Force. Tribute will also be paid to late journalism pioneer Gil Noble, host of “Like It Is” since 1967 — not to mention the dozens of other journos who do this for little to no pay and even less recognition day-in and day-out.
That’s some pretty impressive company for the “Bootylicious” penstress to be in and there is no way that she can believe she deserves it.
But, here’s the catch.
It’s not her fault. There is no need to criticize Beyonce for the actions of what should be a legitimate journalism organization. She’s just walking around in her Louboutins, yacht jumping, breastfeeding, flashing her smile, flipping her hair and shaking her ass for her adoring public. In other words, she’s never ventured too far from her lane; unless you count “Dreamgirls” and the other movie that I only remember because of Idris Elba with his fine self, but that’s another article.
In the last 24 hours, I’ve seen vicious comments about her lack of education and pesky plagiarism issues. And while they’re at it, horribly petty people decided to speculate again if she bleaches her skin and why her hair gets blonder and blonder, and if she gave birth to Blue Ivy – better yet, is she’s carrying around some sort of fake baby to throw people off the trail?
I never use this term, so forgive me in advance:
But this is a definite case of people “hating” on Beyonce.
At the end of the day — whether you like her, love her or hate her — she’s still another Black woman (well African-American, Native-American and French woman according to her L’ Oreal ad, but you get my point) doing her thing and doing it well. If you’re mad, write the NYABJ – they’re the ones who placed celebrity over substance. Beyonce is a mother, wife, singer, actress and business woman. What she is not, is a journalist. She also didn’t ask for the award. Educated Black people always preach, scold and berate our young people for placing “stars” on a pedestal, but apparently when the scholarly among us do it, it’s entirely justified.
“This is just one award,” said Michael Feeney, the president of the New York chapter of the Black journalists association. “I know a lot of people are upset but we are honoring a lot of outstanding journalists on that night. Beyoncé is a role model. I hope this honor will inspire other girls to pursue a career in journalism.”
No, Mr. Feeney, it may possibly inspire other young girls to pursue a glamorous entertainment career so that that they too can have accolades such as a “Most Beautiful Woman in the World” thrown at them (as if there is such a thing) — and “journalism” awards for articles about a vacation. What it will not do is encourage any scholarly pursuit whatsoever. Let’s be real.
But then again – since the NYAJB has garnered more media exposure over this decision than, well, ever – maybe encouraging young people was never really the point…was it?
You clearly don’t like Beyonce. You’ve attacked her in this whole article about everything, yet say that people shouldn’t blame her, when in actual fact you are. While you’re pissed off at the fact that they make your career choice out to be something easy, you also blame her for her career choices and put entertaining down as if you could do it better than she can. I mean, as you say, a person doesn’t need a single brain cell to do what she does.
Quit writing or don’t but please get over yourself, anyone with a single brain cell can write total utter bullshit and claim it’s thout provoking, you’ve just proven that right now.
Damn, that was harsh. Smh
@ Girl Pleez you are so right. People need to focus on their own successes…or failures.
GIRL!!!!!!! I TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID!!!!!!!!
@Girl Pleez
I agree with you. I couldnt do what Beyonce does and neighter can most people. We’ve also seen people who are doing what Beyonce does crumble under the pressure. She has maintained herself so well. What more does she have to do? Cure cancer?
*waves hand*
“Shaddddeee”
Why is it every time someone tells the truth about a celeb, they are accused of being jealous and not liking said star? Celeb mafia come out in groups to “protect” their star. This article is so on point, it’s not even funny. A celebrity who is not a journalist should not be getting a journalist award. End of story. This is an insult to the many amazing writers out there who will never get this award. You can talk about how much you like Beyonce’s music, but you CANNOT in no way justify giving a SINGER a journalism award. The author speaks the truth. Stop making her out to be some petty female with a bone to pick. Oh, and that organization needs to be ashamed of themselves. They are a disgrace to real organizations who are making decisions based on achievement, not notoriety.
Then the article should be about the bestowing organization without taking cheap shots at a legitimately successful entertainer. Sour grapes make great ‘whine.’
@ Todra
“the truth”??
are you a journalist? this ‘article’ has way more (judgmental, if i may say) opinions in it than facts; it tells more about the author than it does about beyonce.
And people dabble into other fields of work all of the time, whether by interest or
financial strains- why is that a problem?
If mk & ashley want to be actors, design, and start a cooking line, so what?
Should beyonce have kept her essays to herself or just denied herself of expressing her ideas through writing because of the fear that she would offend so many people?
also, it may seem like it especially as we get older, but -
people aren’t defined by their careers!
You CAN be an acclaimed musician and a recognized writer.
(again, whether she gained the title by fame or true merit, i do not and will not know)
Life isn’t a school talent show where everyone is defined by one particular art & everyone leaves with an award. It is possible to be good at two, three or more things.
I still don’t believe or understand how (besides publicity) it takes away from the artistry of other aspiring journalists.
If you don’t see the jealousy all over this article, i don’t know what to say.
A more direct analysis could have included excerpts from beyonce’s essay and maybe essays from the past that have won- maybe showing how the NYABJ has changed over the years? Because writing ‘this girl just does _____ everyday and composes an essay and she gets an award, while people like me get nothing’ sounds more like a toddlers tantrum than a serious article.
Awards are nice, but if you need one to be able to love the job you’re doing in life, maybe you should switch career paths. People put too much emphasis on things like this- stop being a kanye and have a few seats. If there weren’t the NYABJ, there would still be journalists; if there were never the Grammy’s, guess what?
there would still be musicians. these awards don’t define us, but we let them!
i might be a little too much of an optimist, but i think that even though there may be a struggle, artists/workers with passion and dedication will rise to the top.
@Stellaxo,
I am a paid writer. I write and consult for regional and national print magazines and online sources. I do NOT consider myself a journalist because, like Beyonce, I do not write hard-hitting news pieces that should receive awards or qualify as “journalism”.
But I make a living. And I know how the industry works, thank you.
And for the record, this article we’re commenting on is an OPINION piece. Op eds are always written with passion and dare I say, attitude. Even when you read them in the NY Times and they are on politics, war, entertainment, etc. And they always stir up controversy because not everyone is going to agree with the author’s point of view. But that’s okay. I happen to agree with her perfectly. I’ll give you that this article was very snarky, but that’s fine. NEWS pieces are supposed to be balanced and objective. Not so with opinion pieces.
@ Todra,
“Why is it every time someone tells the truth about a celeb, they are accused of being jealous and not liking said star?”
Im not trying to be snarky by quoting you, btw!
I understand where you’re coming from; I was mainly referring to you calling this article “the truth” (as if it were *not* an op-ed) and implying that the rest of us who take issue with this piece are ludicrous for calling the author out on her dislike of beyonce.
But, a) she doesn’t like beyonce- its obvious.
and b) this article does have tones of jealousy. I think even if the author wanted to critique this award and its the merit of its recipient, she could have gone about it in a different way.
I never once implied that you didn’t know how the industry works (thanks for telling me though), but if you have any background knowledge to add that could help others (including myself) understand how this move by the organization was so foul, I’d truly be interested in hearing it.
@Stellaxo, I see your point in my use of the word, “truth”. I didn’t mean it as this is news style truth, just that the words she wrote are true (Beyonce is not a journalist and should not receive a journalism award for one article written for magazine – that she MAY not have even written).
Before becoming a beauty writer, I was a successful celebrity makeup artist. I have never worked with Beyonce, so I am not making a statement about her in particular, BUT the celebs I worked around didn’t do any of their own crap. Most books “written” by celebs (or even big name Christian pastors!) are ghost written. And so many other things that they receive accolades for is just a big pile of BS. It drives me crazy that America plays up celebs so much and makes it seem like they are superheros when they do what they do – entertain – and hire other people to do everything else and then they take the credit for it.
I stand by my comment that I think journalists (especially black journalists who have to work extra hard for recognition) should be appalled at this travesty.
@ Todra
I understand your stance more now- which has issues with beyonces true merit rather than an organization recognizing someone well-known in another field- and i respect that.
i also want to clear it up that in my first comment towards you, i only was directing the first paragraph towards you; the rest were just my opinions that were a bit tangential; I tend to do that and should reserve those general comments for general replies.
so apologies if you took that the wrong way.
you really don’t have to have a few seats.
:) lol
although i don’t know much about ghostwriting & how prevalent it is (especially in hollywood), I’ll stick to a my opinion & we can agree to disagree! :)
Beyonce don’t even have a high school diploma! Don’t come with that shit she is working on it. She just got money and this just a screwed up ass world! If she didn’t have money, she wouldn’t get credit for shit! Next week they will post that she earned a PHD!
+1
The entire article was contradicting. I was confused at times. The writer tells you to not hate on Beyonce but her tone is very condescending.
Exactly!
I agree it’s not her fault she received the award. Blame it on the organization. I’ve also read several negative comments about her writing. It is what it is.
You may not be a fan of Beyonce, and that’s fine, but the title and the content of this article are a bit contradictory.
You ARE mad at Beyonce, and regardless if its “ass kissing” or a genuine acknowledgment of her skills, in your perfect world, she wouldn’t be recognized for such an honor.
Things aren’t always going to go your way, and you need to dissect your feelings of jealousy.
Beyonce is a very hard worker, and she’s very persistent- if you really think that show business- and being in it for ~20 years really is/says nothing, then that’s fine too.
At the end of the day it all comes down to you.
Why does this news affect you or your skills as a journalist? Why do you think it devalues whatever you might have to offer our generation??
I always think jealousy is part love for a person and part dislike- you can like and dislike things about someone without making jabs at their character or integrity- this isn’t RHOA or elementary school.
If you really think all it takes for you to be the next great journalist is to don a blonde wig and gyrate on a stage, then do it. (hell, it sure is better than venting all of your jealousy & hatred in the form of an article.)
If this award is something you want, FOCUS on becoming that- stay in your lane & worry about your own race. Nothing good really comes out of jealousy: some of the best writers, dancers, etc did not/would not have gotten where they have, had they been consumed by the negative energy that came with seeing someone else succeed and feeling bad about themselves.
Loved your comment! I completely agree. This article was trash, hardly noone loves for B to be great!! We should support each other as black woman and give praise instead of trying to disect and tear each other down. As you stated blame the organization if you want to give blame, if she was chosen to write an article and won let her bask in her moment.
+1 …you went IN.
This article is completely laughable, this writer loses integrity with each contradictory statement she makes.