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?
I’m no die-hard fan of Beyonce or her music but I acknowledge that she’s a hard worker and good at what she does. I haven’t read her piece in Essence but I can believe that Bey will win journalistic awards before the author of this article ever will.
I mean seriously, this article is shoddy to say the least. The best thing about this article is the title…I agree, Beyonce is not to blame for the lick ass-ness of certain organisations, we live in a society that is celebrity obsessed, maybe they are trying to raise their profile by association, I dunno but I think that this writer needs to check herself before she publishes contridictory rants because it’s doing nothing for her own credibilty. She tries to come off all dimplomatic whilst at the same time she indirectly insults Beyonce and trivialises her craft….You ruined your point in the first couple of paragraphs, no wonder you’re not winning, this article was an epic fail.
Really? So the articles written on Clutch is her only work? Really? Unlike your current skills set…writing is expansive; it is not limited to a desk or a headset. You have no idea what this author is working on. I’m sure she has a better chance writing something more substantial than penning a piece from a recycled headline and passing it off as journalism.
@The Comment
Stop blaming your lacklustre career on Beyonce. The only relevant thing about you in recent memory are your comments about her.
Ms. Savali. Only a real journalist feels your pain. That people would attack you as being a hater proves how simple minded fools have become now days. This chick has the diction of a 3rd grader, has traveled the world but refuses to understand it (remember the Egyption historian who called Beyonce stupid?) and is nothing more than a glorified nit wit. Print media is no joke. As a former member of NABJ….people have no idea what talented young men and women depend on these awards to show future newspapers they are worth their salt.
Short of writing a dissertation, most people do not understand the pressure real journalist face deadline after deadline. Hounding people for interviews, researching boring data, shifting thru old outdated books to find the history of a matter.
Beyonce fans remind me of people who enable stupidity within the black community and pass it of as genius. Beyonce is talented but she is by far no genius. She is a simple minded singer with simple lyrics to match. This award is not created for simpletons.
I love this! You are so correct in the words I’ve highlighted below. I don’t know anything about Beyonce to comment on her intelligence, so I won’t. Although I do agree that her lyrics are “basic” to say the least, but American audiences don’t seem to require very much from entertainment, so I’m not going to debate that one either.
“People have no idea what talented young men and women depend on these awards to show future newspapers they are worth their salt.
Short of writing a dissertation, most people do not understand the pressure real journalist face deadline after deadline. Hounding people for interviews, researching boring data, shifting thru old outdated books to find the history of a matter.”
It’s quite possible to take the author’s point — that Beyonce was not deserving of the award but she’s not to blame, it’s the granting organization’s standards and pandering that’s truly at fault — and STILL think that the author’s manner of laying that point out was unnecessarily harsh and honestly contrary to some of the very points she’s trying to make.
Seems like she would have been better served to allow for a longer cool-down period before writing this because it’s as if she’s still seething over the slight to journalists everywhere (as she would likely frame it). Since you’re a “real journalist” too, then you should be able to see that this piece was not balanced and that the author’s personal feelings overshadowed the valid point she set out to make.
You can chalk the comments up to “Beyonce stans” and people who don’t know the first about journalism, but IMO anyone can see as plain as day that this one didn’t quite hit the mark.
+1 about the journalism hustle…it’s a tough life! And a lot of work! And they are so underpaid and under-appreciated! (that’s why I couldn’t do it full-time!)
Also: Do you realize that by attacking Beyonce, her diction, and her writing abilities as opposed to the folks who gave her that award that you’re doing exactly what the author says is the problem (when she gets around to making her point)? Just saying. It’s not like Beyonce took the award in the dark of night. They gave it to her and then tried to justify it in a statement. The whole idea of this piece is that no matter what you think of her, you should be holding the organization that’s supposed to represent black journalists to a higher standard.
@ Todra….
Today’s music is very debatable. It is all rehashed mindless tunes created to dumb down the masses. Beyonce is great at this.
@The Comment
No one is praising Beyonce as being a sage of the ages. If the author wanted to criticise the award giving to her, than she should have limited it to the awarding body. Beyonce name didnt even have to be mentioned but once. Calling Beyonce a “glorified nit wit” and accusing her of barely being literate discredits both you and the author. No wonder the journalism industry is going down the tubes. The market is speaking and apparently journalists are obsolete. In a few years time, while walking into WalMart I might say hi to you.
“Print media is no joke”
Apparently it is.
Youre no Woodward and Bernstein and unlike you, Beyonce is at the top of her game. You probably wish you could say the same.
Brilliant!
LMAO……y u sooo mad. God don’t like ugly!
Sweetie. Look. You come from the mindset that you have to be rich to be happy or successful. Good for you. But people like me…..students who are often the only black in a school board meeting, economic council meeting, street cleaning meeting– covering events that simpletons like you don’t have the mental clarity to refrain from yawning during a 3 hour session covering sewer pipes– are the bone and marrow of journalism. Ask any journalist (assuming your circle of friends have a clue) working in small towns. When the sh*t goes down and Brain Williams has to have that angle the the other networks won’t have…his editors call us…the little people…to feed him the right information based on facts, figures and statistics only a reporter can whip up in a matter of seconds because they live the town. They remember the history of who shot Johnny and why.
Unlike you…there are people who enjoy their life even though we live check to check. Fine with me. I’m going to grad school in the fall with the aid of a fellowship. I’m happy. Speaking ebonics and having the diction of a 3rd grader was not appealing me. But good for you that you and Beyonce have so much in common. I’m sure she will write you a thank u card.
and I don’t shop at walmart..but nice try.
@The Comment and @Todra: Kudos to having the most sensible comments in regards to this post! People just do not GET it.
You’ve pretty much said all that needs to be said with this statement- “Beyonce fans remind me of people who enable stupidity within the black community and pass it of as genius.”
@The Comment
Thanks to the New Media, youre no longer needed. I have the internet, I have a camera on my phone, I have a twitter feed, I have face book, I have You Tube, there are countless blogs I can go to… I think you get my point. Youre obsolete babes. We dont need a cadre of self appointed “journalist” to give us the news. Its far more democratic than it used to be. The way media is changing, Im surprised you dinosaurs have the cheek to even say you have a profession.
@girlformerlyknownasgrace
Journalist choose their life and the market chooses their crap pay. You want to make money, take your behind to medical school.
@The Comment @Todra. I really understand your point. As a journalism student also. I know how hard this industry is especially for people of color.
I am a big fan of Beyonce but I do think that there are more deserving journalists than her. It is not her fault and I blame the NYBA for giving it to her in the first place. People who are not in that field cannot fully understand it. The same way as non actors we cannot understand why classicaly trained actors get mad when the studios hire rappers or singers based on popularity and create press, or when Tyler Perry hired a reality TV star for one of his movie role.
I agree with the things that you both said. It takes a lot to do this work and the pay is not that good, I have also to point out that many writers or journalists are not staff but work freelance for less that what youwould expect them to be making considering the amount of time it takes to report the news, do interviews, fact-check, going to the source and more.
@Robbie
“The same way as non actors we cannot understand why classicaly trained actors get mad when the studios hire rappers or singers based on popularity and create press, or when Tyler Perry hired a reality TV star for one of his movie role.”
Listening to you and “The Comment” crying I wish I were classically trained in the world’s smallest violin. The studios dont stop anyone from acting. Any classically trained actor can go and act at the community theatre if their craft means so much. They can play at the local university or for the high school, or for the senior center down the street, if their craft meant so much. No one is entitled to fame and fortune. If the award given to Beyonce is proof of some social decline, your sense of entitlement is the pudding its swimming in.
@Qof. I could not care less about Beyonce getting an award. I am a big fan of hers and I hate when people pick on her. What I was saying is that I can understand from where The Comment is coming from. Yes these actors can do what you suggested but that does not mean that everyone wants to go that route. Celebrities work hard to get where they are and I don’t knock down their accomplishments but at the end of the day, there are a lot of deserving people that get a pass because we live in a celebrity obsess society.
As I stated, I do understand why some writers would be frustated or upset about it especially if many of them are working their butt off and are dedicated to their field of work. At the end of the day, this does not bother me at all because I simple don’t care. I don’t point the blame at B and I am not here to bring her down at all. I put the blame where it is on the NYBA. Dont’ get things confuse, I am not upset nor being a hater just
saying it how I see it.
Ouch….. what a post!!
Who was the competition for the award? I want to know exactly what pieces were less triumphant than her Essence piece…
Correecting me if I’m wrong but Beyoncé was not competing against Journalist she was competing against other celibrity