Beyond Beychella: The Rise Of Women Of Color On America's Biggest Festival Stage
"Thank you for allowing me to be the first black woman to headline Coachella," Beyoncé said toward the end of her headlining set at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival last Saturday while glistening with sweat and her waist-length, gold hair flowing in the fan-created breeze. The chart-topping Queen Bey paused for only a moment before scoffing, "Ain't that 'bout a bitch."
Bey's candid acknowledgment of this elephant in the desert simultaneously silenced any doubters and ignited her Beyhive.
It's hard to believe that at her level — arguably the best entertainer of this generation — that Beyoncé has dissenters. But of all people, the pop star's own mother admitted to being one before seeing her daughter's Saturday set succeed.
"I told Beyoncé that I was afraid that the predominately white audience at Coachella would be confused by all of the black culture and and prompted a in her honor. "Her brave response to me made me feel a bit selfish and ashamed. She said, 'I have worked very hard to get to the point where I have a true voice and at this point in my life and my career I have a responsibility to do what's best for the world and not what is most popular.'"
