In response to his 5-paragraph moralized critique of Beyoncé Knowles's song, "Formation," the subsequent music video, and her performance at Superbowl 50.
Sent via fax + email to Congressman King's Office on Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Congressman King:
As I'm sure you have most likely received various correspondence regarding your dismissive, invective assessment of the music video and recent performance from Beyoncé Knowles-Carter's latest record, "Formation," far be it from me to make an effort to stand out in what I hope are a flurry of well-thought-out responses to this acerbic yet feeble attempt at calling out this woman and her work as part of the so-called "anti-cop" agenda. That said, my name is Joseph P. Murray, a citizen of your State, and I am writing to express my personal disgust as well as my outright exasperation at your callous, insensitive assessment. Should you decline to continue, let me state here first that the racially biased tone and wholly uneducated premise behind your words are the stuff of political ineptitude which activist groups like Black Lives Matter - the group you so easily latched on to because it's the one getting the most press vs. you actually doing the work of investigating theirs - are working to dismantle. Your glaring prejudices regarding Black and Brown communities in the State of New York, and, indeed, National Communities of Color, have undoubtedly forced the hand of many People of Color to reclaim their narrative from disparaging lightweights like you. However, considering the amount of systemic discrimination still present today that is experienced by those communities on a regular basis, you would do well to take a few moments to read what I and others like myself have to say.
Before diving into the bulk of your subject matter, it is important that you understand the severity of the claims you've levied against Mrs. Knowles-Carter and the demographic she represents. It is quite clear through your succinctly ignorant statement that your understanding of Black American culture, in all its facets and idiosyncrasies, is not only something of which you express no real knowledge, but also no desire to at least respect that multifaceted aspect of said culture & people. When Black and Brown Americans go out of their way to create art that unapologetically speaks to their identity, particularly when it calls to mind the generational oppression experienced by these groups, having an outside commentator like yourself use that artistic expression to further a political agenda only furthers the stereotypes about the politics of prejudice being used as a tool to further subjugate marginalized demographics. Your words now solidify your complicity in this, and since I highly doubt that an apology from you for such crass behavior is not on the horizon, while not invoking any authority to speak on behalf of other People of Color, I deign to say that I'm not alone in my lack of surprise at this typical partisan posturing.
"Formation," as a Black American artistic statement, was certainly designed by this Black American female artist and her team to promote various aspects of Black American life in places like the deep south. It doesn't just make a "ritualistic reference to Michael Brown and Ferguson," as you so carelessly put it. It also speaks to Black poverty, Black music, as well as Black feminism and womanism. If there was a category under which low-information culture observers like yourself absolutely needed to place this piece, one could argue that it is an African American woman-lead push back against the ills of a White Patriarchal society, something that Women of Color experience doubly due to their intersectional existence as both a marginalized ethnic demographic and also identifying as Female. Something that, again, you simply cannot understand; something with which you have, again, admittedly refused to sympathize.
But to your point about this musical piece being "anti-cop:" as the adopted, mixed race, Afro-Colombian son of a working-class Irish Roman Catholic family, many of whom are civil servants, many of whom have served and are serving as members of the NYPD, I find it completely offensive that you would have the unmitigated gall to not only use the deaths of young Black American men and boys at the hands of law enforcement to support your baseless accusations, but that you would also call forth the killing of Officers Lieu and Ramos to act as untouchable pillars of your unfounded, shrewdly formed opinions. Your using these crimes against humanity here is nothing less than the blatant political objectification of dead men. Such disgraceful, tactless rhetoric is the stuff of unhinged Tea Party pundits, although I will commend you for your not being discriminatory in this case. I'd rather a disillusioned elected official be as all encompassing as you've been here when he decides to make a disingenuous assessment of things that literally have nothing to do with his experience, his legislation, or his majority constituency.
Congressman, I can state to you openly - as this correspondence will also be shared as an open letter - that I have lived a privileged existence, being part of a transracial adoption. I am grateful for my life experiences, having been cared for by an amazing family and network of friends. But even in that privilege, any free thinking individual can see just how antagonistic law enforcement and police culture has been towards marginalized groups like Black and Brown Americans in these United States. To say otherwise, or to turn this historically perpetuated antagonization back on these communities outside of context is depressingly indicative of an unlearned mind in these matters. Though you are only one of a long list of poorly educated leaders in terms of race relations and identity politics, the chastisement of your ill-begotten review of this music video and Mrs. Knowles-Carter's performance couldn't be more important. It is a necessary step for People of Color as they seek honorable goals that include justice, economic stability, and liberation.
Lastly, if you've stuck around long enough, it is imperative you understand that "Formation" visualizing the idea of marginalized People of Color fighting back against police violence is also a part of Black American culture. Let me be plain: Black and Brown people in this country having to defend themselves and deal with police differently than White people is a part of Black and Brown culture. It is as much a mainstay as Beyoncé's song making references to cornbread & collard greens, as much a facet of Black American life as her capturing Black hairstyles, New Orleans parades, Southern funeral processions, and Gospel music. So, again, when any Man or Woman of Color chooses to highlight any aspects of their culture through whatever mediums inspire them, it is simply not your place to condemn it. It never was, and it never should be.
Having graciously taken the time to give you some insight into these things, and since you are so devoted to supporting police officers, I'd like to close this letter with a simple question: What, in your career, do you stand behind when it comes time to actually stand up for cops? We've just seen how much support - or lack thereof - the city of New York has for its men and women in blue, as is evidenced by the measly 1% salary increase agreed upon by both NYPD and municipal representatives. Interestingly enough, I do not remember you being as vocal via the news or social media regarding law enforcement in response to that political snafu as we have seen you speak out against Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and her music. One has to wonder, then, if the son of a cop is really doing enough for cops during his tenure as a Congressman, or if he is merely paying lip-service in the interest of public attention so as to save face at this complicated time in America.
I'm betting money on the latter.
It may be that in time, Congressman King, you actually take a few moments out of your busy schedule to have a care for the people that Beyoncé is representing with projects like "Formation." It may be that someday, you do your research before you go about the business of racist dog-whistling to make yourself feel better about your political stances. But, unlike the "fable-telling" you are so convinced is what ultimately transpired in the killing of Mike Brown, I'm not about to sit here and type something I don't believe to be true. I'll leave that up to fine individuals like yourself. It's quite possibly the one thing right now where you are already doing a fantastic job.
Regards,
Joseph P. Murray
PS - to your closing remarks: no group or organization has worked harder "to save innocent Black lives" than Black people. That anyone else in this country can be credited with such a claim would be, in your words, "a lie from beginning to end." Do better.
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