Beyoncé celebrated Juneteenth on Friday by unleashing a new track, “BLACK PARADE.” It is her first non-Lion King release since last year’s Homecoming, a live album recorded from her 2018 Coachella appearances.
An accompanying note on Instagram read “Happy Juneteenth Weekend! I hope we continue to share joy and celebrate each other, even in the midst of struggle. Please continue to remember our beauty, strength and power.”
At the singer’s website, the message continued, explaining how streams and downloads benefitted “BeyGOOD’s Black Business Impact Fund, administered by the National Urban League, to support Black-owned small businesses in need.”
With the aid of curator Zerina Akers of @black.owned.everything, Beyoncé launched Black Parade Route, a directory of Black-owned businesses ranging from art and design to wellness and health. There are 160 links, including the quite famous (like Sylvia’s Restaurant in Harlem) to more mom-and-pop operations like The Listening Tree, a children’s bookstore in Georgia.
The track was is a collaboration between Beyoncé, her frequent producer Derek Dixie, and a slew of co-writers including Jay-Z and Denisa “@blu_june” Andrews, Brittany “@chi_coney” Coney, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk, Rickie “Caso” Tice, and Akil “Fresh” King.
In addition to references to the strength of the Beyhive, the lyrics are a celebration of Black womanhood, with references to goddesses Oshun and Yemaya, as well as activists like Tamika Mallory. There’s also the remarkable couplet “I charge my crystals in a full moon/You could send them missiles, I’ma send my goons.”
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