She has influence.
There are several artists who speak out about Black issues regularly. Many of these artist are not mainstream, although it is becoming more popular among artists who are in the limelight, with Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and even Usher spearheading this new trend. But unlike the rest, Beyoncé is one of the biggest stars in the world. She has influence over a wide variety of people, regardless of race, gender, political views, hobbies, etc. She’s universal, and also highly influential. When “Formation” debuted, several fans boasted that they knew all the words to the song the very next day. Red Lobster’s sales even soared 33 percent after the singer mentioned the restaurant chain in her new single. So, if Beyoncé shows she’s against police brutality, that is likely to influence millions of people. If a Beyoncé fan didn’t know who the Black Panthers were before “Formation,” they likely know now.
