Black Christian Women's Spirituality & Beyonce

It is in this moment we meet Beyoncé in her latest artistic rendering, “Lemonade.” The visual album centers on the experiences of Black women in America and journeys through the destruction of betrayal towards salvation and redemption. Some writers have noted the religious undertones of “Lemonade” and this facet should not be ignored. Despite international superstardom, many people forget that Beyoncé is a Southern church girl steeped in the Black church aesthetic and traditions. While her music and iconic status boast an unapologetic sexuality, in her personal life she seems not to detour far from the instructions church girls have been given. For instance, she married Jay-Z before birthing Blue Ivy, and thus followed the trajectory that the church ensured would result in uninterrupted bliss and stability. Yet, at the beginning of “Lemonade,” we find that the pain of betrayal has infiltrated her home, or at least metaphorically that is the story she is telling. Consequently, Beyoncé turns to what she knows best: God and the church. She is now at the altar pleading for God to make a way—a place she has seen her own mother before. Beyoncé follows the instructions she’s been given to endure these tough times as a dutiful Christian woman.