Guest opinion: Beyoncé, mental health and an unapologetic love letter to Black women

This is a guest opinion column. She did it again. On Christmas evening, Beyoncé rode horseback into NRG Stadium during the NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans and performed a show-stopping, banjo-infused, cowboy-inspired halftime show. [Read more: Beyoncé performance at NFL halftime an ‘incredible moment’ for Alabama singer] Beyoncé designed, practiced and, with precision, executed a defiant rebuttal to any and everyone who said she didn’t belong in country music. Beyoncé‘s performance was a proverbial libation to the Black ancestral legacy of country music. Each note sung, each choreographed step, each boot-stomping do-si-do was an intentional declaration that our contributions to the world of country music will never be denied. Since the modern country music industry had the arrogance to shun Beyoncé‘s record-breaking album, her performance delivered an in-their-face reality check that the genre was irrefutably created by Black people. And to drive that message even further, Beyoncé purposely highlighted lesser-known Black country musicians; building their confidence and opening doors methodically built to keep them out. This deliberate strategy intended to ensure that the landscape of country music become more safe, encouraging and supportive for Black artists. The significance of Beyoncé’s performance goes beyond paying homage to...