The City Council approved a resolution today honoring Black Girl Magic and welcoming pop superstar Beyoncé to Minneapolis. She is performing tonight at Huntington Bank Stadium.
In 2013, Cashawn Thompson created the hashtag #BlackGirlsAreMagic to elevate and honor the voices of Black women. “Black Girl Magic represents the celebration of uniqueness, authenticity, and self-love,” the resolution notes. “It reminds us that every Black woman and girl possesses a special magic within them, deserving of admiration, respect and support.”
“Black women show up, time and time again, to do the hard work of speaking out against racism, oppression, gender and sexual violence, and all of the ways our systems perpetuate harm against us,” said City Council President Andrea Jenkins. “We embody strength, resilience and foresight. Black women have always been at the forefront of change work, while the rest of the world tells us we are wrong. While we hold the line, it takes years for the rest of the world to ‘get in formation’ to quote Queen Bey, who inspires us to break through dominant culture and create our own lanes of power. We do the hard work which benefits all of our society. Black women and girls are trend setters. Yes, we are human. Yes, we are #BlackGirlMagic. Thank you to all of the incredible Black women who showed up and shined today at City Hall and who do this important work every day without recognition.”
“This world is often hostile to Black women being our full selves and stepping into our power. There’s so much pressure in this world for Black women to shrink themselves. ‘You’re too loud. You’re too angry. You’re too passionate,’” said City Council Member Robin Wonsley (Ward 2). “Beyoncé has offered a point of representation for Black women claiming our power unapologetically. She’s the queen. Her legacy is also rooted in the legacies of other Black women who’ve come before her. There are so many Black women who we stand upon the shoulders of, and we want to honor them.”
“Thank you to everyone that showed up this morning to celebrate,” said Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw (Ward 4). “I am happy to be able to celebrate Black Girl Magic and Black women today and every day.”