HARLEM PARADE, Sept. 19, 2020
Preserving Harlem's cultural legacy. Protecting Harlem's Black commerce. Empowering Harlem's thriving community. www.HARLEMPARADE.org
Song: Black Parade
Artist: Beyoncé
****
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents a YouTube video that showcases some of the culture of Harlem, a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City, New York (United States).
That video features the 2019 Hip Hop track "Black Parade" by Beyonce. The lyrics for that song are included in this post along with information about that song.
WARNING: This song includes two curse words. Those words are given with amended spelling in this post.
The Addendum to this post provides explanations for some of the references in this song.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain their owners.
Thanks to Beyoncé for her musical legacy. Thanks to all those who wrote this song and thanks to all those who are associated with this song. Thanks also to HARLEM PARADE for publishing this video and thanks to all those who are featured in this video and who are otherwise associated with this video.
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LYRICS - BLACK PARADE
https://genius.com/Beyonce-black-parade-lyrics
[artist: Beyoncé
[Intro]
Ah
[Verse 1]
I'm goin' back to the South
I'm goin' back, back, back, back
Where my roots ain't watered down
Growin', growin' like a Baobab tree
Of life on fertile ground, my ancestors put me on game
Ankh charm on gold chains, with my Oshun energy, oh
Drip all on me, woo, Ankara Dashiki print
Hol' up, don't I smell like such a nag champa incense?
Yeah, pure ice (Ice), ice (Ice), buss down
Uh, flooded (Flooded), flooded (Flooded), on my
wrist, out
Ooh, goin' up, goin' up, motherland, motherland drip on me
Ooh, melanin, melanin, my drip is skin deep, like
Ooh, motherland, motherland, motherland, motherland drip on
me
Ooh, yeah, I can't forget my history is her-story, yeah
Being black, maybe that's the reason why
They always mad, yeah, they always mad, yeah
Been past 'em, I know that's the reason why
They all big mad and they always have been
[Chorus]
Honey, come around my way, around my hive
Whenever mama say so, mama say
Here I come on my throne, sittin' high
Follow my parade, oh, my parade
Talkin' slick to my folk (My folk), nip that lip like lipo
(Lipo)
You hear them swarmin', right? Bees is known to bite
Now here we come on our thrones, sittin' high
Follow my parade, oh, my parade
[Verse 2]
Yeah, yeah, I'm for us, all black
All chrome (Yeah), black-owned (Yeah)
Black tints (Yeah), matte black (Yeah, yeah)
Roll by, my window down, let 'em see who in it
Crack a big smile (Ding)
Go figure, me and Jigga, fifty 'leven children
They like, "Chick, how?"
I charge my crystals in a full moon
You could send them missiles, I'ma send my goons
Baby sister reppin' Yemaya (Yemaya)
Trust me, they gon' need an army (Ah)
Rubber bullets bouncin' off me (Ah)
Made a picket sign off your picket fence (Ah)
Take it as a warning (Ah, ah)
Waist beads from Yoruba (Woo)
Four hunnid billi', Mansa Musa (Woo)
Stroll line to the barbeque
Put us any-damn-where, we gon' make it look cute
Pandemic fly on the runway, in my hazmat
Children' runnin' through the house to my art, all black
Ancestors on the wall, let the ghosts chit-chat
(Ancestors on the wall, let the ghosts chit-chat)
Hold my hands, we gon' pray together
Lay down, face down in the gravel
Woo, wearin' all attire white to the funeral
Black love, we gon' stay together
Curtis Mayfield on the speaker (Woo)
Lil' Malcolm, Martin mixed with mama Tina (Woo)
Need another march, lemme call Tamika (Woo)
Need peace and reparation for my people (Woo)
F&&k* these laid edges, I'ma let it shrivel up
(Shrivel up)
F&&k* this fade and waves, I'ma let it dread all up
(Dread all up)
Put your fist up in the air, show black love (Show black
love)
Motherland drip on me, motherland, motherland drip on me
****
ABOUT THIS SONG
credits- Stephen Bray, NOVA WAV, Rickie Tice, Blu June, Brittany
Coney, Worldwide Fresh, Derek Dixie, Kaydence, JAY-Z & Beyoncé
Release dates - June 19, 2020
ten By
[...]
Genius Annotation by 5 contributors
" “BLACK PARADE” is a song celebrating blackness. It was
released in the final hours of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated
commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.
On the track, Beyoncé proudly sings about her heritage, hometown, womanhood, and complexion. She also talks about returning to her African roots.
According to her official website, the proceeds of “BLACK PARADE” will go to the BeyGOOD Black Business Impact Fund. The fund is administered by the National Urban League and will be used to support black-owned small businesses in need.
This is Beyoncé’s second release of 2020, after she featured on Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage Remix” in April."
ADDENDUM - MY EDITORIAL NOTES ABOUT SOME OF THE REFERENCES IN BEYONCE'S SONG "BLACK PARADE"
These notes are given in alphabetical order
ANKARA PRINT
From https://kitengestore.com/everything-need-know-african-print-fabric/
"African wax print fabric is made from 100% cotton
cloth, which is commonly used to make clothing, accessories, and other products
in Africa. It can also be referred to as Kitenge or Ankara fabric.
The print design and colours look the same on both the front
and back sides of the fabric. The quality of the fabric depends on the type of
cotton cloth and the manufacturing processes used.
[…]
These new fabrics were not popular in Indonesia, as the original batik fabrics
were preferred. However, they were well received when imported into West Africa
in the 1880s.
West African soldiers brought batik fabrics home after
serving in Indonesia and this made the fabrics popular. Several different
manufacturers in Europe, including the British and Dutch, produced the fabric
for many years before manufacturing expanded to African countries."...
**
ANKH
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh
"The ankh or key of life is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic
symbol that was most commonly used in writing and in Egyptian art to represent
the word for "life" and, by extension, as a symbol of life itself.
**
BAOBAB TREE
From https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/a32930736/beyonce-black-parade-lyrics/ The Historical And Cultural References In Beyoncé's 'Black Parade' Lyrics
..."The iconic 'Baobab tree' is native to Africa and therefore grow despite the warm and dry conditions in the continent (hence the 'roots ain't watered down' reference which is also used to describe the Black history and continued culture of the deep South)."...
-snip-
The Baobab tree is known as "the tree of life" in certain African cultures.
**
BEES AND HIVE
"Bees and hive" in Beyoncé’s song refer to her (bees) and her stans (ardent fans= hives)
**
DASHIKI
From https://steemit.com/history/@bookeyclaudia/history-of-african-dansiki
"A dashiki is a loose-fitting, pullover shirt usually sewn from colorful, African-inspired cotton prints or from solid color fabrics, often with patch pockets and embroidery at the neckline and cuffs.The dashiki appeared on the American fashion scene during the 1960s when embraced by the black pride ... movement. Dashiki" is a loanword from the West African Yoruba term danshiki, which refers to a short, sleeveless tunic worn by men. The Yoruba borrowed the word from the Hausa dan ciki (literally "underneath"), which refers to a short tunic worn by males under larger robes. The Yoruba danshiki, a work garment, was originally sewn from hand-woven strip cloth."...
Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-yoruba-nigeria-origin-of-dashiki.html for the pancocojams post entitled "The Yoruba (Nigeria) Origin Of The Dashiki (information & videos)."
**
EDGES
From https://www.luxyhair.com/blogs/hair-blog/edges-hair
..."Baby hairs also known as edges, are shorter hairs situated at the hairline region at the perimeter of textured hair. They are most commonly found on Black and Brown women’s hair. For decades, women of color have turned them into works of art."
****
FADE
From https://www.menshairstyletrends.com/fade-haircuts-for-black-men/
"Fade haircuts are one of the most popular looks for Black men. A fade cuts the sides and back of hair from short down to the skin. As far as the hairstyle, that can be anything from an ultra-short buzz or waves to long dreads."...
**
MALCOLM X
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X
Malcolm
X (Malik el-Shabazz, born Malcolm Little; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) was
an African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a
prominent figure during the civil rights movement. A spokesman for the Nation
of Islam until 1964, he was a vocal advocate for black empowerment and the
promotion of Islam within the black community
**
MAMA TINA
The line Lil' Malcolm, Martin mixed with mama Tina (Woo)" refers to Beyoncé's mother Tina Knowles.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Knowles
"Celestine Beyoncé Knowles-Lawson (née Beyonce; born January
4, 1954)[2][3][4] is an American businesswoman, fashion designer, and
philanthropist known for establishing the brands House of Deréon and Miss Tina
by Tina Knowles. She is the mother of singers Beyoncé Knowles and Solange
Knowles, and, until 2011, was married to their father Mathew Knowles, the
manager of Destiny's Child."...
**
MANSA MUSA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansa_Musa
"Musa I (c. 1280[2] – c. 1337), or
Mansa Musa, was the ninth[3] Mansa of the Mali Empire, one of the most powerful
West African states. He has sometimes been called the wealthiest person in
history, though his wealth is impossible to accurately quantify and it is
difficult to meaningfully compare the wealth of historical figures.
At the time of Musa's ascension to the throne, Mali in large part consisted of the territory of the former Ghana Empire, which Mali had conquered. The Mali Empire consisted of land that is now part of Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia and the modern state of Mali.
Musa went on hajj to Mecca in 1324, and traveled with an enormous entourage and a vast supply of gold. En route, he spent time in Cairo, where his lavish gift-giving caused a noticeable drop in the price of gold for over a decade and garnered the attention of the wider Muslim world."...
**
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.
"Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15,
1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist who became
the most visible spokesman and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955
until his assassination in 1968. An African American church leader and the son
of early civil rights activist and minister Martin Luther King Sr., King
advanced civil rights for people of color in the United States through
nonviolence and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the
nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi."
**
CURTIS MAYFIELD
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Mayfield
"Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music.[5][6] He first achieved success and recognition with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted group The Impressions during the civil rights movement of the late 1950s and 1960s, and later worked as a solo artist.
**
MOTHERLAND
"The motherland" is a colloquial referent for Africa which is given with deep respect.
**
OSHUN
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oshun
"Ọṣun, is an Orisha, a spirit, a deity, or a goddess that
reflects one of the manifestations of the Yorùbá Supreme Being in the Ifá oral
tradition and Yoruba-based religions of West Africa. She is one of the most
popular and venerated Orishas. Oshun is an important river deity among the
Yorùbá people. She is the goddess of divinity, femininity, fertility, beauty
and love.[1][2] She is connected to destiny and divination.[3]"
****
STROLL LINE
"Strolling" is a group performance art form that originated with historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities. Members of one fraternity or sorority (or members of more than one fraternity and/or sorority in the case of "Unity Strolls" form a vertical line and move around a circle or move in a zig zag line to a Hip Hop record or to some other recorded music. Strollers usually "throw" their organization's hand sign and do their organization's signature call. "Stepping" is another performance art form that originated with Black Greek letter organizations. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/10/black-greek-letter-fraternities.html for a pancocojams post entitled "Black Greek Letter Fraternities & Sororities Unity Steps & Unity Strolls (information & videos)."
**
TAMIKA
The line "Need another march, lemme call Tamika (Woo)" in Beyonce's "Black Parade" is probably a referent for Tamika Mallory
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamika_Mallory
"Tamika Danielle Mallory (born September 4, 1980)[1] is an
American activist. She was one of the leading organizers of the 2017 Women's
March, for which she and her three other co-chairs were recognized in the TIME
100 that year.[3][4] She received the Coretta Scott King Legacy Award from the
Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom in 2018.[5]
Mallory is a proponent of gun control, feminism, and the Black Lives Matter
movement."...
**
WAIST BEADS
From https://www.demandafrica.com/style/what-is-the-significance-of-yoruba-waist-beads/#:~:text=Yoruba%20waist%20beads%20are%20also,%2C%20strung%2C%20and%20threaded%20together.
"Yoruba Beads Waist beads
Waist beads are accessories with deep cultural significance
in Africa. The cultural significance of waist beads is peculiar to each region,
however, there are similarities in most of its functions. Waist beads are even
mentioned in Beyoncé’s song “Black Parade.”
**
WEAVE
From https://hinative.com/en-US/questions/18076912
" "weave" refers to hair that is added to someone's head that's either fake (artificial) hair or just not their own. It's normally put on the head by being sewn into braids on the person's scalp so that all that's visible is the fake/additional hair and not their natural hair. It's a term often used by black women to talk about the hairstyles that they do."...
**
YEMAJA
https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/a32930736/beyonce-black-parade-lyrics/ includes this statement about the line that includes Yemaja in the song "Black Parade"
"Baby sister reppin' Yemaya"
Fans know of Beyoncé's close relationship with her sister
Solange. In this line, the singer likens the 'Don't Touch My Hair' singer to
Yemaya, another West African Yoruba goddess of the ocean. She is considered a
protector of women and motherhood. Yemaya and Oshun (referenced above) are
considered to be sisters too."
-snip-
Here's more information about Yemaja from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yem%E1%BB%8Dja
"Yemanjá (Yoruba: Yemọja) is a major water spirit from the
Yoruba religion.[1] She is the mother of all Orishas. She is an orisha, in this
case patron spirit of rivers, particularly the Ogun River in Nigeria; and
oceans in Cuban and Brazilian orisa religions."...
****
YORUBA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_people
"The Yoruba people (Yoruba: Ìran Yorùbá, Ọmọ Odùduwà, Ọmọ
Káàárọ̀-oòjíire[29]) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabits parts
of Nigeria, Benin and Togo that constitute Yorubaland. The Yorubas constitute
around 45 million people in Africa, are a few hundred thousand outside the
continent, and bear further representation among members of the African
diaspora. The vast majority of the Yoruba population is today within the
country of Nigeria, where they make up 15.5% of the country's population
according to CIA estimations,[30] making them one of the largest ethnic groups
in Africa. Most Yoruba people speak the Yoruba language, which is the
Niger-Congo language with the largest number of native or L1 speakers.[31]"....
****
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