The artist is distinctly unique when addressing the Politics and racial issues in America. At the beginning, Beyonce can be seen laying calmly on an american Police car. This metaphor connotes power and ironically authority, as she addresses the lack of response to the New Orleans flooding. This was traumatic event for those living there and considered a sensitive topic but she is so established as singer, she openly states events such as this in her songs where as other artists might avoid such matters. This demonstrates her to be transparent and will not hold back in her strong opinions about the government, calling them out in the lyric "What happened at the New Orleans?". Anger against the Police force is clearly evident and the history of Black people in America is visually represented when the camera cuts to slow shots of the artist wearing white, luxurious of the time era (1800s) clothes which could be inferred to be the clothes of a white american family who owned slaves. In between these are brief stills of portraits of a group of black women and a separate portrait of a black woman. Although these are only on screen for brief moments, it is perhaps helping to build the recreation of this room which mocks the slave era. Culturally, the video explores what Beyonce is proud of and openly states the physical appearance ("I like my negro nose with Jackson five nostrils", tastes in food and where her parents are from.
There is no narrative in terms of story, but deep black culture is explored. This is further evident when, in an empty car park, Beyonce flaunts her hair out of a windows of a car before the camera zooms in on the feet, and then the hair of a trio of black women with different hair colours such as blue an purple. From this, we can infer that black women should be free to fulfil whatever part of their culture they want to and be individual in their hair as Beyonce is with hers. The unison of the women is also an early depiction of the women standing with her in an old, empty indoor swimming pool shortly after who gather in "formation". It is very much a rallying call to women and the same grey with red stripes costume worn by the dancers shows they are behind the artist.
It is not just women who she is appealing to and calling to make a stand; a young hooded black boy dances on his own in front of a line of armed policemen who then raise their hands as if to surrender. This is before the words "Stop shooting us" pass by the screen in a slow tracking shot. Not only does this send out a powerful message by including this in a music video, it calls out the US Police department to take action and deliberately portrays them in a negative light thus demonstrating the freedom she can explore in her music. Though it may appear the artist has excluded a large number of her worldwide following, the message conveyed to be proud of your history and make a stand when an ideology is treating you unfairly should come through.
