Beyonce’s Lemonade is a film with clear personal expression and references to her life experiences, relationships and showcasing of her African American heritage. 

The album has however received critical acclaim not only for its lyricism, visual aesthetic and vulnerability, but also for its political relevance.  

As expressive of Black culture as the film is, Beyonce’s Lemonade is less of the political statement, and more of a reflection on the marriage and experiences of herself and other Black women, making the best of the situations life has dealt them, hence the title ‘Lemonade’. 

The treatment of African American women in America is an intensely layered political topic laden with racism and misogynoir. These themes are evidently explored in the passionate showcasing of Black female culture within the film, but they are themes that will appear in any self-expression by a Black woman as these are topics that are rooted in their being. 

The film includes a quote that says, “the most disrespected person in America is the Black woman”, while obviously political, this speaks more to the emotion message Beyonce is conveying through the film. 

While there are certainly ways to read the film as inherently political, that does not necessarily mean that it was intended to be as the narrative follow the stages of grief in the wake of the artist learning of her husband’s infidelity. These stages are conveyed through interesting visuals and seamless editing transitions between songs as the film as a whole can be viewed as several music videos in one. 

The monologues along with the lyric of each song within, coupled with the visuals tell a clear story of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance as well as notes of forgiveness and attempts to rebuild what is broken. 

Though the film contains obvious political points and themes Beyonce’s Lemonade is more of a personal expression of experiences and Black heritage than the grand political statement some purport it to be. 

Faramade Olaitan.