Beyoncé

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter was one of the artists featured in “Dear Class of 2020,” a virtual graduation by YouTube Originals, on June 6, 2020. In 10 minutes, she talked about the Black Lives Matter movement and sexism in the music industry.

Mononymously known as Beyoncé, the singer-actress talked about the Black Lives Matter protests taking place in various parts of the United States while the country is battling against the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. She mentioned George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, who were among the African-American people who died in the hands of police officers.

“Thank you for using your collective voice and letting the worlds know that black lives matter,” Beyoncé said. “The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many others have left us all broken. It has left the entire country searching for answers.”

“We’ve seen that our collective hearts, when put to positive action, could start the wheels of change,” Beyoncé continued. “Real change has started with you. This new generation of high school and college graduates who we celebrate today.”

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic paralyzed almost all regular activities in many countries including the U.S. To interrupt the course of the infection, schooling was also interrupted.

Moreover, Beyoncé took the opportunity to talk about the entertainment business, which she said is still very sexist and still very male-dominated. She pointed out that not enough female role models are given the opportunity to what she knew she had to do, which was to run her label and management company and direct her films and produce her tours that meant owning her masters, art and future and writing her own story.

“Not enough Black women had a seat at the table so I had to go and chop down that wood and build my own table,” Beyoncé said. “Then I had to invite the best there was to have a seat. That meant hiring women, men outsiders, underdogs, people that were overlook and waiting to be seen.”