Black is King – A Movie by Beyonce on Disney+ has been causing waves since its release on July 31 2020. Some viewers have been brought to tears by its powerful messages, one of which is “You cannot disrespect your crown by bowing your neck”.
The film is a tapestry of African culture throughout the continent, infused with the experience of the African diaspora. In her interview with Good Morning America, Beyonce explains that she worked with a diverse group of people in the industry to re-imagine the story of The Lion King. Beyonce says that her hope for this film is that it shifts the global perception of the word black, which has always meant inspiration, love, strength and beauty to her.
In an interview with the Washington Post, designer and mother to Beyonce, Tina Knowles – Lawson relays the story of why Beyonce made the film. After being cast as the voice of Nala in the latest release of the Lion King in 2019, Beyonce learned more about the origin story of the Lion King and wanted to retell the story using African people rather than animals; without taking away from the beautiful story enacted through the lions, Knowles-Lawson says Beyonce wanted to use people in the reenactment, to remind Africans and the diaspora of the richness of the African continent, which is mainly its people.