Beyoncé and Blue Ivy sparked a viral challenge celebrating black women, and we love it
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Beyoncé is one of the most talented artists working today. And the multi-Grammy Award-winning singer frequently uses her work to celebrate black culture. Her Coachella set and the accompanying documentary Homecoming celebrated HBCUs, and her 2016 Super Bowl performance included an homage to the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. It’s only fitting, then, that a new song from Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter is inspiring black women all over the world to share selfies in the viral #BrownSkinGirlChallenge.
On July 19th, the singer, who voices Nala in the photorealistic remake of The Lion King, released an album called The Lion King: The Gift, which intersperses 14 original tracks with short interludes from the movie. One of the original songs, “Brown Skin Girl” caught the internet’s attention. The track, which features guest vocals from Guyanese rapper SAINt JHN, Nigerian singer WizKid, and, of course, Blue Ivy, is a celebration of black women and girls. The lyrics contain references to Lupita N’yongo, Naomi Campbell, and Kelly Rowland. The chorus goes: “Brown skin girl/Your skin just like pearls/The best thing in the world/Never trade you for anybody else.”
The song’s lyrics caught the attention of the internet, and before long, black women began tweeting selfies with the hashtag #BrownSkinGirlChallenge.
“ Pose like a trophy when Naomis walk in
She need an Oscar for that pretty dark skin
Pretty like Lupita when the cameras close in
Drip broke the levee when my Kellys roll in”#BrownSkinGirlChallenge pic.twitter.com/KKdtqnRPxB— Bratty (@thebrattysub3) July 21, 2019
the best thing about the world 💗 #BrownSkinGirlChallenge pic.twitter.com/16Ao5VVFnU
— black trans lives matter!! (@officialeliwa) July 21, 2019
false
Your skin like pearls! Won’t trade you for anybody 💋💋#BrownSkinGirlChallenge pic.twitter.com/x6RK5vyvjo
— miyonyon (@IsiMiyonyon) July 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/1153160859587371008
Jumping on the #BrownSkinGirlChallenge lol.
Portrait short by me. pic.twitter.com/CuizRbEwWv— Majek|Portrait Photographer (@AdedejiMajek) July 22, 2019
Did someone say #BrownSkinGirlChallenge
Blessed, flavoured & highly melanited 👑Styled by @qrisquin
📸 : @AbsolutResolut1 pic.twitter.com/3aT2ac9VD7— Maritza 🚩 (@MamaKLA) July 22, 2019
#BrownSkinGirlChallenge here's one with a twist since yall forgot that there are vanilla brown skins pic.twitter.com/QYhSdYIDEY
— Refilwe Modiselle (@vanillablaq) July 22, 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0M2JppAmO0
Even celebrities approved of this challenge.
Brown Skin Girl. Thank you @Beyonce for this Gift! #BrightnessIsJustWhoYouAre pic.twitter.com/uY3yEdzfti
— Lupita Nyong'o (@Lupita_Nyongo) July 19, 2019
It’s always an honor to capture the beauty of brown skinned girls. #BrownSkinGirlChallenge pic.twitter.com/E2O1NTT1Xx
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) July 22, 2019
As always, we love that Beyoncé is using her platform to empower other black women, and we also love Blue Ivy’s guest vocals on the song. All of the selfies shared in the #BrownSkinGirlChallenge are gorgeous. This is one viral challenge we can definitely get behind.
