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History will remember April 14th, 2018 at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California as a cultural shift. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles Carter — chart-topping, award-winning recording artist and consummate performer — did exactly what her fans expected her to do as the first Black female headliner since the festival’s inception 19 years ago: show the world the immeasurable power of a Black woman operating in her personal zone of excellence. The experience, live-streamed on YouTube to reach thousands outside of the festival grounds, is now affectionately called #Beychella.
Wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, mentor, philanthropist, creator, Black woman — Beyoncé has stepped into a full realization of herself in the pursuit of excellence in her craft and control of her story. It’s a realization that many Black women, historically seen as monoliths, have identified with for the reclamation and affirmation of our own stories and talents. Surpassing the title of ‘entertainer’ — one she has repeatedly covered her bases on, as she continues to best herself — Beyoncé has become a catalyst for Black women to pursue excellence while unapologetically embracing our heritage and identity. It’s the pride, endurance and manifestation she’s sown into us like the lyrics to her hit song, 'Formation', “I dream it. I work hard. I grind ‘til I own it.”
Personally feeling galvanized by her performance, I turned to fellow Black women entrepreneurs to get their thoughts on the star’s influence on their lives and how they rally internal and external forces in their pursuit of excellence.
Shani Syphrett: What did Beyoncé’s Coachella performance mean to you as a Black women entrepreneur?
Nikki Osei-Barrett and Simona Noce, District Motherhued and The Momference: Beyoncé just gave birth to twins months ago and is back like she never left. If ever there is a time that we are struggling while juggling motherhood and building our businesses and other endeavors, we have her strength and resilience to reflect on. Black women, and mothers, possess superhuman capabilities. We can do and accomplish all things.
Kimberly Smith, Marjani Beauty: It is 2018 and Beyoncé was the first black woman to headline Coachella. Her performance makes me reflect on how far Black women have come yet there is still so far for us to go.
Laura Mignott, DFlash: That was exactly what Black women needed to see and hear. In the last week, we have seen so many stories that show how there is still so much institutional racism from discrimination in popular coffee shops to criticism over college acceptance videos. With Beyoncé’s performance, we got our pride back.
Marie Jean-Baptiste, Rue107: To me, Beyoncé’s determination for excellence was highlighted during her Coachella performance and it is the epitome of a ‘can’t stop, won’t stop’ mentality. Whatever degree of fear, self-doubt or imposter syndrome I face, I must overcome and thrive. We [Black women] are just getting started. This is our time.
Christina Brown, LoveBrownSugar: It was the perfect battle cry for Black women. I can’t tell you how proud Beyoncé makes me as a woman of color. She does what she does and celebrates her Blackness unapologetically. And that makes me so incredibly proud to be who I am. As an entrepreneur and a 'mompreneur', I was in awe. To see Beyoncé come back to the stage with a performance like that, after twins, makes me feel like we are literally superwomen.
Tanisha Colon-Bibb, Rebelle Agency: It was the visual representation of our resilience, our uniqueness and the liberation of our bodies, minds and souls. As Black women, we have the weight of two marginalized histories on our shoulders and instead of being defeated by that fact, Beyoncé educates us and empowers us to be ourselves unapologetically. For decades, the words 'Black' and 'woman' were confined to boxes of how we should live, work and think. Beyoncé speaks for all us when she says, “No more.”
Syphrett: Hungarian psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi defines ‘flow’ as the “optimal state of consciousness where we feel our best and perform our best.” When do you feel like you’re in a ‘flow’ state?
Caroline Owusu-Ansah, Luv Scrub: I give myself ‘me time’ in the morning. I take a walk around my neighborhood for about 45 minutes without my phone or any other distractions. This gives me the opportunity to align with my thoughts and plan what’s next. Everything just flows from there and it makes me feel unstoppable.
Trina Morris, Style Root: I believe that feeling comes when we are living in balance. In this flow state, we are living in our truth. Professionally, that is when I’m teaching in the classroom or from a yoga mat, coaching individuals and brands or producing and hosting events. Personally, it's when I’m at home listening to great music and diffusing oils while cleaning, purging or visioning.
Marija Abney, actress (Black Panther): I’m at my best when I’m being challenged creatively and physically with work, learning new things and deepening my connection to my loved ones. Maintaining my flow takes constant evaluation, but I feel unstoppable when my mind is alert and my thoughts are aligned.
Mahisha Dellinger, Curls: I am in my flow state the moment I begin the creative process. Creating game-changing hair care formulas, collections and new products for curly girls all over the world gets my juices flowing.
Colon-Bibb: My flow state starts when I open my laptop and organize my day. The autonomy over my schedule and what I need to accomplish empowers me and allows me to perform my best for clients, friends and family.
Jean-Baptiste: I find my flow when I am pushed beyond my comfort zone. I discover parts of myself that are screaming to come to light and I try my best to honor them by letting them be discovered. Whether it is through writing, a new routine, traveling or creating, I am constantly searching for my various selves.
Syphrett: Beyonce has a full team behind her that allows her to consistently pursue excellence. Who, in your life, allows you to get the impossible done?
Dellinger: Hands down, I couldn't do a fraction of what I am doing now without my partner, my husband. Managing four kids, a thriving business and a new TV show would be impossible without him.
Osei-Barrett and Noce: Like Queen Bey — who always surrounds herself with #BlackGirlMagic — we have created the nation’s first conference for Black, millennial mothers with 20 women who have our backs as we produce this groundbreaking event. There’s nothing like women being able to genuinely support other women.
Smith: My mother has taken on a significant operational role in my business which allows me to concentrate on the more strategic areas of the business. She helps me get the impossible done: work full-time as an attorney and also as an entrepreneur.
Morris: My sister-friends, my sisters by choice, are my tribe. I celebrate and lean on these women in countless ways. We teach, collaborate with, encourage, inspire and ground each other. Our laughs are just as good as our tears. Even with a loving relationship and family, I couldn’t imagine not having my girls’ love and support while on my life’s journey.
Brown: My village is vast, but it starts with family and ends with good friends and part-time help. My children have an amazing father. I have a supportive mother who is also the best Grandma ever, a tribe of fellow moms and a team of part-time childcare providers who are my support when I’m working. It’s a group effort.
Colon-Bibb: Fellow entrepreneurs have been a great support system. They understand the pitfalls and joy of starting something from passion and purpose. For us, impossible is not an option.
