Fireworks, hair flipping and provocative outfits representing an intimidating militia team known as no other than the Black Panthers. During the halftime show for the 2016 Super Bowl, super celebrity Beyonce made a political statement that either infuriated or delighted the 111.9 million viewers it reached.  During the halftime performance, Beyonce emerged on the field with about 20 other halftime dancers wearing outfits that closely resembled the outfits worn by Black Panther members of 1960s.

Beyonce: We applaud you, but not for the reason you might think.

The intention of this performance was to show pride for her ethnicity, yet the content was received in many different ways. From the overwhelming amount of praise on Twitter, to the very public, now retracted statement made from Milwaukee sheriff David Clarke claiming Beyonce’s performance was just like someone dressing as a member of the Klu Klux Klan. Performers using their celebrity to raise awareness about political issues is nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, it is quite popular among some of today’s biggest artists. It is not the use of her reputation that made people question her motives; it was the lack of knowledge about what the Black Panthers genuinely stood for. Many believe that it was just a nod to the “Black Lives Matter” protest that took place months prior, but to those who know their history, it was much more than that.

According to the History Learning site, the Black Panthers were a militant group that believed the non-violent campaigns of Martin Luther King Jr. were not working and sought out violence to get what they wanted: quality in education, housing, employment and civil rights for the black community.

In summary, the Black Panthers were a paramilitary group that did not support Martin Luther King Jr., used violence as a way to promote their beliefs and had continually been idolized throughout the years for their use of promoting hate and violence through a minority party. A group that is now once again roused because of well known celebrity and her halftime show.

We applaud Beyonce for using a widely watched event to promote a political advantage, but not for using a bellicose group from the 1960s to try and make a stand. Ultimately, she performed a carnal show for most of America to misinterpret.