Beyoncé drops ‘Black Parade’ on Juneteenth to support black-owned businesses, fans cheer ‘So Black & Proud’
Beyoncé dropped a new song today on June 19th to honor Juneteeth – a holiday celebrating the emancipation of the last of the African-Americans who had been enslaved in the United States.
Titled 'Black Parade' the track is part of the singer’s latest initiative Black Parade Route – BeyGOOD’s Black Business Impact Fund, administered by the National Urban League – which supports Black-owned businesses.
She made the big announcement on Instagram by sharing the first few minutes of the original song and captioning it, Happy “Juneteenth Weekend! I hope we continue to share the joy and celebrate each other, even in the midst of struggle. Please continue to remember our beauty, strength and power. “BLACK PARADE” celebrates you, your voice and your joy and will benefit Black-owned small businesses.”
'Black Parade' is Beyoncé's first new solo music since her contributions to 'The Lion King' companion album 'The Gift' in 2019. The singer most recently appeared on a remix of Megan Thee Stallion’s 'Savage'.
She has also shared the link to her Black Parade Route initiative on her bio which consists of a directory of small black-owned business. It displays a wide range of products and services that can be availed under multiple categories such as Art & Design, Beauty, Fashion, Lifestyle and more.
Beyoncé’s fans couldn’t have been happier owing to the singer’s surprise for her fans on Juneteenth. Fans showered her with compliments on Twitter, thanking her for doing her bit in supporting the black community and providing them with a new song to add to their playlist.
While one fan wrote, “literally Black Parade is a song we needed. The world needed. The black community deserved. From one of the biggest black female artists? Yeah Beyoncé did that. History.” Another added, “I dont think "Black Parade" is from the new era, just a song for the times.Like Bey quoted in her "Life Is But A Dream" documentary ..."Music should reflect the times"
“Beyoncé really dropped “Black Parade” on Juneteenth coming so hard talking her shit... So BLACK & PROUD. Motherland Drip on me “ said another.
Millions of internet users also joined in to thank Beyoncé for making a song that reflects the black history and releasing it on Juneteenth. One tweet read, “I thank God for Juneteenth, Beyoncé and her Black Parade. I needed this song today. No matter what the world likes or approves of, our blackness belongs to us. Our history is ours to celebrate. Our story is ours to carry.”
Urging Twitter users to support the singer’s new initiative one user said “Please support Black businesses. Please support Black people. And if you love music, why not support a Black owned streaming service? #NowPlaying "BLACK PARADE" by Beyoncé on @TIDAL”