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Beyonce's CMA Performance Spurs Racist Backlash, Shows Ignorance of Country Genre Roots
Posted byBy Kiersten Willis	| November 3, 2016 CommentsComments (0)
Beyoncé performs at the 50th annual Country Music Awards with The Dixie Chicks. (ABC/CMAs Screenshot)
UPDATE: After the backlash, PopCrave reported the Country Music Association Awards deleted all traces of Beyoncé's performance from its social media accounts on Nov. 3.
The CMAs also removed both Bey and the Dixie Chicks from their performance line up online.
However, just before 4:15 p.m. the organization shared the video on their Facebook page.
Earlier: Beyoncé's highly anticipated performance at the Country Music Association Awards made fans of the genre irate.
The Texas native took the stage at the 50th annual event on ABC to perform her song "Daddy Lessons" with country girl group The Dixie Chicks. Bey donned her usual extravagant stage wear and let her vocals fly while also letting the Chicks' lead singer Natalie Maines have her time to shine.
Watch Beyoncé's performance of 'Daddy Lessons' @The Country Music Awards with the The Dixie Chicks (Full) pic.twitter.com/Bga48gmq6B
— Beyoncé Titan (@BeyonceTitan) November 3, 2016
Many in the BeyHive shared their excitement about tuning in ahead of the show.
https://twitter.com/rightheredinah/status/794000816344444928
@fauxdeity hoped for a political message with a performance of "Formation" instead of "Daddy Lessons."
I hope Beyoncé trolls the #CMA and performs Formation instead of Daddy Lessons. pic.twitter.com/vUbCVzpYGO
— 𝚏𝚊𝚞𝚡 𝚍𝚎𝚒𝚝𝚢. (@fauxdeity) November 2, 2016
Meanwhile, @RedBeKnowing took note of Beyoncé's straightened locks.
https://twitter.com/RedBeKnowing/status/794000753731874816
And after Bey's gig, user Blackstepfather made it known he still didn't consider himself a country and western fan.
https://twitter.com/zephaniiiah/status/793999743387127812
However, many country music fans shunned the singer. They accused her of racism and spewed racial epithets.
Amy Mek called it "shameful" that the CMAs let "a cop hating, Anti-American racist on their stage."
Shameful the #CMAawards50 allows a cop hating, Anti-American Racist on their stage! When did country music lose its way?#SellOuts #Beyonce
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) November 3, 2016
User He's Country dropped the n-word and demanded that the CMAs remove Beyoncé from the program. He also made other adverse claims.
But journalist Brian A. Hernandez corrected the notion. He pointed out that country music legend Reba McEntire – who was seen in @HeIsCountry's profile picture – covered Bey's hit, "If I Were a Boy."
Dear @HeIsCountry
1) Beyoncé likes white people
2) You're the racist
3) Reba once covered Beyoncé's "If I Were A Boy"
4) 👏 #CMAawards50 pic.twitter.com/F7vupVHGgl
— Brian A. Hernandez (@BAHjournalist) November 2, 2016
In response to ABC's coverage of the show on Good Morning America, Mark Hixon proclaimed Bey didn't "steal the show." After describing it as "another racist shove," Hixon added it was a "sad day for CMA."
Beyonce did not steal the show. I uthought it wss another racist shove. Sad day for CMA
— mark hixon (@HixonMark) November 3, 2016
The Iceman proclaimed Beyoncé's CMA performance is equivalent to country star Garth Brooks putting on a show at the BET Awards. "Makes no sense," he said.
https://twitter.com/TheIcemanBCR/status/794137449354051588
Mario A. Rodriguez questioned Bey's appearance, too. "She should stick to her lame music," he said.
https://twitter.com/xurcroh/status/793886790255902720
However, criticism of Beyoncé's CMA appearance doesn't take into account the Black and African roots of country music. Atlanta Black Star reported the banjo – a core instrument in the genre – developed out of two stringed West African instruments: the ngoni and xalam.
Additionally, Black-focused ceremonies like the BET Awards have celebrated accomplishments of white performers. Past winners include Sam Smith and Eminiem. And Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake and Iggy Azealia – all of whom have also performed on the show – also previously scored nominations.
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