Formation Represents Self Recognition

I can't say I am the biggest Beyonce fan. Sure, I like some of her music, and I respect the fact that she works hard, but that is about the extent of it. I think she is human,  just like the rest of us, with maybe a tad bit too much exposure.
Well, recently, Beyonce stunned the world,  yet again, by releasing another surprise single titled Formation. It is a very visually creative piece that possesses quite a few social undertones. Now whether people are stans, simply fans, or not a fan at all,  the video certainly has people talking. And as with pretty much most of today's race related topics, the issue of blacks seperating themselves has become a subject of conversation. Also, there are some who question the timing and the motivation of the video. There are those who think it is just another calculated business move. There are some who praise it for touching on areas that are greatly in need of social change. Regardless of intent, there is a deep message in the video that can't be ignored or denied.
Now, I understand why some of you out there  don't possess the capability to  understand the meaning behind this video and the importance of promoting self pride. I understand and accept that there of those of you who will never get it. Here are a few reasons why you will probably never get it. When you were children growing up in your little sheltered neighborhoods, with your limited sheltered views, you didn't share the same experiences we did. You didn't see the same things we saw. During your childhood and young adult years, you had your magazines like Seventeen and Cosmo with all the beautiful, blonde haired, blue eyed, or raven haired, porcelain skinned models gracing the pages. You had your after school specials that had, maybe on black, possibly light skinned, Afro American thrown in for good measure. You had your Barbie Dolls, your MTV,  your VH1, with all those beautiful, fair skinned models and artists. They represented the epitome of beauty. They represented the epitome of America.  They went hand in hand with baseball and apple pie.
Hmm, now how about we turn off the lights on that world, and then switch them back on. Once we switch them back on though, you aren't in that world any longer. You have left that sheltered existence, and you are no longer surrounded by things that you can relate to. You are now living the existence of a little black boy or girl. Saturday mornings you wake up to watch your favorite cartoons, but there aren't any characters that look like you. Weekdays, after school when you finish your homework, you check the newest issue of YM to see the hottest stars, but there is never anyone who looks like you. You go to the store, but you can't find any dolls are action figures that look like you. Simply stated, there is very little, if anything that white America is doing to let you know that as a POC,  you matter. It is sad, but we live in a world where little black children have been conditioned to believe that the white doll is more beautiful because she is white. We live in a world where POC have literally been reprogrammed through generations to believe that the more European your traits are, the better. POC,  have been under represented and misrepresented. We have referred to as monkeys and as less than human, and contrary to what some of white America may think, it still goes on quite frequently today.
So, while some of you will say that videos like Formation, further separate us, you need to develop an understanding of one thing. Promoting self love amongst ourselves has nothing to do with separating ourselves. We are simply fixing something amongst ourselves that was broken, through no actions of our own. We are reclaiming the love for ourselves that was taken away from us through years of humiliation and degradation. Pro black is not about separation. It is about self recognition.