BLACK PARADE - Extended Version

"Black Parade" is a bass-heavy anthem that starts off with Beyoncé singing about her Southern heritage. I'm goin' back to the South, I'm goin' back, back, back, back Where my roots ain't watered down, growin', growin', like a baobab tree The Texan songstress is proud of her black ancestry and culture.

Beyoncé released the song on Juneteenth (June 19), a day celebrating the end of slavery in the US. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Beyonce's home state of Texas to proclaim the freedom of all enslaved individuals. The 2020 Junteenth celebrations were especially poignant as they followed weeks of international mass-protests against police brutality and racism arising from the killing of George Floyd. Beyoncé reflects during the track on the deeply rooted racism in today's society. Being black, maybe that's the reason why they always mad Yeah, they always mad, yeah And the rough treatment of the protesters by the police. Rubber bullets bouncing off me Overall, the song is a celebration of blackness amidst their struggles. Put your fists up in the air, show black love Need peace and reparation for my people Beyoncé wrote on her website: "Being Black is your activism. Black excellence is a form of protest. Black joy is your right."

Beyoncé co-wrote the song with her husband Jay-Z, as well as Derek Dixie, Akil "Fresh" King, Rickie "Caso" Tice, Kim "Kadence" Krysiuk and Nova Wav. Dixie co-wrote eight The Lion King: The Gift tracks with Beyoncé including "Bigger" with Fresh and "Keys To The Kingdom" with Fresh and Kaydence. Beyonce and Derek Dixie produced the song.