Beyoncé’s Legacy Becomes Subject of New Yale University Course
Yale University will soon offer a course examining the cultural impact of Beyoncé, one of the most celebrated and influential musicians in modern history. With an unprecedented 99 Grammy nominations and a global fan base, Beyoncé’s legacy and contributions will serve as a foundation for the new class, titled “Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition, Culture, Theory & Politics Through Music.”
Led by Professor Daphne Brooks of Yale’s African American Studies department, the course will cover Beyoncé’s artistic evolution from her 2013 self-titled album through this year’s innovative release, “Cowboy Carter.” The one-credit class aims to explore how Beyoncé’s music and public persona have engaged with political and social movements. Professor Brooks sees Beyoncé’s work as a gateway to understanding the Black intellectual tradition, drawing connections between the artist’s work and influential thinkers like Frederick Douglass and Toni Morrison.
Brooks emphasized the unique way Beyoncé has fostered awareness of issues related to race, gender, and social justice, particularly through her alignment with the Black Lives Matter movement and other grassroots causes. “She’s created a powerful archive of Black history and thought within her music,” Brooks said, highlighting Beyoncé’s storytelling approach to themes of race, sexuality, and the African American experience.
This is not the first time universities have introduced courses on popular musicians. Other schools have offered classes on Taylor Swift and Bob Dylan, and Beyoncé herself has been a subject of study in various academic contexts. However, Brooks believes that Beyoncé stands apart, both as an artist and activist, in her commitment to political and cultural discourse.
Brooks previously taught a similar course at Princeton University, where the section on Beyoncé sparked great enthusiasm among students. She expects high demand for this new Yale course and plans to keep class sizes manageable, even though students shouldn’t expect any personal appearances from Queen Bey herself.
