Beyoncé has faced a wave of criticism after her performance in Paris as part of her Cowboy Carter tour, where she appeared in a T-shirt that many considered offensive to indigenous peoples.
The T-shirt worn by the singer during a concert in honor of Juneteenth (the day marking the end of slavery in the US) featured figures of the Buffalo Soldiers, US army units composed of African-American soldiers who operated from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.
But the problem arose from the inscription on the back of the T-shirt, which read:
“Their enemies were the enemies of peace, order, and settlements: warlike natives, bandits, cattle rustlers, murderers, smugglers, outlaws, and Mexican revolutionaries.”
Photos and videos of the performance with this shirt are also published on Beyoncé's official website.
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Many followers, indigenous activists, and social media personalities have reacted strongly to the T-shirt's depiction of Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries, calling it anti-Indigenous and supportive of American imperialism.
Criticism increased even more on TikTok and Instagram from indigenous activists, researchers and artists, but also from fans of the singer herself, who are demanding an apology from her.
Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?
The Buffalo Soldiers were one of six U.S. Army units created after the American Civil War in 1866. They were composed of freed slaves, free black people, and Civil War veterans. They participated in hundreds of conflicts, from the Spanish Civil War to World Wars I and II, until they were disbanded in 1951.
While their role in American history is important, the current discussion around Beyoncé's shirt has opened a deep debate about how complicated chapters of history are presented, and who remains a victim of this narrative.
