Cowboy Hats, Honey Dripped Skin, and Beyoncé

Article by: Courtney Clardy

The Cowboy Carter Tour is the Intersection of Art, Reckoning, and the Black American Experience

As you get closer to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, all you see is a crowd of beautiful people in cowboy hats and boots, ready to see Queen Bey herself. On Thursday, July 10, Beyoncé kicked off the first of four nights in Atlanta for her Cowboy Carter Tour. This stop marks the 27th show on the tour and it’s clear the city came ready. The stadium was packed, the screams were loud, and the energy was undeniable. Beyoncé didn’t just show up. She showed us something. From the moment the lights hit the stage, it was clear this night was going to be bigger than music.

Boldly starting the show with AMERIICAN REQUIEM and leading into a tribute to the Black women who paved the way for her with her legendary song Blackbiird, Beyoncé opened the show letting us know we were getting more than just entertainment. This was a history lesson, a celebration of Black culture, our presence in this country, and our freedom.

As a social worker, advocate, and thought leader, I was struck by the profound imagery and messages interwoven throughout Beyoncé’s performance. Messages that catalyzed discussions far beyond mere entertainment. Make no mistake: the concert was extraordinary, but what cannot and should not be overlooked is the purposeful way in which Beyoncé is wielding her platform as a vehicle for protest creating a dynamic force for cultural and political resistance. In a time when our country is grappling with policies that seek to empower regressive bills and erode the freedoms we hold dear Beyoncé’s actions are a bold declaration that we will not remain silent and we will not conform. We will continue to be loud, unapologetic, and free because this is our country too! 

Another powerful element I deeply admired while attending this unforgettable concert was Beyoncé’s intentional display of legacy, not just as a personal value but as a vital thread within Black culture. The moments shared with Blue Ivy, who exuded both poise and confidence, followed later by Rumi’s appearance, weren’t simply sentimental. They were symbolic. Beyoncé made it unmistakably clear that legacy is not only about what we leave behind, but who we lift up while we are still here. It was a visual declaration of lineage, power, purpose, and a reminder that passing the torch is not optional. It is necessary.

As Beyoncé rode a gleaming gold mechanical horse over our heads, drawing closer to the crowd while beautifully singing 16 Carriages, I was inspired and I was empowered. I was reminded of the sacredness of choosing yourself, the importance of being free even when the world tries to keep you in bondage, and to love who you are, inside and out, even when you’re told to be something else. Beyoncé gave us more than a show. She gave us something to carry, something to reflect on, and something to stand boldly and proudly in.

Beyoncé will be in Atlanta through July 14. If you haven’t already gotten your cowboy hat and boots on the ground, you’re about to miss something far greater than a concert. You’re about to miss a moment in history. 

Photos: Julian Dakdouk and Greg Noire. Hair by Neal Farinah for Cécred. Makeup by Rokael Lizama.