At a rally in Houston supporting Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, Beyoncé emphasized her role as a mother rather than a celebrity or politician. She expressed concern for the future of children, including her own, advocating for a society where everyone has freedom over their bodies and unity prevails. “I’m here as a mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in,” she stated. “Imagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceilings, no limitations. We must vote, and we need you,” she added, encouraging attendance at the polls.
Beyoncé was joined on stage by her Destiny’s Child partner Kelly Rowland as she introduced Harris, exclaiming, “Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big, loud, Texas welcome to the next president of the United States, Vice President Kamala Harris.” Notably, unlike her performance at a Hillary Clinton rally in 2016, Beyoncé did not sing at this event. Harris has adopted Beyoncé’s 2016 song “Freedom” from her acclaimed album “Lemonade” as an anthem for her campaign.
The use of “Freedom” began when Harris debuted it during her first public appearance as a presidential candidate in July at her campaign headquarters in Delaware. During the same month, Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother, also publicly endorsed Harris for the presidency. An anonymous campaign official confirmed that Beyoncé permitted the use of her music in the campaign.
The song “Freedom” features samples from two field recordings by John and Alan Lomax, capturing folk spirituals from the Jim Crow era and work songs of Black inmates recorded in the late 1940s and late 1950s. Additionally, it includes contributions from Kendrick Lamar, a Pulitzer Prize-winning artist. Kinitra D. Brooks, an academic and author, reflected on the song’s significance, stating, “‘Freedom’ is crucial because it emphasizes that freedom comes at a cost. It embodies the struggle for personal and political freedom, reinforcing the idea that this is a fight worth undertaking.”
The rally also addressed the serious consequences resulting from Texas’ strict abortion laws, directly attributing some of these issues to Donald Trump. Since the restrictions have been put in place, the state has witnessed an increase in infant mortality rates, more birth defects, and a rise in maternal mortality, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change in health care policies in Texas.
