Beyoncé, a pop icon with an unprecedented 99 Grammy nominations and a reputation as one of music’s most significant figures, will be the focus of a new course at Yale University starting next year.
The course, titled “Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition, Culture, Theory & Politics Through Music,” will explore her work from the release of her self-titled album in 2013 to the recent genre-blending project “Cowboy Carter.”
This one-credit class will examine how the renowned singer-songwriter and business mogul has fostered awareness and engagement regarding various social and political issues.

Led by Professor Daphne Brooks, who specializes in African American Studies, the course aims to utilize Beyoncé’s extensive catalog and excerpts from her live performances as a gateway for students to study the contributions of prominent Black intellectuals, spanning figures like Frederick Douglass to Toni Morrison.
Brooks emphasizes that the class will delve into the connections between Beyoncé’s music and the critical ideas of historical thinkers, specifically reflecting on how her work both aligns with and diverges from the “Black radical intellectual tradition.”

While Beyoncé is not the first musician to be the centerpiece of an academic course—past classes have highlighted the contributions of artists such as Bob Dylan and more recently, Taylor Swift—Brooks believes Beyoncé stands apart.
She commends the artist for leveraging her platform to heighten awareness related to grassroots social movements, particularly with her involvement in causes like the Black Lives Matter movement and feminist discourse.
Brooks prompts reflection on Beyoncé’s unique style by asking about any other pop artist who has engaged diverse grassroots activists in her extensive multimedia projects since 2013.

The professor points out that Beyoncé’s musical narrative addresses themes of race, gender, and sexuality, all intertwined with the long history of African-American oppression.
“She’s a fascinating artist because historical memory, as I often refer to it, and also the kind of impulse to be an archive of that historical memory, it’s just all over her work,” Brooks shared.
“And you just don’t see that with any other artist.”

Having previously enjoyed success teaching about Black women in popular music at Princeton University, Brooks noticed that her students were particularly enthusiastic about the segments featuring Beyoncé.
She anticipates that her Yale class will receive similar popularity, although she aims to restrict enrollment to maintain an intimate learning environment.

Unfortunately for those lucky enough to enroll, there may be little chance of witnessing Beyoncé in person.
“It’s too bad because if she were on tour, I would definitely try to take the class to see her,” Brooks lamented.