Yale University has officially dropped its highly anticipated course, “Beyoncé Makes History: Black Radical Tradition History, Culture, Theory & Politics through Music,” following weeks of public backlash and criticism. The decision, which came just days after the course was announced, has sparked outrage among students, faculty, and fans of the global pop icon, while others celebrate the move as a victory for academic rigor.
Originally designed to analyze Beyoncé’s mid-career artistic evolution and its connections to Black intellectual traditions, the course was poised to be a groundbreaking addition to Yale’s curriculum. However, the uproar over whether Beyoncé’s music warranted a place in the Ivy League classroom ultimately led to the class being canceled. Critics labeled it “academic fluff,” while supporters called the cancellation a missed opportunity to explore contemporary cultural history.
The Beyoncé course, set to debut next semester, was to be taught by Professor Daphne Brooks, a distinguished scholar of African American studies and music. Brooks envisioned the class as a deep dive into Beyoncé’s artistry from 2013’s Beyoncé album to her 2024 release, Cowboy Carter. The course aimed to explore her groundbreaking work through the lens of Black feminist theory, performance studies, and political activism.
But almost immediately after the course was announced, it faced fierce backlash. Critics questioned whether Beyoncé, a pop star, deserved to be the subject of Ivy League scrutiny. Memes mocking Yale’s decision flooded social media, with captions like, “Yale: Where $80K a year teaches you how to analyze ‘Single Ladies.’”
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