“I’m not here as a celebrity, I’m not here as a politician. I’m here as a mother,” Beyonce said at a campaign rally for Kamala Harris.
“A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all our children live in, a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we are not divided,” she said Friday. said at night in Houston.
“Imagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceiling, no restrictions.” He continued. “We must vote, and we need you.”
Finally, Beyoncé, who was joined on stage by her Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland, introduced Harris. “Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big, loud, welcome to Texas to the next president of the United States, Vice President Kamala Harris,” he said.
Musical artists Beyonce, right, and Kelly Rowland, left, on stage at a campaign event for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)
He didn’t perform — unlike in 2016, when he performed at a presidential campaign rally for Hillary Clinton in Cleveland.
Houston is Beyoncé’s hometown, and Harris’ presidential campaign has taken Beyoncé’s 2016 track “Freedom” as its anthem, a cut from the landmark 2016 album “Lemonade.”
Harris first used the song during his first official public appearance as a presidential candidate at his campaign headquarters in Delaware in July. That same month, Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, publicly endorsed Harris for president.
Beyoncé allowed Harris, a campaign official who was granted anonymity to discuss private campaign operations, to use the song, the Associated Press confirmed.
Musical artist Beyonce, right, and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, hug on stage during a campaign rally Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Annie Mulligan)
Arriving in the back half of “Lemonade,” “Freedom” samples two John and Alan Lomaxfield recordings, 1959 and 1948, respectively, of black inmate work songs and Jim Crow-era folk from southern black churches. Documenting spiritual and work songs. It also features Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar.
“The Lemonade Reader” academic and author Kanetra DeBrooks says the song “Freedom” is important because it shows that freedom is not free. Freedom to be yourself, political freedom…the idea that you should fight for freedom, and that it’s worth winning.”
Harris’ rally in Houston highlighted the dangerous medical consequences of the state’s abortion ban and blamed it on Donald Trump.
Since abortion was banned in Texas, the state’s infant mortality rate has increased, more babies have died from birth defects and maternal mortality has increased.