The running mate of Joe Biden in the recently concluded US presidential elections, Kamala Harris, chose Beyoncé’s “Freedom” as the background music in her first presidential campaign video. In the video, the Vice President asked, “What kind of country do we want to live in?” before answering with, “We choose freedom.” Throughout the ad, excerpts from Beyoncé’s “Lemonade”-era “Freedom” played in the background. The song features powerful lyrics, including the chorus “I break chains all by myself/ Won’t let my freedom rot in hell/ I’m gonna keep running/ ‘Cause a winner don’t quit on themselves.” Harris first played the song during her first campaign staff meeting in Delaware.
After Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential election and endorsed Harris, other celebrities, including actors and musicians, endorsed Harris’s campaign. They include Mark Hamill, Viola Davis, Jamie Lee Curtis, Spike Lee, Barbra Streisand, Charli XCX, John Legend, and Lizzo. Legend took to social media to call for Americans to vote for Harris. Meanwhile, Olivia Rodrigo endorsed Harris for her views on reproductive rights.
The only other mention of Beyoncé was by her mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson, who shared a message on social media that read, “New, youthful, sharp energy … Go Vice President Kamala Harris for President. Let’s Go #kamala2024.” Beyoncé has yet to comment on Harris running for president. Harris’s video has already garnered significant attention with over 1.7 million views on YouTube, about 90,000 likes and 29,000 retweets.
Though Harris’s campaign video used only a small portion of Beyoncé’s song, Harris no doubt chose it because of Beyoncé’s symbolic cultural influence. Beyoncé is a well-known feminist icon who has used her platform to fight for civil rights. Beyoncé’s most recent visual album for Disney+, “Black Is King,” features a lot of imagery reflecting civil unrest in the US, specifically in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing. Harris’s campaign message aligns with Beyoncé’s activism. Harris has been championing reforms in the criminal justice system while fighting for racial and gender justice. Beyoncé’s inclusion in the video highlights the intersection of music, politics, and activism in making social change happen
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