Archive · 29 Jun 2025
Beyoncé's Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt Sparks Backlash
Beyoncé wore a T-shirt with images of the Buffalo Soldiers, a group of Black soldiers from the past.
The shirt's description included the Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries being enemies.
Some people were upset because they thought it made Native Americans look bad and didn't show the whole story.
It is a part of her new album, 'Cowboy Carter,' that is about the Western themes for Black people.
Beyoncé wore a Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt during a Juneteenth performance.
The shirt's description included a controversial framing of Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries.
Critics, including Indigenous influencers, took to social media to express concerns.
The Buffalo Soldiers were Black U.S. Army units from the late 1800s to 1951.
The controversy coincides with Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' tour and album, which reclaims Western imagery.
- Who
- Beyoncé, fans, Indigenous influencers, historians and museum staff.
- What
- Backlash over Beyoncé's Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt.
- When
- During her 'Cowboy Carter' tour, particularly her Juneteenth performance.
- Where
- Paris and online, on social media.
- Why
- Because the shirt framed Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries in a way that was considered problematic and promoted anti-Indigenous language.
Critics
Supporters
Historical Framing
Critics
The shirt's framing is anti-Indigenous and problematic.
Supporters
The Buffalo Soldiers story is important for Black history and agency.
- Event
- Beyoncé's T-shirt Controversy
- Shirt Imagery
- Buffalo Soldiers
- Controversial Wording
- Description framing Native Americans as enemies
- Criticism Origin
- Social media and Indigenous voices
- Historical Context
- Buffalo Soldiers served in numerous conflicts from the late 1800s to 1951.
- Album
- "Cowboy Carter"
