There is no better way to celebrate Black History Month than with historic photographs from an era long-gone ... and Beyoncé.
The photos are publicly available for the first time thanks to the recently digitized collection from the Farm Security Administration, which captured America on film from the mid-1930s to 1942. Along with other agencies' photos, the collection totals more than 170,000 pictures.
The images below offer a rare glimpse into the lives of African-American workers and families. Many were employed as sharecroppers or tenant farmers, but landowners often kept these farmers in their debt, leaving many hardworking families poverty-stricken. Conditions worsened with the Great Depression, as African-American workers were hit especially hard. By 1932, nearly half were out of work. It was a bleak period in history, but it laid the groundwork for many of the labor movements and civil rights protests to come.
Like these photographs, Beyoncé's latest single, "Formation," (written by Queen B and Swae Lee) perfectly captures a spirit that is strong, fearless, and unapologetically black.
In the spirit of Black History Month, why not experience the two together?
"Y'all haters corny with that Illuminati mess."
"Paparazzi, catch my fly, and my cocky fresh."
"I'm so reckless when I rock my Givenchy dress (stylin')."
"My daddy Alabama"
"Momma Louisiana. You mix that Negro with that Creole make a Texas bama."
"I like my baby heir with baby hair and Afros. I like my Negro nose with Jackson 5 nostrils."
"Earned all this money but they never take the country out me. "
"I got hot sauce in my bag, swag."
"I like corn breads and collard greens"
"Oh, yes, you besta believe it."
"I see it, I want it"
"I stunt, yellow-bone it."
"I dream it."
"I work hard."
"I grind till I own it."
"Sometimes I go off (I go off)"
"I go hard (I go hard)"
"Get what's mine (take what's mine)"
"I'm a star (I'm a star)"
"'Cause I slay, slay"
"I slay, hey, I slay, OK"
"I slay, OK, all day, OK."
"I slay, OK, I slay, OK."
"We gon' slay, slay"
"We slay, OK."
"OK, ladies, now let's get in formation. 'Cause I slay."
"OK, ladies, now let's get in formation. 'Cause I slay."
"Prove to me you got some coordination."
"I might get your song played on the radio station. 'Cause I slay."
"I might get your song played on the radio station. 'Cause I slay."
"You might just be a black Bill Gates in the making. 'Cause I slay."
"I might just be a black Bill Gates in the making. 'Cause I slay."
"Always stay gracious, best revenge is your paper."
Don't let Black History Month end without checking out the rest of these incredible photographs.
There are hundreds more where these came from, and you can access all of them for free courtesy of the New York Public Library.