Tobin Low

The conversation was about the questions people ask on first dates, the kind that force who someone really is out into the open, maybe even without them realizing. One such question I didn't even know was a thing. But a few of my co-workers said that for Black women of a certain age, it's having a kind of renaissance. Emmanuel, our executive editor, asks it this way.

The conversation was about the questions people ask on first dates, the kind that force who someone really is out into the open, maybe even without them realizing. One such question I didn't even know was a thing. But a few of my co-workers said that for Black women of a certain age, it's having a kind of renaissance. Emmanuel, our executive editor, asks it this way.

Bim, another producer, has also asked this question on Many a Date.

Bim, another producer, has also asked this question on Many a Date.

Could you tell me about some like specific times that you've asked the Beyonce question and what the guy's response was and what it told you?

Could you tell me about some like specific times that you've asked the Beyonce question and what the guy's response was and what it told you?

Emmanuel walked the guy through all the reasons Beyoncé is, in fact, pretty great. But the guy didn't budge.

Emmanuel walked the guy through all the reasons Beyoncé is, in fact, pretty great. But the guy didn't budge.

They did not go out again because, well, you could say he was unapologetic when he fucked up the night. That's a play on a Beyonce lyric, by the way. Sorry, couldn't help myself. Anyway, B.A. Parker, who's also been on the show, she said for her, it doesn't even have to be Beyonce. Any well-known Black woman does the trick.

They did not go out again because, well, you could say he was unapologetic when he fucked up the night. That's a play on a Beyonce lyric, by the way. Sorry, couldn't help myself. Anyway, B.A. Parker, who's also been on the show, she said for her, it doesn't even have to be Beyonce. Any well-known Black woman does the trick.

But the Beyonce question, she agrees, is the most potent, because the answer can really tell you if you should be crazy in love or putting everything he owns in a box to the left. Again, I am so sorry. The thing about a bunch of people using the same trick, though, is that eventually people, in this case men, might catch on. Are you aware of the Beyoncé question?

But the Beyonce question, she agrees, is the most potent, because the answer can really tell you if you should be crazy in love or putting everything he owns in a box to the left. Again, I am so sorry. The thing about a bunch of people using the same trick, though, is that eventually people, in this case men, might catch on. Are you aware of the Beyoncé question?

Emmanuel Jochi, producer and man at the show. Have you experienced this?

Emmanuel Jochi, producer and man at the show. Have you experienced this?

He told me about a date he was on where they started talking about musicals, and the movie version of Dreamgirls came up. And thinking he was just answering a question about the movie, Manuel was honest. He said, Beyoncé was just okay in that. He didn't realize he was answering the wrong question.

He told me about a date he was on where they started talking about musicals, and the movie version of Dreamgirls came up. And thinking he was just answering a question about the movie, Manuel was honest. He said, Beyoncé was just okay in that. He didn't realize he was answering the wrong question.

It was only later that he learned from another guy friend why he, as a Black man, should really only answer one way.

It was only later that he learned from another guy friend why he, as a Black man, should really only answer one way.

In some cases, the Beyoncé question is like an agreed-upon farce, where both parties know they're talking in code. Parker was recently on a date. She mentioned Beyoncé's Black is King film.

In some cases, the Beyoncé question is like an agreed-upon farce, where both parties know they're talking in code. Parker was recently on a date. She mentioned Beyoncé's Black is King film.