Devonté Hynes directed and edited the video for “Sandra’s Smile,” a beautiful offering for a tragic loss. The song under Hynes’ moniker of Blood Orange is a musical memorial for Sandra Bland who ended up dead in police custody in Hempstead, Texas. The opening scene in the video, Hynes and three others (Junglepussy, Ian Isiah & Michelle) dance on a street corner as the addictive kick drum that makes the production so catchy thumps.
Throughout the video dancers from New York City’s Waffle Crew collective dance in multiple scenes. The beautifully sentimental lyrics of the song partner with the a celebration of Black beauty in these moments to form a protest and a praiseful art piece. “You watched her pass away, the words she said weren’t faint/ Closed our eyes for a while, but I still see Sandra’s smile,” Devonté sings. Between the notes a closeness occurs that feels almost like this song beckons the spirit of Sandra.