Sheryl Lee Ralph, a renowned actress, sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing," better known as the Black National Anthem, prior to Sunday night's Super Bowl. This song, composed more than a century ago, became a rallying cry during the civil rights movement, as reported by the NAACP. After the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, the NFL began to include the song in its games, though the decision has been denounced by some conservatives.
February 13, 2023
The latest Republican to express disapproval of the NFL's decision to include the Black National Anthem in the performance lineup alongside "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful" is Boebert. The GOP representative accused the league of attempting to divide Americans with this choice.
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She tweeted "America only has ONE NATIONAL ANTHEM," she tweeted. "Why is the NFL trying to divide us by playing multiple!? Do football, not wokeness."
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Critics contended that Boebert's tweet had a more divisive impact than the inclusion of the performance. Conde Nast editor Luke Zaleski charged Boebert with "gaslighting" viewers.
Luke Zaleski's tweet argued that Boebart is utilizing the idea of unity to create division. He states that she is doing exactly what she is accusing the NFL of and that it is a fake dispute made to provoke and create further separation in society.
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Another Twitter user posted a message in reply to Boebert that said, "It's black history month. The song is meaningful to African Americans. It's also a historic game with 2 black quarterbacks, the first time ever. Get over yourself and your ridiculous white grievances. If you don't like it, don't watch. Simple."
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In 2021, Fox News host Sean Hannity expressed his disapproval of the NFL including the Black National Anthem as an effort to "inject politics into sports." Conservative pundits also generated controversy when Vanessa Williams sang the song during a PBS Fourth of July special.
James Weldon Johnson, a leader of the NAACP, wrote the renowned song "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in 1900. The music for the lyrics was composed by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson.
At a segregated school in Jacksonville, Florida, students first sang the song to honor President Abraham Lincoln on his birthday. Lincoln for emancipating the slaves during the Civil War.
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Time magazine reported that the song has become a landmark of African American culture. It was played at gatherings where civil rights activists were organizing the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was also quoted in speeches from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Brian McCarthy, a spokesperson for the NFL, said to The New York Times in 2021 that the song is "an opportunity to highlight messages that are important to the league, players and personnel and our communities."
"We've seen tremendous work done by our players to make an impact, and we can increase that through the high-visibility platform that the NFL provides," he said.
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