Why Some People Are Criticizing the Super Bowl Pregame Ceremony

 "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the Black national anthem, is sparking controversy once more.

Andra Day performs "Lift Every Voice and Sing" prior to Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at on Feb. 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.

Feb. 8, 2025, 5:37 AM GMT+6

Over a century after the NAACP adopted “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as the “Black national anthem,” the song has sparked backlash ahead of this Sunday’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, fueled by social media debates.

Rep. Lauren Boebert voiced her opinion on X, declaring, “ONE NATIONAL ANTHEM.” Others have labeled the song, which symbolizes resilience and the hope for a brighter future for an oppressed people, as promoting “Black supremacy” and accused it of being “racist and divisive.” Some Black conservatives have also criticized its performance at the game, calling it “a desperate Hail Mary to exploitation” and arguing that it “foments racial divides and animosity.”

This marks the fifth consecutive Super Bowl to feature the song in the pregame ceremony, each year provoking questions about its appropriateness. This year, Ledisi will perform it, as the song’s inclusion coincides with increasing resistance to antiracism messaging and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across various sectors of American life, including sports, corporations, and government.

Gerald Early, a pop culture essayist and professor of African and African American studies at Washington University in St. Louis, believes the performance should be framed as a “song of Black affirmation, perseverance, and inspiration,” not as a protest anthem. He laments that the song has become part of the ongoing culture wars.

A similar controversy arose last year when Audra Day performed the song at the Super Bowl. This year, however, the debate takes place against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, with him signing numerous executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI efforts in the federal government and beyond.

Early notes that the inclusion of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is not a political statement, but rather a celebration of Black culture. “Feelings on this issue might be more charged since Trump’s election, as he has always opposed such initiatives,” he said.

The song’s origins trace back to 1900, when civil rights activist and NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson penned it as a poem. He later collaborated with his brother, musician J. Rosamond Johnson, to turn it into a song that has become a powerful anthem for Black Americans.

Ken Knuckles, a music teacher with over 25 years of experience in Lithonia, Georgia, describes it as “a powerful, inspirational song” and emphasizes its role in teaching pride and achievement to his students. “It’s about achievement, and it reflects how long people of color had to struggle to get where they are today,” he said.

Ledisi, the Grammy-winning artist who will perform the song on Sunday, expressed her honor at singing it. “I feel like I’m in alignment with greatness to stand in this moment and sing that song,” she said, emphasizing the significance of representing the past, present, and future. “I remember my ancestors. I remember everyone waiting for this moment to feel hopeful and represented.”

While the NFL has not indicated whether it will stop allowing the performance of the song, the league has expanded its social justice messaging, starting in 2020 with “End Racism.” This year, the end zones will display the message “Choose Love,” which, according to Early, may have political implications.

“The NFL is facing a dilemma. Once you start promoting socially conscious messages, you risk offending viewers who want to escape politics while watching sports,” he noted.

As Trump continues to push corporations to end DEI programs, many conservatives support this stance. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, however, affirmed that DEI policies have strengthened the league, and the NFL remains committed to them.

Early also pointed out that Black players make up about 53% of the NFL, which was integrated in 1946. However, a recent Associated Press survey of 65 Black NFL players revealed frustration over the lack of Black coaches, with 11 franchises having never hired one. These concerns have persisted for more than 40 years.

The ongoing debate about “Lift Every Voice and Sing” echoes the controversy surrounding former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 protest against police brutality, which led to his banishment from the league. Early suggests that opposition to the song is similar to the criticism Kaepernick faced. “Some people oppose ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ because they associate it with protests, just like they did with Kaepernick’s protest,” he said. “They are likely tired of protests in American sports and entertainment.”