Does the NFL Play the Black National Anthem?

The NFL has been under fire for its handling of the Black Lives Matter movement, but one thing they haven’t been criticized for is their national anthem policy. In fact, many people don’t even know that the NFL plays the Black national anthem before every game.

So, does the NFL play the Black national anthem? The answer is yes, they do. Every game, before the Star-Spangled Banner is played, the Black national anthem is played as well. This has been

Introduction

This article will explore whether or not the NFL plays the Black national anthem as well as other anthems related to the league. It will also provide a brief history of the anthem and its place in American culture.

The Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1899 and first performed in 1900. The anthem gained popularity during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and 1970s, and has been performed at various sporting events since then, including the Super Bowl.

Despite its rich history and cultural significance, the Black national anthem has never been played at an NFL game. In 2016, then-49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest police brutality and racial injustice, but no action was taken by the NFL to play “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in response.

In 2020, amid nationwide protests following the murder of George Floyd, several NFL players called for the league to play “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before games during the upcoming season. In response, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement saying that the league was “open to listening to players about how we can improve social justice efforts,” but did not commit to playing the anthem.

It remains to be seen if the NFL will choose to play “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during games in the 2020 season or beyond, but its cultural significance cannot be denied.

What is the Black National Anthem?

The Black National Anthem, also known as “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, is a song that was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1899. The song was first performed in 1900 by a choir of 500 school children in Jacksonville, Florida.

“Lift Every Voice and Sing” was designated as the Black National Anthem by the NAACP in 1919. The anthem became widely known after being performed at the March on Washington in 1963 by Mahalia Jackson.

Today, the Black National Anthem is sometimes played at sporting events, particularly those involving African American athletes. For example, the anthem was played before a 2016 NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it has also been played before NFL games.

History of the Black National Anthem

The “Black National Anthem,” “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was first performed in 1900 by 500 schoolchildren in Jacksonville, Florida. The song was written by James Weldon Johnson as a poem to be set to music by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson. It soon became a popular anthem for the NAACP and is now seen as a rallying cry for the African-American community.

The anthem gained renewed attention in 2016 after Colin Kaepernick, then a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, began kneeling during the performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest police violence against black Americans. Other NFL players followed suit, and the debate over whether or not players should be required to stand during the national anthem continues to this day.

As of 2020, the NFL has not officially adopted “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as the Black national anthem, though several teams have played it before games in recent years. In 2018, the league released a statement saying that they “respect[ed] the efforts of those who seek to raise awareness of social justice issues” but that they did “not believe that adopting an official song [was] an appropriate measure.”

Why the NFL Should Play the Black National Anthem

Since 2016, tensions have been high between the NFL and its players, specifically those who are black. The protests began when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem to raise awareness about police brutality and racial injustice. The act sparked a nationwide movement, with many other players following suit.

In the years since, the issue has become more complicated and politicized, with President Donald Trump publicly criticizing the protesting players and calling for them to be fired. The NFL has responded by instituting a new rule that requires all players to stand for the anthem or stay in the locker room.

This rule has only added fuel to the fire, with some players choosing to kneel in defiance and others withdrawing from the league altogether. In this charged atmosphere, many have called for the NFL to play the black national anthem before games as a way to show support for its black players and fans.

There are several reasons why the NFL should play the black national anthem before games. First, it would be a powerful show of solidarity with its black players and fans. Second, it would help raise awareness of the continued fight for racial justice in America. And finally, it would be a way for the NFL to take a stand against President Trump’s divisive rhetoric.

playing the black national anthem before games would send a strong message of support to its black players and fans. In recent years, many black athletes have felt alienated by the league’s Treatment of Kaepernick and other protesting players. Playing the black national anthem would signal that the NFL is committed to supporting its black members.

Additionally, playing the black national anthem would help raise awareness of ongoing efforts to achieve racial justice in America. The song, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” is often referred to as “the Black National Anthem” and was written in 1899 by James Weldon Johnson as a poem celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. The poem was later set to music and became an important part of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. By playing this song before games, the NFL would be helping to promote understanding and awareness of these important historical events.

Finally, playing the black national anthem would be a way for the NFL to take a stand against President Trump’s divisive rhetoric. Trump has repeatedly attacked protesting NFL players, calling them “sons of bitches” and saying they should be fired from their teams. In response, many NFL players have refused to participate in pre-game ceremonies or visitthe White Houseto meet with Trump. Playingthe Black National Anthem before games would demonstrate thatthe NFL does not support Trump’s rhetoric or policies.

Reasons Why the NFL Hasn’t Played the Black National Anthem

1) The NFL has never played the Black national anthem before, so it would be a sudden and potentially confusing change to do so now.

2) There is no consensus on which song should be considered the Black national anthem. There are several songs that could potentially fill this role, and no clear consensus on which one is the best choice.

3) Playing the Black national anthem would be a divisive move, and the NFL generally tries to avoid taking controversial stands on political issues.

4) It’s unclear how many fans would actually want to hear the Black national anthem played at NFL games. While some would appreciate the gesture, others might find it unnecessary or even offensive.

5) Playing the Black national anthem would require additional effort from already overworked NFL staff members, who would need to coordinate with teams, stadiums, and broadcast partners to make sure the song was played properly.

Conclusion

The NFL has not yet confirmed whether or not they will be playing the Black National Anthem at any point during the upcoming season. However, several players have spoken out in favor of the idea and it is possible that the league may choose to do so in order to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement.