Is the NFL Going to Play the Black National Anthem?

The NFL has yet to make an announcement on whether they will play the black national anthem, but many fans are wondering if they will.

Introduction

The Black National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” is stirring up controversy among NFL fans. Some people think the NFL should play the song before every game, while others believe that doing so would be disrespectful to the United States’ national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

So, what’s the story behind the Black National Anthem? And will the NFL be playing it at any point in the future? Here’s what you need to know.

What is the NFL?

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, the highest professional level of American football in the world, the wealthiest professional sport league by revenue, and the sport league with the most valuable teams.

What is the Black National Anthem?

The Black National Anthem, also known as “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, is a song written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900. The song was originally written as a poem to be recited at a commemoration for Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Johnson later set the poem to music, and it quickly became popular among African American communities. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was officially adopted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as the Black National Anthem in 1919.

Since its inception, the song has been performed by many notable artists, including Paul Robeson, Mahalia Jackson, James Cleveland, and Stevie Wonder. In 2016, then-President Barack Obama sang a portion of the anthem at the African American History Month reception at the White House.

It is unclear if or when the NFL will adopt “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as the official Black National Anthem, but many players have voiced their support for the idea. San Francisco 49ers player Eric Reid tweeted that he would like to see the league adopt the anthem, and Seattle Seahawks player Doug Baldwin has also spoken in favor of the idea.

What is the connection between the NFL and the Black National Anthem?

In recent years, the NFL has been increasing its efforts to appeal to a wider range of fans, including those from minority groups. One way it has done this is by playing the Black national anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” before some of its games.

However, it is unclear if the NFL will continue to play the Black national anthem in the future. Some people have criticized the league for only playing it during the playoffs and not during the regular season. Others have argued that the league should continue to play the anthem to show its support for black players and fans.

No matter what the NFL decides to do, it is clear that the league is trying to become more inclusive and appeal to a broader range of fans.

How likely is it that the NFL will play the Black National Anthem?

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is “considering” playing the Black National Anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before games this season. He made the remarks during an interview with ESPN’s The Undefeated on Monday.

“Well, we are listening to our players,” Goodell said. “We are talking to our players, as we always do. We also understand the moment that is taking place in our country right now and how we can be part of that and use our platform effectively.”

When asked if playing the anthem is something the NFL is considering, Goodell said: “It’s one of many things that we’re engaged on.”

Goodell’s comments come after several high-profile black athletes, including NBA stars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, have called on the league to do more to support racial justice following the police killings of George Floyd and other black Americans.

Last week, Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien said he would “absolutely” be open to his team signing Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who has been out of the league since 2016 after kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality.

Conclusion

The NFL has not yet announced whether or not they will play the black national anthem, however, many players have voiced their support for the song to be played. It is possible that the NFL will make a decision to play the anthem before the start of the season.