Is the NFL Playing the Black National Anthem This Year?

The NFL has not yet announced whether or not it will play the Black national anthem this year, but many are wondering if it will happen.

Introduction

Since Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem in 2016, NFL players have been using their platform to protest racial injustice and police brutality. This season, the league has said it will play “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” – commonly known as the Black national anthem – before every Week 1 game. Here’s what you need to know about the song and why it’s being played this season.

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 professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world.

What is the Black National Anthem?

The Black National Anthem is a song called “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1899 and became popular among African Americans during the early 1900s. The song has been performed by many artists over the years, including Mahalia Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Beyonce. In 2016, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose to kneel during the playing of the national anthem as a form of protest against police brutality and racial inequality in the United States. Kaepernick’s protests quickly spread to other athletes and celebrities, and the issue of whether or not players should stand for the national anthem became a major topic of discussion in the NFL.

In 2020, following the death of George Floyd and the subsequent nationwide protests against police brutality and racial injustice, several NFL players voiced their support for playing the Black National Anthem at games this season. While it is unclear if the league will make this change, some players have already said that they will kneel during both anthems if the Black National Anthem is not played.

Why is the NFL Playing the Black National Anthem This Year?

The NFL has announced that it will play the Black national anthem “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” prior to every game during the first week of the 2020 season, in a move that comes amid protests against racial injustice across the country.

The league said in a statement that the decision was made “in light of recent events around our country and out of respect for our fans, players, coaches and staff.” It did not specify what those events were.

“Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” also known as the Negro national anthem, was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 and first sung by a children’s choir at a celebration of Lincoln’s birthday in New York City. The song has been recorded by artists like Mahalia Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and Beyoncé, who performed it at Super Bowl 50.

The NFL’s announcement comes as professional sports leagues have been reevaluating their relationship to race in light of nationwide protests against police brutality and racial inequality following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

How will the NFL Playing the Black National Anthem This Year?

The NFL has announced that they will be playing the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before every game during the upcoming season. This is in response to the ongoing protests against police brutality and racial injustice taking place across America.

Many people have lauded the NFL’s decision, stating that it is a step in the right direction towards addressing systemic racism. However, others have criticized the move, arguing that it is nothing more than performative allyship.

It remains to be seen how effective this gesture will be in combatting racism within the NFL and beyond. However, it is certainly a sign of progress that the league is taking these issues seriously and taking action to address them.

Conclusion

Based on the information that we have gathered, it does not seem that the NFL is planning on playing the black national anthem this year. However, we cannot say for certain as the NFL has not made any official announcements on the matter. If they do decide to play it, it will most likely be during pre-season or in select games where they feel it would be appropriate.