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What is the black national anthem being sung at the Super Bowl?
The anthem was first introduced in 2020.
The Super Bowl is back this weekend as the Kansas City Chiefs look to make history against the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans.
Having retained the Vince Lombardi trophy against the San Francisco 49ers last year, the Chiefs are now bidding to become the first team in NFL history to win three successive Super Bowls.
As ever with the showpiece event, the focus will not only be on the on-field drama but also the pre-match and half-time entertainment.
Fresh off his success at the Grammys, Kendrick Lamar will headline the half-time show but there will also be musical performances prior to kick-off with the national anthem and black national anthem.
The black national anthem, in particular, has been the cause of plenty of debate since its introduction at the 2020 edition of the Super Bowl.
Ahead of Super Bowl 59, here is everything you need to know about the black national anthem.
What is the black national anthem?
Written in late 1899 by scholar and poet James Weldon Johnson, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ was originally produced to commemorate the birthday of Abraham Lincoln.
The powerful song, initially sung by 500 black students at a segregated school run by Johnson, soon bloomed in popularity and spread across the country.
In 1919, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) declared the song the Black National Anthem.
However, it wasn’t until 2020, following protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, that the NFL incorporated the anthem into its pre-game ceremonies.
Its arrival has not received unanimous support, however. Posting on social media prior to last year’s Super Bowl, conservative political commentator Megyn Kelly wrote: ‘The so-called Black National Anthem does not belong at the Super Bowl. We already have a National Anthem and it includes EVERYONE.’
But others have supported the anthem’s presence, with Democratic congressman Ritchie Torres saying: ‘The Black National Anthem – “Lift Every Voice and Sing” – has been a part of our Nation’s history since the early 20th century.
‘The erasure of African American history as American history is a form of racism that runs deep on the far right.’
Who is singing the Black national anthem at Super Bowl 59?
Grammy-winning vocalist Ledisi will sing the Black national anthem at Super Bowl 59 prior to kick off.
Jon Batiste will perform the national anthem, while Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty will sing ‘America the Beautiful.’
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