Watch What Happens When NFL Plays ‘Black National Anthem’ At Superbowl [Videos]

Daphne Moon 4 2 min read

It is no surprise that the “Black National Anthem” did not receive the same response as the actual national anthem. I mean, it’s no surprise to anyone with half a brain…

The NFL needs to realize that there is only one national anthem, and creating additional anthems for each race will only cause more division. As imperfect as our nation’s history may be, this is true of any nation. The United States has provided more people with more freedoms than any nation before it, and celebrating one national anthem serves to remind us that we are all one people, striving towards the American dream for each individual.

The decision to play the “Black National Anthem” before football games stems from the misguided belief that the original national anthem represents racism. This is simply not true. The values present in “Lift Every Voice and Sing” are actually quite conservative and Christian. However, this is beside the point. The fact remains that we should have only one national anthem. By creating a separate anthem for each race, we are only furthering the divisive narrative that our nation is irreparably broken and divided.

It is time for us to get back to having only one national anthem. This does not mean we should ignore or forget the struggles and injustices faced by black Americans in our history. We must acknowledge and address these issues, but we cannot do so by creating more division. As former NFL player Burgess Owens stated, “We shouldn’t separate ourselves from each other by using race…it’s not just about [the black] race, it’s about a message that we are saying we really are different in this country. And I can tell you for a fact, we’re not.”

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To the lack of applause from the audience, there are other concerning aspects to the playing of the “Black National Anthem” at the Super Bowl. The fact that it is even called the “Black National Anthem” is problematic.

As conservative author and commentator Jesse Kelly stated, “There is no such thing legitimately as the black national anthem. It’s a made-up thing. This is America. We have one national anthem.” By labeling it as such, we are reinforcing the idea that different races require different symbols and the notion that a single national anthem cannot represent all Americans.

There are also practical concerns with playing multiple anthems at a major event like the Super Bowl. As Major League Baseball player Aubrey Huff pointed out, “Do we only play the white national anthem at hockey games? How about the Mexican national anthem at Major League Baseball games?” This creates a slippery slope and raises questions about which races deserve their own anthem. As we have seen with other instances of pandering to identity politics, it is never enough and only leads to further division.

Ultimately, the playing of the “Black National Anthem” at the Super Bowl serves as a reminder that we still have progress to make in terms of racial unity. However, dividing ourselves further by playing multiple anthems is not the solution.

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As Americans, we should stand united under one national anthem that represents all of us. As President Ronald Reagan said, “We must reject the idea that every time a law is broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker.

It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.” Let us focus on promoting unity and holding individuals accountable, rather than dividing ourselves based on race.

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