A local choir performed a song some consider to be the “black national anthem,” resulting in boos from the crowd watching the Kansas City Chiefs play the Detroit Lions.
The song, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was performed before “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The NFL began allowing for “Life Every Voice” performances after the racial riots of 2020 following George Floyd’s death.
“James Weldon Johnson wrote the poem ‘Lift Every Voice And Sing’ in the late 1800s,” the league’s executive vice president for football operations Troy Vincent wrote at the time. “It was put to music in 1905 by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, and adopted by the NAACP as its official song in 1919.
“As a child attending Jefferson Elementary School in the Trenton, NJ, public school system, the song was part of our morning ritual. We sang along with it right before placing our hands over our hearts and pledging allegiance to the American flag.
“Many schools continue this tradition today. This Christian hymn about the struggle for freedom and equality inspires hope. It has encouraged generations of Black people that God will lead us to the promises of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. It’s as pertinent in today’s environment as it was when it was written.”
Reporting from The Western Journal:
[Vincent] concluded by saying, “Please reflect on the inspirational meaning of ‘Lift Every Voice And Sing,’ its rich history and how it might help to bring unity to a nation in need of healing.” … In the game that followed, the Chiefs — defending Super Bowl champions — suffered a 21-20 upset loss to the Lions, a team that barely missed the playoffs last year.
