For the fourth year in a row, the NFL has announced that the so-called Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” will be played at the Super Bowl.
We seem to have come full circle since then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama said at the 2004 Democratic National Convention: America — that's the United States of America. There is no black America, no white America, no Latino America, no Asian America. There is the United States. …We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the Stars and Stripes, all of us defending the United States of America. ”
We've come full circle since the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of a time when people would be judged based on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin in his 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech. It seems so. Dr. King said: “I have a dream that one day in Alabama, where there are vicious racists and a governor with words of intervention and nullification hanging from his mouth, there will be a little black man. May boys and black girls one day join hands with little white boys and little white girls as sisters and brothers. …With this belief, we can transform the jangling divisions of this country into brotherhood. You could turn it into a beautiful symphony.”
The national anthem is also the national anthem for blacks/whites/Asians/Hispanics.It is the national anthem of every Citizen.
This country has come a long way, including in the world of sports. There was a time when black quarterbacks were rare. White coaches and owners believed that blacks lacked the intelligence, leadership ability, and appeal to the fan base to lead a team as quarterback. Black aspiring coaches faced the same prejudice and discrimination. Today, the league and the nation do not tolerate anti-Black racism, and many careers, whether players, coaches or broadcasters, are ended by racist comments or comments deemed racist. Even if I couldn't help it, I was still hurt. This is not your grandfather's America. (Related: Larry Elder: 'Rebellion' is the new 'Russia, Russia, Russia')
America's three largest cities, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, all have black mayors, even though none of them have a majority black population. The city of Los Angeles elected him its first black mayor in 1973 and was elected three times thereafter. Black men became presidents of the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This is just a sample. At least four black American athletes have become billionaires: Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James, and many more are on the way.black people have Overcome. What does the NFL think about the real issues facing the “black community”: poor inner-city schools and absentee fathers? No, it's all about characterizing black people as victims and eradicating “systemic racism.”
When New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft introduced his newly hired coach to the media, Kraft said: I have chosen the best head coach for this organization. He happens to be a person of color. But I chose him because I believe he is the best person for the job. ”
But his new coach, Jerrod Mayo, said: However, what I'm trying to say is that I see color because I believe that if you don't see color, you don't understand racism. …It doesn't really matter, black, white, yellow, but it does matter so we can try to solve the problems we all know we have. ”
What is the problem we all have?
What's next for the Black national anthem to be sung at the Super Bowl? Why not play the University of Michigan fight song? What if at least some players rejected the narrative that black people remain victims and found singing the black national anthem at the Super Bowl divisive?
The first player, white or black, to take a knee during the Black National Anthem at the Super Bowl will instantly earn the league's best-selling jersey. As Nike says, “Just do it!”
Larry Elder is a best-selling author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host. To learn more about Larry Elder or to become an Elder, please visit www.LarryElder.com. Follow Larry on Twitter @larryelder. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit his Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
Copyright 2024 Lawrence A. Elder
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