Via THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER:
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) criticized football fans who attended the Super Bowland did not stand at attention for the performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which he referred to as the “Negro National Anthem.”
The song, performed by singer Andra Day, was one of several performed before kickoff, with the others being the national anthem and “America the Beautiful.” Prior to the start of these songs, the announcer had not asked any of the attendees to stand for attention.
“Very very few stood at Super Bowl for ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’” Cohen, who is white, wrote on social media. “The Negro National Anthem. Not a pretty picture of Super Bowl crowd.”
Footage of the crowd behind Day showed that many fans, including multiple black people, were not standing for the performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
The performance was criticized by several prominent conservatives, including journalist Megyn Kelly and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Kelly argued the United States already has a national anthem that “includes EVERYONE,” while Gaetz said he would not be watching the game because the song would be performed.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) supported the performance, arguing the black national anthem “has been a part of our nation’s history since the early 20th century.”
In 2021, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) floated the idea of creating a plan to make the black national anthem the hymn of the U.S. to show unity.
