The Black National Anthem to Play Before Every Week 1 Game of the NFL

The death of Powderhorn, Minneapolis man George Floyd under the harassment of a white police officer, triggered the suppressed fire in people all across the world. The #BlackLivesMatter is one of the biggest movement ever in the history of protests, and the fire still burns. People in every field have come up with an opinion, and are trying to make even the smallest change, and the NFL is no exception. There has been a lot of discussions lately, and not just about maintaining proper safety measures against COVID-19. The team officials have been planning on how they can show solidarity with the protests against the oppression of the black people. So, they have come with the idea of playing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the Black national anthem before the beginning of every week-1 game in the upcoming season.

The source who reveals the information also says that the anthem will play even before “The Star-Spangled Banner” plays. The first game of the upcoming season is to take place on September 10, and you will be able to watch in on your TV. During the first match, Kansas City, The Champion team of the Super Bowl Season, will host the Houston Texans.

The League honors the Black National Anthem

The “Lift Every Voice and Sing” song will play for the entire first week at the beginning of the Sunday afternoon games. Besides, they will also play the song during the Sunday night games. Last but not least, in a few ESPN Monday night games as well. Moreover, the NFL is constantly trying to find out about those players who have been the victims of systemic racism during the season. Some of the major topics of discussions in this context are mentioning victim names on jersey patches and helmet decals. The list also includes storytelling (additional PSAs about the victims and their families) as well as educational programs.

The official NAACP website talks about the history of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” According to them, it was originally a poem by James Weldon Johnson. Later, in 1899, John Rosamond Johnson, brother of James Weldon, added music to the poem. Next year in 1900, the song was performed at Jacksonville’s segregated Stanton School by a choir. Besides, James Weldon Johnson was the principal of this Florida school. The performance was a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, former President of the USA.