Opinion| The National Football League has made a controversial decision on how to handle the National Anthem this season.
The league has decided that, prior to every Week 1 game, the song known as the Black National Anthem will be played.
The tune, titled “Lift Every Voice And Sing,” is to be played prior to “The Star Spangled Banner,” ESPN reported.
Having recently displayed increased awareness about the problems of systemic racism, the NFL, in collaboration with the NFL Players Association, is also considering listing the names of victims on uniforms through decals on helmets or patches on jerseys. The NFL also may produce educational programs about victims, among other plans.
Early last month, commissioner Roger Goodell in a video admitted that the league had erred in how it handled peaceful NFL player protests of police brutality and systemic oppression. Goodell condemned racism and affirmed that Black lives matter, pledging his allegiance to the players in the battle for equal justice under the law.
Also in June, the league revealed plans to increase its social justice footprint by pledging to donate $250 million over a 10-year period.
The league hopes its efforts demonstrate “a genuine commitment to the public, players and coaches and that player voices continue to be heard,” the source wrote in a text message. “This is key to educating fans, and becoming a prominent voice in the fight to end racism.”
“Why are they trying to bring back segregation? So RACIST Martin Luther King Jr DID NOT MARCH FOR A BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM,” he said.
Everyone should take a knee during the Black National Anthem
We have a National anthem, it’s for the entire nation. Why are they trying to bring back segregation? So RACIST
Martin Luther King Jr
DID NOT MARCH FOR A BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM.— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) July 3, 2020
Another black conservative, former NFL player and current Congressional candidate Burgess Owens said he believes it is another way to segregate Americans.
“There is no ‘black national anthem’. Why does it feel like the country is trying to segregate again sometimes?” he said.
There is no "black national anthem". Why does it feel like the country is trying to segregate again sometimes?
— Burgess Owens (@BurgessOwens) July 3, 2020
They are correct. This is absolute ridiculousness. It is another step in the segregation of the nation in 2020 with the idea that there are two Americas.
But when we sing the National Anthem we are singing it as Americans. Not black Americans and white Americans, but Americans.
Playing a national anthem for a race, not a nation, does not help Americans unite. It further divides Americans based on race.
Black conservative commentator Terrance K. Williams said that “everyone should tale a knee” when the black national anthem is played.
“Everyone should take a knee during the Black National Anthem We have a National anthem, it’s for the entire nation,” he said.
