Some moments from the Eagles’ post-Super Bowl opening night at the Linc were absolutely cringeworthy
What really caught my attention at the Eagles-Cowboys game was the lack of respect shown during the singing of the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Opening night at Lincoln Financial Field was a moment in time for celebration. It started with the unfurling of a championship banner commemorating the Eagles’ victory in Super Bowl LIX in February, and the Birds went on to beat the hated Dallas Cowboys. However, some of the more memorable moments of the evening were cringeworthy.
Just about everyone at the game was talking about how Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott — and how the Birds’ defense suffered as a result.
But what really caught my attention was the lack of respect shown during the singing of the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — and it was glaring.
The moment of fans’ disregard, marked by boos, was so glaring that it was also noted in social media, sports talk radio, and international media.
In light of the war on Black history, the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at public events offers the opportunity for a teachable moment — and we need more teachable moments about Black history.
Without an understanding of Black history — and the nuances that make up our community’s lived experiences — it is difficult to appreciate the cultural significance of Black touchpoints and moments, like the Black national anthem.
Sung in Black communities far and wide, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was written in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson, a public school principal in Jacksonville, Fla., who wanted to honor the Black experience in America, particularly surviving slavery and Jim Crow.
In the African American community, many folks know our national anthem (yes, I wrote “our”) as well or better than we know “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Had “Dreams and Nightmares” or any well-known hip-hop song been played in a similar context, it’s not hard to imagine stadium-going white folks and other non-Black people being seen twerking and throwing up fake gang signs while bopping to the beat.
After all, those behaviors are what many people believe is the totality of Black culture. That’s because — since at least the birth of minstrel shows in the early 19th century — mocking Black people and Black culture is an American pastime.
Anti-Black racism isn’t anything new. Neither is the attempt to silence its retelling in classrooms, books, and museums. Teaching Black history is essential to curb ignorance and foster understanding, but giving America access to Black culture is not. Especially when doing so invites a level of disrespect, disregard, and bastardization of what we hold sacred.
Opening night was an example of this.
But it’s time we put an end to opening ourselves up to disrespect. It’s time to stop performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at NFL games — paradoxically, doing so only ends up reiterating the narrative that Black history isn’t worth your attention. And that is not merely cringeworthy, but false.
Rann Miller is an educator and freelance writer based in South Jersey. His Urban Education Mixtape blog supports urban educators and parents of children attending urban schools. Miller is also the author of “Resistance Stories from Black History for Kids,” which was reissued in 2024. @RealRannMiller