In what many are calling yet another divisive move by the NFL, the league aired a so-called “special national anthem” before a recent Kansas City Chiefs game, igniting a firestorm of backlash. The performance, a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by the Kansas City Boys Choir and the Kansas City Girls Choir, was presented alongside the traditional “Star-Spangled Banner.” Dubbed the “Black National Anthem,” this separate anthem has left many Americans questioning the NFL’s commitment to unity.
Critics of the NFL’s decision were quick to voice their discontent, taking to social media to express their frustration. The Twitter account “End Wokeness” shared a clip of the performance, sparking a heated debate. “We now have a special national anthem before every game to honor 13% of the population,” the account tweeted, referencing the demographic percentage of African Americans in the U.S. The sentiment was echoed by countless others who criticized the NFL for creating division where there should be unity.
Conservative commentator Paul A. Szypula didn’t hold back, attributing this divisiveness to a deeper problem in American society. “This division started with Obama and has only gotten worse since. If we want to fix it, we need to defund companies that promote it. Stop watching the NFL. Stop going to their games,” Szypula urged, highlighting the growing frustration among conservatives who see this move as pandering to a specific group rather than celebrating the nation as a whole.
Another social media user took the argument to its logical extreme, sarcastically suggesting that the NFL’s next move should be to adopt an Inuit National Anthem to avoid “insulting Eskimos.” This comment underscores the absurdity many feel about the NFL’s decision, pointing out the potential for endless division under the guise of inclusivity.
The sentiment was summed up by another user who warned, “This is a communist tactic, to sow racial divisions within society. It’s part of a divide and conquer strategy. So the NFL execs are communists, or they are bowing to communists. People need to be wiser than communism; we outnumber them!” This statement reflects the growing concern that such actions are not just misguided but part of a more sinister agenda to fracture American society.
At the heart of the outrage is the belief that America should stand united under one flag and one anthem. As one user eloquently put it, “But I thought we were all Americans? With one national anthem for everyone? That is what I would call inclusive?!? Having separate is the opposite of inclusive … no? What’s the opposite of inclusive? I can’t remember ….” The sarcasm in this statement cuts to the core of the issue: the NFL’s decision to play a separate anthem is perceived as the very opposite of bringing people together.
This isn’t the first time the “Black National Anthem” has stirred controversy. Earlier this year, former ESPN commentator turned conservative voice, Sage Steele, criticized the decision to include “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in major sporting events. On her podcast, Steele referred to the song as the “blanthem,” questioning why America is choosing to divide itself further in these already challenging times. “Why are we now choosing to separate again when we’ve been in a tough time here the past several years?” Steele asked, emphasizing the need for unity under one national anthem.
The NFL’s decision to air the “Black National Anthem” alongside “The Star-Spangled Banner” has reignited a debate about what it means to be American and how we should express our national identity. For many, there is no room for multiple anthems in a country that prides itself on unity and equality for all. The league’s move is seen not as a gesture of inclusivity, but as a divisive act that undermines the very ideals it claims to support.
As this debate continues, one thing is clear: the NFL’s actions have left many fans questioning whether the league truly values the principles of unity and patriotism, or whether it has succumbed to the pressures of political correctness, driving a wedge deeper into the heart of America.
