Prior to the national anthem at Super Bowl LVII , the NFL had singer Sheryl Lee Ralph perform the “Black National Anthem”

Sheryl Lee Ralph performing the Black National Anthem at Super Bowl LVII

The famed Super Bowl is known for its commercials, halftime shows, tailgate parties, and the throngs of enthusiastic fans cheering on the exceptional gameplay exhibited by two teams and their lineup of players performing at the top of their game. There are both tears and jeers all culminating till the end of the game where one team stands triumphant, displaying their possession of the prized and coveted Lombardi trophy.

Typically, the topics of much debate during (and especially after) the game consist of the disputed calls from the referees, play calls by the offensive and defensive coaching staff, and the performance of the players themselves. Although this remains true with Super Bowl LVII, the main topics of discussion and much of the consternation are relegated not to what transpired during the game, but before the game.

Prior to kickoff, per usual, our nation’s National Anthem was performed and sung in grand melodic fashion, this time by famed country star Chris Stapleton who sent chills down the spines of the hearers and caused tears to flow freely by both players and fans alike. The performance was well received, which cannot be said about the exhibition directly before the one described — not for its lack of gusto and flair, but because of the woke nature of such an audaciously featured song sung by actress and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph, known unofficially as the “Black National Anthem.”

Many saw the institution of a separate national anthem as a slap in the face to an America already divided by woke identity politics and intersectionality, while others praised it for being groundbreakingly representative of blacks in this country.

However, I disagree with the latter notion, and wholeheartedly agree with the former.

As an American, my history is contained within the collective sphere of my country & countrymen, and not in my race. This nation’s consequential sins rectified by its righteous undertakings, as well as its overt failures and redemptive successes are what make this nation uniquely great, if not exceptionally so. The good, the bad, and the ugly – all contribute to the legacy of America.

As Americans — despite color, race, or ethnicity — we should all understand that this is OUR history, our united, robust, and forward-looking/thinking history that is all of ours to share and embrace in a non-tribalistic fashion. We are the United States of America, not the “Divided States of America”, and promoting an “ours vs. theirs” dichotomy (to the delight of many a Marxist) is the very division that is necessary to further strain race relations in America, particularly between whites and blacks.

The chasm has been widening, forced by focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion, instituted by those who with a pension for division. We are better than this and should be more united in our message of promoting a singular patriotic American message than a message based on adherence to racial tribalism.

Therefore, if America devises a national anthem for AMERICANS to rally behind, it does us a disservice to segregate and ultimately divide ourselves based on race when it comes to the pride of our country — our nation’s National Anthem. This song can be embraced by any American, despite, their ethnic background or national origin.

Yes, the Super Bowl is a unifying event of sorts, where camaraderie overflows in abundance (as does the beer), but we mustn’t let such a subversively divisive attempt of blatant racial division go unchecked and unfettered. We must recognize our strength comes from our unity, a unity unique to this American experiment due to our ethnic diversity.

We cannot let such an experiment fail due to a lack of adherence to basic unity and national pride — we are better than that. We have showcased this thru centuries of success as one nation under God. May we continue to be a unified nation, showcasing a togetherness that will be exhibited through love for God, family, and of course, football.