Black national anthem performance at NFL kickoff sparks heated debate: 'It's just causing more division'

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Laurin Talese delivered a stirring performance of 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' ahead of the NFL season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, September 4.

The song, widely recognized as the Black national anthem, has become a fixture at major NFL events since the league embraced its inclusion in 2020 following nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd.

Laurin Talese performs Black national anthem before start of NFL season

The performance received a standing ovation inside the stadium. Talese later told the Eagles’ official website that it was her very first time attending a game and an unforgettable introduction to the city’s passionate fanbase.

“I’m feeling so excited and honored,” she said. “I’ve never been to a game before, so this is my entrance into real Eagles fandom. And what better way to be part of it than this?”

The NFL has allowed 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' to be performed at key games, including Super Bowls and season openers, for the past several years. The league has framed it as a way to highlight unity, underscored on Thursday night when NBC cameras showed the end zone painted with the message: “It Takes All of Us.”

But while the anthem continues to be celebrated by many as a cultural milestone, its inclusion has also remained divisive among fans. Critics argue that introducing a second anthem at games deepens divisions.

The NAACP first promoted the song as the Black national anthem in 1917, and over a century later, it still sparks heated discussion whenever it is performed on a national stage.

Black national anthem at NFL season opener sparks chatter

Fans and netizens couldn't stop talking about the decision to kick off the NFL season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys with a performance of 'Lift Every Voice and Sing', widely known as the Black national anthem. 

One wrote, “As a black man, why do we need to hear ‘Lift Every Voice’? It’s not the national anthem. Ughhhh can we just watch football without trying to be woke every damn time.”

Another said, “The ‘Black National Anthem’ has no business being sung at NFL or any other games, but at least the audio was so bad you could barely hear it.”

Others were blunt, with a person saying, “S**t like this is why I quit watching,” while someone else said, “This is so ridiculous! It’s just causing more division.”

Many echoed frustration, with one writing, “Good. It’s a ball game. Keep politics out of it. The NFL can’t seem to do that so I stopped watching. I dislike being lectured to. Period.”

Some went as far as to vow to boycott watching NFL games. “I am not going to watch any NFL game that does this stupid and unnecessary woke garbage. I’m going to just turn it off. We have one National Anthem,” a tweet read. 

Another summed up their thoughts, writing, “It’s not our national anthem so I’ll remain seated.”

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