Representative Steve Cohen, the sole Democrat representing Tennessee in Congress, expressed frustration over the Super Bowl LVIII audience’s failure to stand for the Black National Anthem. Cohen, who is Jewish and represents Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, predominantly consisting of African American constituents, found this omission concerning.
Cohen took to Twitter to express his discontent, observing that only a few spectators stood up during the performance of the song known as the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” at the Super Bowl.
During Sunday’s Super Bowl, R&B artist Andra Day performed the song, which had also been played at all four preceding playoff matches. This anthem, commemorating African American faith and autonomy, was penned by civil rights advocate James Weldon Johnson in the late 19th century. Despite its debut at last year’s Super Bowl, the anthem had been sung at earlier games.
During the rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at the Super Bowl, Cohen lamented on X that only a small portion of the audience stood, portraying a rather unflattering image of the Super Bowl attendees.
Very very few stood at Super Bowl for “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.
— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) February 11, 2024
The Negro National Anthem.
Not a pretty picture of Super Bowl crowd.,
Refusing to limit their criticism to just the performance and the anthem, conservative X accounts continued to exacerbate the situation. One user on X went as far as to claim that the Black National Anthem is a fabrication, implying that those offended by this assertion should consider leaving. Even Florida Representative Matt Gaetz chimed in on the debate.
Wife: Today is the Super Bowl!
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 11, 2024
Me: We aren’t watching.
Wife: Why?
Me: They’re desecrating America’s National Anthem by playing something called the “Black National Anthem.”
Wife: Does that mean Cardi is performing?
Democrats have made it clear that while they may take issue with spectators not standing for “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” they are perfectly accepting of kneeling during the traditional American National Anthem.
Player protests against “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the official national anthem of the United States, have been ongoing for years. In 2018, the NFL enforced a rule requiring players to stay in their locker rooms until after the national anthem had been played if they did not plan to demonstrate respect for it and the American flag.
