February 9th 2025.
Tonight, the Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up to make history as they face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59. This will be the Chiefs' third consecutive appearance in the Super Bowl, after defeating the Eagles in 2023 and triumphing over the San Francisco 49ers in last year's game. If they win tonight, they will be the first team in NFL history to achieve three consecutive Super Bowl victories.
Of course, all eyes will be on star players like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, but there's also the highly anticipated off-field entertainment to look forward to. This year, Kendrick Lamar will be headlining the famous half-time show. But before the game kicks off, there will be performances of both the national anthem and the black national anthem, which has sparked much debate since its introduction in 2020.
So, what exactly is the black national anthem? It's a powerful song called "Lift Every Voice and Sing", originally written in 1899 by scholar and poet James Weldon Johnson to honor the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. It gained popularity when it was sung by 500 black students at a segregated school, and was later declared the Black National Anthem by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1919.
Although it has been a part of American history for over a century, it wasn't until last year, following protests against racial injustice and police brutality, that the NFL decided to include it in their pre-game ceremonies. This decision has not been without controversy, with some, like conservative political commentator Megyn Kelly, arguing that it is unnecessary as the national anthem already represents everyone.
However, others have supported its inclusion, especially considering the NFL's history with addressing these important issues. In 2016, former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made headlines when he kneeled during the national anthem in protest against racial injustice. This sparked a nationwide debate and drew both criticism and support from various individuals and organizations.
In related news, it was recently reported that the NFL has replaced the "End Racism" messaging on the end-zone borders with "Choose Love" and "It Takes All of Us" for Super Bowl 59.
As for the performers of the national anthem and the black national anthem at this year's Super Bowl, Ledisi will sing the black national anthem, while Jon Batiste will perform the national anthem. Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty will also be singing "America the Beautiful" before kick-off.
The Super Bowl will be held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, home of the New Orleans Saints. For those in the UK, the game will kick off at 11:30pm and can be watched on Sky Sports NFL, Sky Sports Main Event, or ITV1. So, get ready to witness history in the making as the Chiefs and Eagles battle it out on the field for the ultimate victory in Super Bowl 59.
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