As part of its pledge to fight racial injustice, the National Football League will reportedly will play the Black national anthem 'L...
As part of its pledge to fight racial injustice, the National Football League will reportedly will play the Black national anthem 'Lift Every Voice And Sing' ahead of all Week 1 games.
According to ESPN's Undefeated, 'Lift Every Voice And Sing' will be heard ahead of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' during the upcoming season this fall.
The NFL season was previously halted due to the coronavirus pandemic that overtook the country in March.
It will be featured during the first game of the regular season when the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans on September 10.
The NFL is reportedly collaborating with players to recognizing victims of systematic racism throughout the season in various ways, including putting the names of victims of police brutality on helmet decals or jersey patches.
Additionally, the league may encourage educational programs and storytelling about the victims and their families.
The National Football League will reportedly play the Black national anthem 'Lift Every Voice And Sing' before ahead of all Week 1 games in the fall
The NFL previously released a PSA in January about Botham Jean, a Black man shot dead by a patrol officer in Texas inside his own home, and a Super Bowl commerical of Corey Jones, a Black man killed by a plainclothes officer while waiting for a service truck in Florida.
The NFL's acknowledgment of systematic racism comes as anti-racism and police brutality protests continue across the country after the death of George Floyd.
'Lift Every Voice And Sing' was written as a poem in 1899 by future NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson, and his brother John Rosamond Johnson set it to music, according to the NAACP's website.
The first public performance was by a choir of 500 children on Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, 1900, at the segregated Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida, where James Weldon Johnson served as the principal.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (pictured) admitted in a June video that the league was wrong for not supporting players who protested systematic
'The Star-Spangled Banner' was transformed into a political debate after former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began taking a knee during its playing in 2016 to protest racism and police brutality.
The move immediate angered some, including President Trump who condemned the action by saying those who kneel 'maybe shouldn't be in the country.'
'You have to stand proudly for the national anthem, or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country,' he said during a March 2018 interview with Fox&Friends.
After Trump suggested the NFL 'fire' Kaepernick, he was released by the 49ers and would become a free agent embroiled in a national debate.
Colin Kaepernick (pictured) became a free agent after the San Francisco 49er's released him from his contract following his outcry against police brutality
Reports at the time speculated that Kaepernick, who remains an unsigned free agent, was blacklisted from the league for his peaceful protest.
He filed a lawsuit against the NFL in November 2017 alleging the league was colluding against him for his outspoken beliefs, but withdrew the case after settling with the league.
Supporters of Kaepernick have accused the NFL of being tone deaf to the struggles of African-Americans while simultaneously profiting of them, despite the group making up the majority of players.
The 2019 Racial and Gender Report Card for the NFL found than Black Americans made up 58.9 per cent of players, while white players accounted for 26.8 per cent.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitted in a video last month that the NFL was wrong for 'not listening' to players about systemic racism.
'We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest,' he said.
'We, the National Football League, believe Black Lives Matter. I personally protest with you and want to be part of the much needed change in this country.'
Goodell appeared to double down on the league's changed perspective by encouraging all 32 teams to sign Kaepernick.
Days later, the NFL vowed to donate $250 million to social-justice causes over a 10-year period.
The league said in a statement: 'The NFL and our clubs will continue to work collaboratively with NFL players to support programs to address criminal justice reform, police reforms, and economic and educational advancement.
'In addition to the financial commitment, we will continue to leverage the NFL Network and all of our media properties to place an increased emphasis on raising awareness and promoting education of social justice issues to our fans and help foster unity.'
No comments