!["Boycott The NFL" Trends Following The Performance Of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" During The Season Opener [Video]](https://balleralert.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/iStock-137379860-scaled.jpg "\"Boycott The NFL\" Trends Following The Performance Of \"Lift Every Voice and Sing\" During The Season Opener [Video] - Baller Alert")
On Thursday, the NFL 2024 season kicked off with a showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. While the game was highly anticipated, what really caught viewers’ attention was Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s performance of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Despite the performance being appreciated by many, others with more conservative views shared different feelings. The concern stems from people believing that incorporating a second anthem was intended to disrupt fans. According to these conservatives, the National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” should be the only symbol of American unity.
It’s important to note that “The Star-Spangled Banner” was also performed at the game, and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was just an addition and not a replacement. However, these critics still argue that the “racially specific” anthem diminished national unity and can spark debates about race and identity.
In 2020, the NFL committed to challenging racial disparities within the country following the death of George Floyd. As a part of this response, the league decided to include the Black National Anthem in its games, especially due to the majority of its players being African-American. Since then, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” has been performed at Super Bowls and several other major games, including season openers. As a result, “Boycott The NFL” has begun trending on social media, with many people sharing their opinions about the change. See what they had to say below:
https://twitter.com/GuntherEagleman/status/1831852556496335016
https://twitter.com/CookedByMarcus/status/1832079015378817248
