Black National Anthem Sparks Outrage During Chiefs-Ravens Game

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Before the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens squared off on Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium, fans were treated to a special performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by gospel artist Tasha Cobbs. Known as the "Black National Anthem," this song has been part of the NFL’s pre-game ceremonies for the past few seasons, particularly during Week 1 games. However, this year's rendition sparked a heated backlash online, with many fans expressing outrage.

Social Media Outrage:

• Several viewers took to social media to voice their discontent about the inclusion of the Black National Anthem. Some even threatened to boycott the NFL over what they perceived as an unnecessary division of the national anthem.
• "There’s only 1 National Anthem in this country," one user wrote on X, echoing the sentiments of many.
• Another fan chimed in: "There is no black national anthem. There is no white national anthem. There is only ONE national anthem."
• "Why don’t we just have one anthem? We are all Americans," added a third.

The discontent spread across various social media platforms, with some fans saying they would refuse to stand for any song other than "The Star-Spangled Banner." One user stated, "I made a point to sit for it. I stand for one anthem and one anthem only."

Context and NFL Response: Despite the backlash, the NFL has consistently included "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as part of its opening week celebrations for several years. The league has yet to release any official statement addressing this recent wave of outrage.

Conclusion: While the outrage over the performance of the Black National Anthem continues to reverberate online, it’s unlikely that this will lead to significant boycotts or drops in viewership. The NFL's ratings have remained high, even amidst similar controversies. Ultimately, social media outrage is unlikely to affect the league’s popularity in the long run.

Source: thespun