The NFL began playing or performing "Lift Every Voice and Sing," often referred to as the "Black national anthem," before every Week 1 game starting in September 2020. The song is played before the national anthem, "The Star- Spangled Banner," and has since become a regular part of NFL pregame ceremonies, including the Super Bowl. The song's inclusion acknowledges the struggle for racial justice and honors victims of systemic racism, reflecting the NFL's response to social justice movements. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was originally a poem written by James Weldon Johnson in 1899 to commemorate Abraham Lincoln's birthday. It became a song set to music by his brother in 1905 and was adopted by the NAACP as its official song in 1919. The hymn inspires hope and celebrates the Black community's pursuit of freedom, liberty, and equality. The NFL collaborates with the James Weldon Johnson Foundation and the NAACP to share the song's historical significance during football games. The song is performed by renowned artists and choirs at high- profile NFL events, including the Super Bowl, where it is seen as a unifying and spiritual call for reflection and justice, though it has also sparked some controversy over its role alongside the national anthem.
