Black activists are angry because the Black National Anthem was performed outside the stadium at Super Bowl LVI, while the Star-Spangled Banner was performed indoors in front of thousands of cheering fans.
There’s no word on why NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell dispatched Mary Mary to the parking lot for their lackluster rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
“Anyone else feeling a bit disrespected they have Mary Mary singing the Black National Anthem outside the stadium,” one critic wrote. “Public relations didn’t think about the optics.”
“Why y’all got Mary Mary singing the Black National anthem outside of the stadium? That was totally disrespectful , and not knowing y’all going through discrimination toward black coaches. Who idea was this,” another angry viewer wrote.
Another NFL fan said, “Call me crazy — not sure a separate but equal national anthem for black people before the game is sending the right message. Especially when the singers are in a parking lot outside the stadium and no one knows the words.”
And others were wording why the NFL did not provide performances for the Asian-American national anthem, the Hispanic-American national anthem and the Native American national anthem.
And still others wondered why we can’t just be content with the Star-Spangled Banner?
Really needed a fist in the air here, but way to go Inglewood’s own Mary Mary with the pre game Lift Every Voice… National Black Anthem. pic.twitter.com/QvUf740iCb
— Stephanie Frederic (@stepfredla) February 13, 2022
Sooo Mary Mary had to sing Black National Anthem OUTSIDE the stadium? #NFL PR didn’t think about those optics? #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/iXFoIwwiO3
— Candie A. Mitchell-Price (@yourprdiva) February 13, 2022
Now the @NFL knew damn good and well that they were foul for having Mary Mary sing the BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM outside of the stadium. Like, EXCUSE ME!!!! #SuperBowl
— Barbara, This is Shirley… (@MelanatedAuntie) February 13, 2022
Anyone else feeling a bit disrespected they have Mary Mary singing the Black National Anthem outside the stadium?!
— GiGi. (@_gxannx) February 13, 2022