It appears that the protest against the NFL in support of Colin Kaepernick and other athletes who’ve taken a knee during the national anthem as a symbol of protest against racial injustice in America has been reduced to a social consciousness issue of those online and the famous, publicly shaming recording artist that have been selected by the NFL and who’ve agreed to perform at this year’s Super Bowl.
Singer Gladys Knight, 74 years old, old enough to be aware of real civil unrest, is the latest artist to be called out for agreeing to perform at Super Bowl Llll (53) scheduled for Sunday evening, Feb. 3 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.
Knight has agreed to perform the national anthem. Coincidently, Atlanta was the birthplace, home and headquarters of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the great civil rights leader who led some of this nation’s most famous demonstrations, some that have resulted in attacks by vicious police dogs, full blasts of water sprayed on protesters from firemen’s water hoses, many days spent in local jails and brutal beatings by police and their civic minded friends, neighbors and family members.
Assassinated April 4, 1968, Dr. King would have celebrated his 90th birthday this month (January), if he had lived.
Rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi from Outcast agreed to perform several weeks ago with Maroon 5, the halftime headline Super Bowl performers this year. Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill and Cardi B declined to perform when they were asked.
Amid the controversy, Maroon 5 signed on in September. JAY-Z and Rhianna were asked to headline first, but turned the NFL down, and have asked other artists not to perform. Comedienne Amy Schumer joined the protest, also asking artists not to perform.
In an interview, Knight, old enough to remember the Chitlin’ Circuit, performance venues throughout the United States that only Black entertainers played, a seven-time Grammy winner and an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, also born in Atlanta, talked about her hope of the national anthem unifying us all and how she’s fought all of her life, “from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good.”
Knight stated, “I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions, to win the right to sing our country’s anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII.”
The problem with asking Knight, Maroon 5, who has a Black band member, Scott, Big Boi and any other musicians not to perform is that there are Black players and sympathizers on both teams that will be playing. Their teams have Black coaches and support staff who will be coaching, working.
There’s usually at least one Black referee in the officiating crew and on the field staff. A number of Black employees on the stadium’s staff will be working on the field, in the stands, at the gates, in the parking lots, at the concession stands, in security, in hospitality, in maintenance and in management positions. There might even be Black-owned companies hired for the event. The NFL, their broadcast partners, broadcast teams, journalists, public relation reps and probably, hopefully, the sponsors have Black personnel in their employ also there working.
Even former Black players and current ones not participating in the game will be there. Some hanging out, invited. Some as representatives of sponsors, others working as media members.
Dr. King once said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” And that includes issues of social consciousness. But if all parties concerned, especially the players, are not boycotting, complaining, taking a knee, showing some degree of militancy, protesting on their behalf, is it fair to ask and expect artist to not perform?
