NFL To Play Black National Anthem Before Games In First Week Of Season: Report
The National Football League has some plans for the next season that may turn off fans rather than bring the viewers home. According to a new credible report from ESPN the league wants to demonstrate “a genuine commitment to the public, players, and coaches and that player voices continue to be heard.”
“This is key to educating fans, and becoming a prominent voice in the fight to end racism,” a source in the NFL said about the league’s plans.
To that aim, the league will donate over $250 million in the next ten years to social justice causes and they plan to play the Black National Anthem before games in the first week of the season.
ESPN reports:
“Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing,” traditionally known as the Black national anthem, is expected to be performed live or played before every Week 1 NFL game, and the league is considering a variety of other measures during the upcoming season to recognize victims of police brutality, a source familiar with the league’s discussions told The Undefeated on Thursday.
The song would be performed before “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the source said. The NFL’s season opener is scheduled for Sept. 10, with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans.
Having recently displayed increased awareness about the problems of systemic racism, the NFL, in collaboration with the NFL Players Association, is also considering listing the names of victims on uniforms through decals on helmets or patches on jerseys. The NFL also may produce educational programs about victims, among other plans.
From The Daily Mail:
The source said the league is also considering producing educational programs about police brutality victims, among other plans.
Front Office Sports – which broke the story about the black national anthem being played before games on Wednesday – said the NFL plans to make it a ‘prominent part of big league events’.
The outlet reported that it could be played before primetime games, the Super Bowl and the NFL draft, in addition to Week 1 games.
The NFL has recently displayed increased awareness over racism after years of criticism, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitting the league was wrong in how it approached NFL player protesting police brutality over the past few years.
In a one-minute, 21-second video uploaded to Goodell’s Twitter account last month, the NFL commissioner condemned racism, pledging his allegiance to equal justice for players and affirming that black lives do matter.
‘We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people,’ Goodell said.
‘We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all players to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the National Football League, believe that black lives matter.’
Goodell continued by saying he would begin connecting with players who are making their voices heard.
‘Without black players, there would be no National Football League, and the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence, inequality and oppression of black players, coaches, fans and staff,’ he said.
Goodell released the video as a response to requests made by more than a dozen star players, quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes Deshaun Watson.
NFL announces they will play the 'black national anthem' BEFORE the Star Spangled Banner https://t.co/GiqNT0oDiY
— Dubious Poso (@JackPosobiec) July 16, 2021