The Great American Game, an essay by Professor Kendrick Lamar
I honestly didn’t care much about the Super Bowl this year. I love watching football, but I wasn’t invested in who won; I was there for the entertainment. I was hooked the second the pre-show started and sat in awe of the artistry and the messages that came from each performance that set the stage for the perfect half-time show, which powerfully addressed the times we face today.
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” has always been one of my favorite hymns. It’s powerful and deeply rooted in a tradition of standing up against oppression. Many of you know it’s referred to as the Black Anthem. To have that song start the show with an amazing artist and a choir of 125 Black New Orleans students in yellow robes celebrating the song’s 125th anniversary was powerful and moving. It set a tone celebrating Black culture and artistry that ran throughout the game with the highlight of Kendrick Lamar’s incredible and powerful half-time show.
The New Orleans flavor throughout gave both the political cover and the “excuse” to send a powerful message. It was quickly clear that every part of this experience was brilliantly planned and executed. It was a bold statement of resistance to fascism and oppression. From “Lift Every Voice and Sing” to “America the Beautiful,” sung by Lauren Daigle and Trombone Shorty with a bluesy New Orleans style, and Jon Batiste, changing up The National Anthem just enough to make it his, the artists took ownership of the songs and sent a powerful message about the heart of who America really is.
Then the halftime show started. I sat listening and watching carefully, knowing that I was missing most of the details, but the overall message was clear. Starting with Samuel L. Jackson and his opening line: “Salutations, it's your uncle… Sam, and this is the great American game.” Samuel L. Jackson replacing the old tired “Uncle Sam” was both new and mocking, with references to Uncle Tom. The warnings “Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game?” took on a whole new meaning as he “warned” Kendrick Lamar about how to appear to be accepted so he could “play the great American game.” Suddenly, the game was no longer about football but the struggle to be accepted or just stay alive in a white America. There were layers upon layers of messages and symbolism throughout the show. A few favorites of mine include Serena Williams’ dance, “The Right Time, The Wrong Guy,” and the flag created by Black men in red, white and blue prison uniforms with Kendrick literally in the middle of the divide. If you want more there are some great podcasts and articles about the messages, the imagery and the below-the-line story.
Kalika Curry, Executive Director of Eastside Pathways and LE Alum, points out the need to be “aware of what is being hidden in plain sight that those working in adaptive leadership must actively seek to learn about and understand in order to be effective in their change efforts.”
In times of great oppression and fascism, art plays a role that can send messages beyond what politicians and rallies can. This is such a powerful form of leadership, reminding a community of a vision for the future and the power that resides within. Art is a call to action and a soothing reminder of the importance of belief in a better future. I continue to be in awe of these artists (as I mentioned in January). This one was such a display of the pride of America that the Black community brings, even in a time when they are being told their skin makes them “less than.” I really don’t want to go back to the protests of the 60’s (not that the fight began or ended there), however I still hold tight to the music and the art that led the civil rights and anti-war movements and continues today. These moments will continue into the future as a critical rallying cry.
In a time when we hear about the attempted abolishment of all things equity and the erasure of key recognition for our LGTBQIA+ community, the 2025 Super Bowl was a moment of lift for us all!
