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By Maya Mackey
On Feb. 9, for the second time in three years, two Black quarterbacks went head to head in the Superbowl. However, the nuance of Superbowl LIX (59) is that the Chiefs franchise was marred by suggestions that some team players and family members support Trump. The Eagles, on the other hand, made no such declaration.
The Philadelphia Eagles, led by Jalen Hurts, pummeled the Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the first half of the game. The Chiefs finally put up a fight after halftime, but it was too little, too late. The Eagles came out victorious in the end with a score of 40 -22.
And then of course, there was the scathing critique of modern America given by rapper Kendrick Lamar during the Pepsi HalfTime Show. Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as “Uncle Sam,” weaved the choreography of Kendrick and his dancers with socio-political commentary. The political cartoon character, symbolic of American values, warned Kendrick to “play the game” of being silent and apolitical because “This is what America likes. Nice. Calm.” Samuel. L. also warned Kendrick that his song choices were “too loud, too ghetto.”
The obvious satire exposed just how divided White and Black America are. For decades, halftime shows were performed by white musicians and celebrated as the standard of American entertainment. Since Jay-Z became director of the Pepsi Halftime Show in 2019, there have been complaints every year about the show “excluding” the Super Bowl audience (meaning White football fans). People of Color have had to sit through decades of unappealing music during the Super Bowl, but as always, when the shoe is on the other foot, it’s considered a culture “crisis.”
Other poignant symbolism during Kenrick’s performance included an exclusive crew of Black men choreographed to make up the American Flag and Crip-walking by none other than Serena Williams to the tune of “Not like Us.” A dancer raised the Palestinian flag to cameras with Sudan and Gaza written in Black Sharpie to draw attention to the wars taking place in both countries.
This halftime show was as political as you could get, even surpassing Beyonce’s choice to adorn herself and dancers with Black Panther-inspired costumes, laced with bullets and black berets. It was an extension of her politically charged music video to “Formation,” where a little boy poised to imitate Trayvon Martin makes police put up their hands and surrender in peace.
It’s clear that the days of being apolitical at worst, and unaware at best, are over. People are drawing lines in the sand as America’s democracy is in question. Nazi-ism is on the rise as we inch towards an Oligarchy, where a handful of billionaires decide how the government works. It’s madness and it would behoove us to re-educate ourselves and reach out to mentor and educate the children and youth because we are all we’ve got. Under Trump’s presidency, ignorance will no longer be bliss.
