MAGA Is Fuming Over The Black National Anthem At Super Bowl 2026 — And It Says A Lot

Super Bowl 2026 saw traditional pre-game ceremonies spark immediate political controversy after acclaimed R&B singer Coco Jones performed a powerful rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” While the hymn’s inclusion has become standard at major NFL events since 2020, its presence once again ignited intense backlash across conservative media and social platforms.

The distress primarily centered on right-wing figures and accounts identifying with the MAGA movement, who argued that incorporating the hymn—often referred to as “The Black National Anthem”—is divisive and detracts from the singular focus on “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Online platforms trended terms like “racial segregation” and “unnecessary wokeness” throughout the day, with numerous high-profile commentators demanding that the NFL cease the practice entirely, stating that only one national anthem should be recognized.

However, cultural experts and Black historians quickly weighed in, suggesting that the passionate resistance to the performance itself revealed a deeper misunderstanding of American history and the function of national symbols. Dr. Lena Hayes, a professor specializing in American cultural identity, noted that the backlash proves the necessity of the hymn’s inclusion.

“The song is a foundational piece of American protest and resilience, written by James Weldon Johnson during the height of the Jim Crow era,” Dr. Hayes explained. “The furious reaction to a song about liberty, written by Americans and performed alongside the main anthem, speaks volumes about whose history is perceived as ‘national’ and whose is still seen as ‘separate’ or illegitimate in modern celebratory spaces.”

“Lift Every Voice and Sing” was officially incorporated into Super Bowl pre-game festivities following major racial justice movements in 2020, signaling the NFL’s commitment to addressing systemic issues. The Super Bowl 2026 performance underscores the ongoing friction between efforts to diversify and expand national celebratory symbols and persistent conservative resistance to these cultural shifts.