The NFL will play “Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing,” otherwise known as the Black national anthem, before every Week 1 game.
According to Jason Reid of The Undefeated, the NFL will play “Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing,” otherwise known as the Black national anthem, before every Week 1 game.
The song would be performed before the Star-Spangled Banner, and would, of course, be heard prior to the New York Jets‘ Week 1 matchup with the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, NY.
The decision comes on the heels of a turbulent month in society that has brushed elbows with Roger Goodell and the National Football League. George Floyd‘s death was a catalyst to bring Colin Kaepernick‘s controversial decision to kneel during the National Anthem back into the forefront of societal topics.
Goodell and the NFL maintained that it stood by the players, many of whom contributed to a video the intentionally put pressure on the league to stand against racism and support Black lives matter.
Goodell admitted fault in how the league handled the kneeling stance during the anthem years back and committed to fighting the issues at hand. The league even went as far as to promise to donate $250 million over a 10-year period.
