I guess the NBA didn’t take notes from the NFL social justice failures. Some NBA teams have played a so-called ‘Negro National Anthem’ during the first quarter of games.
Several NBA teams have played what is known as the “negro national anthem” at games during Black History Month thanks in part to the urging of a retired Howard University professor.
Eugene Williams, a 76-year-old retiree in Clinton, Maryland, has made it his goal to get professional and collegiate teams to play “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during February. He has been calling and writing teams for the past six months.
The Washington Wizards became the fourth NBA team to play the song at a game, doing so during a timeout midway through the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. As the song played, a video was shown with on-court highlights and Wizards players engaging in community activities.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder played it in January, Williams said. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Warriors played “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in February.
Williams attended the Warriors-Wizards game on the last day of Black History Month to hear the song played.
“I had no idea it would amount to all of this,” Williams said.
He plans to keep advocating for more NBA teams to play the song during Black History Month. He is also reaching out to universities to include the song during games, having already heard it at Georgetown University games.
“My mission will be completed if it’s done in stadiums all over the United States of America,” Williams said. “That is my hope. That is my prayer. It will make our players feel more positive about themselves and about the game … it will uplift their spirits as it does mine.”
My issue with this is the language used and what it might represent. If we are trying to eliminate racism in our country claiming something is for only people of a certain color is beyond ridiculous. We also have an issue with them calling this a National Anthem. This is not a National Anthem. America only has one National Anthem and it is sung before every sporting event and it should stay that way. I have no problem with this song. My problem is declaring this in any way a National Anthem.
