The performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," often referred to as the 'Black National Anthem,' before the NFL season opener in Seattle on Wednesday night has ignited a debate among fans on social media. The song was performed by Washington natives, The Mwango Sisters, whose rendition was met with applause from the stadium crowd.
However, opinions expressed online showed a significant split. Many viewers questioned the continued practice of performing the song before major sporting events. "We're still doing Life Every Voice in 2026? Why?" one user wrote, while another stated, "Enough with the Lift Every Voice garbage." A common sentiment was that "The USA has one national anthem and that is not it."
Conversely, many fans praised the performance, with some describing the vocals as "beautiful." One social media user shared, "So moved by the Lift Every Voice just now. Bawling my eyes out over here."
While not a fixture at every game, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" has become a recurring element in NFL pre-game ceremonies, having been performed at recent events like the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft.
Some viewers also noted that the television broadcast focused on fans in the stands who appeared unengaged or uncomfortable during the performance. "The broadcast only putting white people who either aren’t paying attention or look uncomfortable on camera during Lift Every Voice and Sing is sending me," one viewer commented.
The NFL introduced pre-game performances of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at the start of the 2020 season. This decision followed the racial justice protests that occurred in the wake of George Floyd's murder. The song was performed before all 16 Week 1 games that season, and the league has continued to incorporate it into its events on a regular basis since then.