September 2024 NFL advertisement Super Bowl declared Kentrick Lamar as a semi -time actor.
“Will you pull up? I believe, ”he says, he inserted the upcoming look One of the largest stages in the worldCultural stocks there are as much as athletics. “Even if you look out of the house, wear your best dress.”
Classic Kenttric of normal and trigger.
World -renowned Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winner artistLamar stands in his own league. His criticism of ethnic injustices, formal inequality, and exploitation of black culture made him a border-awareness artist and a cultural visionary observer.
My task examines how the race and racism are built, represented and challenged in the mass media. Especially in news, music and sports. I think the complex history of the NFL with social justice makes his participation even significant.
Since there is sufficient discographic comprehensive to eclipse the time restrictions of the game on Sunday, I am eager to see if Lamar will weave his song’s masterpiece in a performance that will entertain the audience and challenge.
Sports, politics and setback
The game is always politicsDespite the continued calls to keep the politics out of the game.
The tradition of playing Anthem An example before sports events: The song acts as a call for patriotism, rooting in wartime mourning.
Then there are unplanned actions of players and fans’ demonstrations. Whenever professional athletes go on strikeThis is politics. When fans reveal banners In support of the Palestinians, this is politics.
From Tommi Smith and John Carlos’s Fist-Rising In the 1968 Olympics with unity with black communities during the Civil Rights Movement Muhammad Ali refused to fight in the Vietnam War,, to, to Colin Kabernic kneeling against police brutalityAthletes used their sites for a long time to face injustice and challenge the rules.
Still, anti -acts Often trigger the setbackNFL The police tried to make the political speech.
The Capricorn Demonstrations prompted a national debate on patriotism and the exact nature of opposition in the field of sports. At the same time, NFL owners Effectively put him on the barrier list From the league.
Nick Posa fined defensive with 49 players Violation of a rule that prohibits soldiers From wearing clothes that convey “personal messages” when he is Wore its river During a post game interview in 2024. Meanwhile, there are NFL owners Donated millions to presidential campaignsMost of those contributions Republican candidates.
An artist and enthusiast
The Super Bowl half -time show is more than a musical gap for a long time. This is a platform Cultural and political currents combine.
When Beionus’s 2016 appearance Along with the headliner Bruno Mars, he paid homage to Black Panthers, Malcolm X and Black Lives Movement. The action of U2 During 2002, Super Bowl withdrew from 9/11 terrorist attacks and gave a moment of collective grief and confidence for a country. Most recently, Dr. Treas 2022 Performance Celebrated Hip-hop From a marginalized type to a dominant cultural force. Eminem participated in that performance, Took a knee on the platform To criticize NFL treatment for black athletes and enthusiasts.
For me, Lamar’s super -bowl origin indicates a wider calculation of how the NFL handles the tension between politics and corporate entertainment.
This is because the artistry of Kentrick Lamar is more than music. This is the activity.
From his Grammy Award -winning album “To pimp a butterfly“Source, Internal, Pulitzer Prize -winning album”Damn.“Lamar continued to face the themes of proper repression, ethnic injustice and black life in the United States.
Such tracks ”DNA”Is the hopeless celebrations of blackness and generation of regression:
I got loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA
Quarter piece, got war and peace inside my DNA
I got power, poison, pain and joy inside my DNA
I got hustle, though, ambition flow inside my DNA
“The Black The BerryExplies the problems of black sign and formal racism:
I said they treat me like a slave, cah me Black
Woi, we feel whole heap of pain cah we Black
And man a say they put me inna chains cah we Black
And “XXX.Greed in the center of American life faces greed, violence and hypocrisy.
Hail Mary, Jesus and Joseph
The great American flag
Is wrapped and dragged with explosives
Compulsive disorder, sons and daughters
Barricaded blocks and borders, look what you taught us
It's murder on my street
Your street, back streets, Wall Street
Unlike many major artists, Lamar seems to have passed the subtle balance between business success and politically charged content. His genius is in the ability to write songs That exceeds that race, gender and class.
At a time of catching nation efforts Eliminate diversity, stock and adding proceduresOvarian And as corporate force Without being verified, the presence of conversations on race and inequality.
Lamar never hesitated to face uncomfortable facts through his music. He has a unique opportunity to combine art, activity and criticism of the nation. I expect this moment is no exception.
Will you pull up? I will do.
Christina L. MeersThe Assistant Professor of the press, Michigan State University. This article is re -published Conversation Under the Creative Commons License. Read Original article.
