The day after the Super Bowl is always an interesting time to visit social media. From armchair quarterbacks critiquing every play, die-hard football fans trying to convince everyone that there was a bias against their team and those who simply watch the game for the halftime performance and the commercials, it is not difficult to find strong opinions on the internet.
This year was no different. While people were excited (or extremely disappointed) by the Eagles’ sweep of the Chiefs, it was Kendrick Lamar’s half time performance which had many closeted racists removing their filters and speaking loudly.
“It was boring.”
“I couldn’t understand a thing he said.”
“What was that even about?!”
“It was racist! There were zero white people in that show!”
For some, the mere presence of Lamar and his team of entertainers was enough to make some white viewers raise their eyebrows and wonder why, with the recent political turn in America, we were showcasing someone “culturally irrelevant.” However, this is where white people need to stop talking, sit down and say to themselves, “I was not the intended audience for this show.” By doing this we can lean-in, choosing to learn and gain more understanding.
Racist commentary aside, what most white viewers failed to capture was that this half time show was incredibly symbolic and layered with meaning. This realization is not a surprise to Kendrick Lamar’s millions of fans. Not only is Lamar considered one of the most influential forces in hip-hop and rap music, he was also awarded a Pulitzer Prize at the age of 37 for his 2018 album, ‘DAMN’. Having received 22 Grammys throughout his career, he is the third most distinguished rapper in the history of the prestigious award. He is clearly a talented writer and performer.
Now, let’s discuss that Super Bowl performance.
The show opened with Samuel L. Jackson dressed up as the iconic Uncle Sam: the ultimate symbol of all things American and patriotic. This appearance raised a few eyebrows as Uncle Sam is typically portrayed as an old, white man. It’s also worth remembering that Jackson endorsed Kamala Harris in her 2024 Presidential campaign. Both things could be construed as a silent, symbolic protest, not only to systemic racism in America, but to the presence of President Trump who was sitting in the audience.
It wasn’t enough that a Black man was dressed up as Uncle Sam, however. Jackson spoke directly to the performers, telling them how they ought to “play the game.” Making commentaries that they need to “tighten up” the performance. He warned them not to be “too loud, too reckless or too ghetto.” It was most definitely a reference to the tone-policing and criticism which Black people (especially entertainers) face daily.
Other noticeable symbols of note in this performance included dancers dressed in red, white and blue while dancing in a formation of the American Flag. While this was incredibly pleasing visually, there were even more layers to it than simple patriotic optics. First, in recent years the Republican Party commandeered the American Flag as “their” flag. From flags on their lapels to fashioning it into all sorts of attire, it was a not-so-quiet way for them to show “true patriotism”. In Lamar’s half time performance, he was taking BACK the image of the American Flag as something for our entire nation, specifically Black Americans, to claim as our own. Even more? Lamar stood in the middle of this “flag” as it separated into two pieces. This was heavily symbolic of a nation which has become increasingly divided.
Other images in this performance were: Dancers dressed similarly to characters from the Netflix show ‘Squid Games’ (a fictional show where rich elites force poor citizens to compete to the death in order to win for prize money –a symbol of the haves vs. the have nots in America); the game controller and message of “game over” in the stands, symbolizing that life is just a game we are playing and that Black America is expected to play by white America’s rules; and the many call-outs to Drake and the ongoing feud Lamar has with him (not necessarily racially charged, but still great to call out!).
The final symbolism to mention featured tennis great, Serena Williams. For those who are unaware, back in 2012 (when Williams won Wimbledon) she celebrated by “Crip Walking” (a dance popular among Black people living in Los Angeles area). There was an immediate backlash as people accused her of glorifying gang violence. Crip Walking can be considered a call to the Crips, a gang in Compton, where Williams is from. However, it was simply a way for her to pay homage to her roots. Lamar brought Williams, a fellow Black person from Compton, back onto to the stage to perform her celebration in front of the record 127.7 million Super Bowl viewers. In that moment, Lamar enabled the tennis great her time to shine again and allowed for a big “screw you” to those who marred the joy and celebration of her Wimbledon triumph all those years ago.
This Pulitzer Prize-winner and Grammy great Kendrick Lamar’s amazing halftime performance will go down as one of the most brilliantly symbolic performances in Super Bowl history. At the beginning of Black History month, attended by a President who vowed to eradicate DEIA language in government offices (including public education), Kendrick Lamar was brave enough to stand up and speak out on one of our country’s biggest stage.