Most people do not know the history of playing the national anthem at sports events – it was done as a marketing strategy to tie sports to patriotism. I’ve written about this in the past – and it’s worth a read today: Why do we play the national anthem at sports events? – Social Panic (coldstreams.com)
I do not watch Super Bowls but have seen on social media much controversy about a “Black National Anthem” performance.
The whole point of performing the national anthem at sports events – and almost exclusively some sports events but not all, and seldom at non-sports events – was begun as a marketing program. Today it is bizarre – and mostly played at pro sports events, and high school football games (but not other high school sports because they don’t get a marching band or pep band). Please read the above to see how silly this is.
More here: Why do we play the national anthem at sports events? – Social Panic (coldstreams.com)
