Kendrick Lamar brought the fire at this year’s Super Bowl, delivering a powerful performance that was as Black and subversive as possible. From choreography to fashion, everything about the show evoked memorable cultural moments.
The overt reference to the Korean hit show “Squid Game” highlighted the deadly game of survival in America, which our modern gladiators – football players – play to grab territory from other teams. Lamar’s performance was particularly striking with Black dancers clad in red, white and blue wearing various versions of Black-coded dress.
Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam was a highlight, playing off his 2012 role as a house slave who tries to control Blackness in White spaces. His performance included a nod to Kamala Harris, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and a challenge to Drake, whom Lamar had previously dissed.
The most powerful moment came when the dancers formed a U.S. flag formation with Lamar at the center, raising their fists in a Black Power salute reminiscent of Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ iconic 1968 Olympics gesture. This callback was timely, considering President Trump’s assault on DEI policies. The performance served as a reminder that civil rights progress should never be taken for granted in America.
In the post-Kaepernick era, what can we expect from Black performers at the Super Bowl? Lamar has not yet challenged the new power structure in Washington, and without artists willing to take risks, the revolution will not come from today’s celebrities. It will come from us.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/02/10/kendrick-lamar-super-bowl-black-message