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Alicia Keys branded 'Black supremacist' after singing Black National Anthem at Super Bowl LV 2021

The 40-year-old singer was slammed on social media and was even labelled as a black supremacist after she sang the Black National Anthem at this year’s biggest sporting event

The 55th edition of the Super Bowl finally kicked off in Tampa, Florida, at Raymond James Stadium on February 7, 2021, with controversy as Alicia Keys raised many eyebrows as she crooned the unofficial Black National Anthem. Before Jazmine Sullivan and Eric Church's National Anthem, the Grammy award-winning singer took the Internet by surprise when she sang  ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing.’

The 40-year-old singer was slammed on social media and was even labeled as a “Black supremacist” after she sang the Black National Anthem at this year’s biggest sporting event. A special MV was broadcasted on CBS where we saw Alicia showing her exceptional singing skills for the event. 

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What is the Black National Anthem?

For the unversed, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ is a hymn written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson in 1900. Five years later, his brother J Rosamond Johnson set it to music for the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday in 1905. The poem lays much importance for the Black community.

The lyrics to the hymn go:

“Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.”

According to reports, it was first performed by a choir at the segregated Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida, where Weldon Johnson was principal.

‘Alicia Keys is a Black supremacist’

A lot of social media users rushed to Twitter to drag Alicia Keys into a controversy. Speaking on the same lines, one user stated, “Why's this the year they had a Pre-Game with Agenda? Instead of one that recognizes we live in a Great & Free Country that allows us to enjoy the Super Bowl that it really is! By the way, I'm not the greatest singer, but didn't Alicia Keys sound "flat"?-Bubba in San Diego”

One blatantly went on to say, “Alicia Keys is a Black supremacist.” Catch the video here:

The next one asserted, “I don’t need the Black National Anthem played at the Super Bowl (a racist league) let alone sung and rendered horribly by the ever-palatable Alicia Keys. #SuperBowlLV #SuperBowl2021.”

One black individual supported the crooner and tweeted, “Watching the opening of the Super Bowl just watched Alicia Keys I'm Black and I'm Proud I'm saying it Loud I'm Black and I'm Proud it's nothing we can't do people I'm trying to tell you is nothing we can't do oh and how we do what we do come on now.”

Another added, “Oohhhh the NFL is Blackity Black Black Black this year!! Black nfl history, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, H.E.R., Viola Davis, Jazmine Sullivan, The Weekend. #NFL #SuperBowl2021” One user again slammed Alicia and said, “Alicia Keys is the worst.” 

Where to watch Super Bowl LV 2021?

This the third time a Super Bowl event is set to take place at this stadium and the fifth time overall in Tampa. The Raymond James Stadium can hold 65,000 people and interestingly, the number can also be expanded to 75,000 spectators. However, due to Covid-19 protocols, it is being reported that the stadium will only allow 20% of the seating capacity. 

The 2021 edition of the Super Bowl is up for a broadcast on CBS. The viewers can also watch the game and the halftime performance on the CBS All Access app. It was first NBC who was originally scheduled to broadcast the 2021 game and CBS had the 2022 Super Bowl, however, the two networks decided to swap years in order for NBC to have both the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics in 2022. The 2021 Super Bowl kicked off at 6.30 pm ET.