Singing the "Unofficial Black National Anthem" at the Superbowl: A Return to "Separate But Equal?"
The Superbowl is an American institution. It produces warm, sentimental feelings akin to Mom's hot apple pie, Thanksgiving dinner and the Fourth of July because it is an American institution, a unifying event for football fans and Americans of all stripes. And colors. The Superbowl is watched by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, not just Americans, thanks to cable and satellite television and smartphones. Because of this, advertisers pay millions of dollars for a thirty-second time slot during the game. It also produces land-office business for the bars and restaurants with wide-screen television sets tuned into the game, complete with football pools and free food, usually consisting of pizza and chicken wings, for customers who don't want to watch the game at their homes. After the introductions and before the game begins, America's national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner" is sung, usually by a celebrity. "The Star Spangled Banner" is the OFF