Weekend Roundup: Black Identity is Resistance: What the Super Bowl Revealed About Black Joy, Memory, and Visibility
Hey, Collective,
As I write this, I’m flying to Seattle for the National Association of School Psychologist (NASP) conference. I’m excited for this homecoming, especially reconnecting with my fellow Black school psychologists, a group far too underrepresented in our field. And all I can picture is us greeting one another with the Kendrick Lamar two-step. It’s about to be a time!
In the meantime, let’s dive into what’s on my mind—because, honestly, I need a distraction from this long flight. My back is screaming!
The Power of Discovery
Discovery reveals the truth beneath the spectacle. At Super Bowl LIX, the NFL erased “End Racism” while profiting from Black talent. Serena’s Crip Walk, once shamed, is now entertainment. The dance didn’t change—the gaze did. Black culture is celebrated; Black resistance is silenced. Seeing the pattern is just the start. We’re not just players—we’re rewriting the rules.
The Philadelphia Eagles—led by a Black quarterback—winning the Super Bowl for a city that is 43% Black, and hosted by a city that is 55% Black. And all of this unfolding during Black History Month. Meanwhile, the NFL quietly removed the “End Racism” from its end zones, replacing it with “Choose Love” and “It Takes All of Us.”
Each of these moments asks us to confront the contradictions of Black visibility—where Black excellence is celebrated in some spaces and policed in others.
Consider this: in 2023, over 53% of NFL players were Black. Yet, certain positions—like quarterback and kicker/punter—have remained overwhelmingly white since 1960.
And then, there was the artistic performances:
Ledisi reclaiming “The Black National Anthem” with a soul-stirring rendition
Jon Batiste lending his voice to the “Star-Spangled Banner,” reclaiming a song long used to exclude
Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle performed “America the Beautiful”
Kendrick Lamar orchestrating a performance rooted in unapologetic Blackness
Serena Williams crip walking on the world’s biggest stage
“12 years ago, this dance almost cost her reputation. Last night at the Super Bowl, it made her a legend.” —Kasey Brown
These performances were more than entertainment—they were acts of critical public pedagogy, shaping collective consciousness and identity. They became a stage for an unspoken dialogue between mainstream consumption, the dominant gaze, the politics of belonging, and Black artistic resistance, revealing how popular culture functions as both a tool of control and a vehicle for liberation.
Curiosity Questions for Reflection:
Where have I seen Black culture celebrated but Black voices silenced?
How does mainstream acceptance shift the meaning of Black expression?
What stories of Black joy and resistance need to be reclaimed?
The Power of Discernment
Discernment helps us see beyond the moment—to the structures beneath it. Lamar’s halftime show celebrated unapologetic Blackness, yet critiques remind us: Not all visibility is empowerment. Who controls the stage? Who benefits from the spectacle? By questioning what is presented as “progress,” we reclaim the power to define what liberation actually looks like.
The “Star-Spangled Banner” has long been a site of contradiction for Black artists—both a platform and a paradox. Jimi Hendrix distorted it into a protest, while Whitney Houston’s soaring rendition remains one of the most celebrated in history. Each performance reshaped the national narrative, navigating the tension between patriotism and protest.
This year, Ledisi’s stirring rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” added another layer to this legacy. The song, introduced to the Super Bowl in 2021 amid a so-called racial reckoning, stands in contrast to the anthem Black artists have long been asked to elevate. Given the space, Black voices don’t just reinterpret tradition—they redefine it on their own terms.
Lamar’s halftime show continued this redefinition, drawing from a rich legacy of Black history, politics, and aesthetics—echoing themes of liberation, oppression, and resilience. Every detail—the visuals, the lyricism, the presence of Black bodies—carried a coded message, a call to remember who we are and what we’ve endured. More than entertainment, his performance was an assertion of identity, power, and historical memory, woven into the fabric of American popular culture.
Kahlil Greene breaks down six key elements of the performance that made it a powerful cultural critique:
Samuel L. Jackson’s presence as Uncle Sam – framing Kendrick’s performance as a commentary on America’s rigged game
Life as a video game – the PlayStation-inspired stage symbolizes how Black people are forced to “play the game” under rules designed for them to lose
The GNX Clown Car – a biting critique of the absurdity and chaos of America’s treatment of Black people, reinforcing the theme that the nation itself is a rigged spectacle
Reversing “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” – Kendrick’s act of defiance flips the meaning, proving that revolution can be seen on the world’s biggest stage
Serena Williams’ Crip Walk – a moment of joy and rebellion, reclaiming Black cultural expression in a space that once shamed it
Not Like Us – the ultimate power move, using the most-watched event of the year to call out inauthenticity and demand respect
Yet, not everyone saw the performance as an act of resistance. Eb’s critique, co-host of Hoodrat to Headwrap, of Kendrick’s halftime show offers another lens:
“You a conscious rapper but you not conscious that the NFL is modern-day slavery? As Black storytellers, is it not our duty to tell the stories but also protect the histories from outside agitators?”
This raises an important question: When do Black artists reclaim spaces, and when do they risk commodifying their own resistance?
Curiosity Questions for Reflection:
How do you resist and reframe the dominant discourse in how you consume Black artistry?
What does it mean to hold space for Black voices without demanding performance?
What tensions arise when corporate sponsorship intersects with Black radical aesthetics?
The Power of Determination
Determination is about building beyond spectacle and pushing for systemic change. This moment isn’t just about music or sports—it’s about the systems that shape who gets to be seen, heard, and valued. But joy is not enough. Visibility isn’t victory. True freedom means we aren’t just seen—we set the terms for how we exist.
“Why does this freedom only exist in certain spaces? And what are we doing to change that?” —Kasey Brown
When Serena crip walked at Wimbledon, she was met with outrage.
When Beyoncé released a country album, critics questioned her belonging.
When Black people take up space in ways that defy expectation, they are ridiculed, silenced, or erased. Remember Collin Kaepernick?
But the truth is clear: Black identity is a form of resistance. Our art, our movement, our sound—it is unapologetic, unstoppable, and necessary for our liberation.
Curiosity Questions for Reflection:
How can I create spaces where Black joy is not policed, but protected?
How can I move beyond cultural consumption to actively engage in shaping collective memory and cultural reclamation?
What structures need to change so Black women can be as free in the boardroom as they are on the dance floor?
Closing Reflection: The Future is Ours to Shape
Lamar’s halftime show was more than just a musical spectacle—it was a living, breathing embodiment of Black narrative power. The response to this moment reaffirms my work: digital and cultural spaces are sites of learning, resistance, and identity formation.
If we want a world where Black women don’t have to shrink, we must:
Create spaces that allow Black voices to thrive
Center Black narratives beyond moments of spectacle
Disrupt the systems that demand we modify our brilliance to fit a mold
If you are a Black women and are yearning for this type of space, I offer you the 3D Power Collective. Please complete the Needs Assessment to support this movement and amplify your voice on what it is you need to support your journey to honor your brilliance.
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In solidarity, action, and love,
Amber
