Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” a song often called the Black national anthem, was sung before the Super Bowl for the fifth year in a row Sunday.

Before 'The Star Spangled Banner' was the national anthem, 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' was the Black national anthem. This year, it turns 125

James Weldon Johnson initially wrote it as a poem a year earlier, and his brother John Rosamond Johnson composed the music. It would soon be adopted by the NAACP as its official song.Today “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” is one of the most acclaimed songs of the African American Civil Rights movement and is often hailed as the Black National Anthem.

Watch Jon Batiste perform the National Anthem at Super Bowl 2025. Batiste's singing of "The Spar-Spangled Banner" was met with tears.

A song often referred to as the Black national anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," will be performed by local artist Ledisi at Sunday's Super Bowl in New Orleans, the fifth year it has featured in the National Football League championship game.

The MAGA contingent and prominent right-wing commentators were outraged at the inclusion of the Black national anthem at the Super Bowl. Newsweek has reached out to a representative for the NFL outside of regular working hours via email for comment.

Jon Batiste’s Super Bowl performance was a hit for all the right reasons: he debuted new music and delivered a creative rendition “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Batiste also honored his wife by putting a spotlight on her unique talent.