Black national anthem divides fans before NFL Draft

Before the Tennessee Titans officially selected Cam Ward with the No. 1 prime of the NFL Draft connected Thursday night, the Black nationalist anthem was performed connected signifier successful Green Bay.

The James Weldon Johnson Foundation’s "National Hymn Choir" sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing." NFL fans waiting for the draught to statesman took it each successful earlier NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Green Bay Packers greats and Lil’ Wayne came retired connected stage.

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The signifier earlier the 2025 NFL Draft astatine Lambeau Field. ( Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Social media were near bewildered by the rendition.

The Black nationalist anthem has been a mainstay for NFL events since the 2020 season, pursuing a summertime of radical tensions crossed the U.S. The opus has been performed astatine Super Bowls and draught events.

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The main signifier earlier the NFL Draft astatine Lambeau Field. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Ledisi, a Grammy Award-winning vocalist and songwriter, performed the opus earlier Super Bowl LIX earlier the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.

The NAACP began to beforehand "Lift Every Voice and Sing" arsenic the Black nationalist anthem successful 1917.

Ward was the No. 1 prime successful the draught aft a coagulated show with the Miami Hurricanes successful his last play successful college. The Jacksonville Jaguars past traded up with the Cleveland Browns to prime Travis Hunter.

Miami Hurricanes backmost Cameron Ward holds the jersey connected signifier aft being selected by the Tennessee Titans arsenic the number-one prime successful the archetypal circular of the 2025 NFL Draft astatine Lambeau Field. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

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The New York Giants selected Abdul Carter, and the New England Patriots took Will Campbell. The Browns decided to instrumentality Mason Graham to circular retired the apical five.

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