The NFL’s penchant for darkness

By: American Decency Staff

 “Music has charms to soothe a savage beast,” wrote 17th century playwright William Congreve.

As Christians, we use “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” to worship our great God and to minister to our own souls. However just as music can soothe and inspire, it can also incite.

The later seems to be the purpose behind last Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime performance by singer, Beyonce. In addition to the fishnet stockings that passed for pants, Beyonce and her troupe of female dancers were clad in militant leather jackets and Black Panther berets – seemingly giving tribute to the violent extremist group, the Black Panthers. 

Beyonce and her cadre of dancers performed her latest song, “Formation,” in a part-hypersexual part-militant routine, as they raised their fists emulating the Black Power salute and formed a large X on the football field – purportedly in reference to the radical, racial activist Malcolm X. The publication Essence magazine confirmed that Beyonce was “paying homage to the Black Panthers”.

The Black Panthers have a long history of violence – including the murder of police officers. As explained in an article from the Daily
Signal: Taking a movement that once was known to have shootouts with the police, and even occasionally torture and murder snitches in its ranks, and then to make that movement a symbolic carrier of the “black lives matter” movement, was meant to convey a very simple message. It is now “cool” to embrace violence, mayhem, and frankly even racial separatism in the cause of civil rights.

The NFL has had a number of public relations nightmares in the last couple of years – not the least of which has been acts of violence,
often against women, by some NFL players. So it’s mindboggling that the NFL would have approved of a Super Bowl halftime routine that seems to endorse the controversial “Black Lives Matter” movement. After all, it’s the Black Lives Matter movement that has become known for chants from some protestors such as “Pigs in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon.” and “What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want it? Now!”

So it’s no wonder that many – including law enforcement agencies – are outraged by Beyonce’s halftime performance, labeling it as
anti-police. Former New York City mayor, Rudy Guiliani, stated: "I thought it was really outrageous that she used (the Super Bowl) as a
platform to attack police officers who are the people who protect her
and protect us, and keep us alive." 

And Milwaukee County sheriff David A. Clarke, himself African-American, gave his opinion of the performance: “Beyonce in
those Black Panther-type uniform – would that be acceptable if a band, a white band came out in hoods and white sheets in the same sort of fashion? We would be appalled and outraged. The Black Panthers are a subversive hate group in America.”

The music video to Beyonce’s song, “Formation,” includes images of white police officers in riot gear facing off against a black
teenager along with graffiti that reads “stop shooting us.” The video was taken down last Saturday, the day before the Super Bowl
performance.

After the Super Bowl, a picture posted on Twitter showed some of Beyonce’s dancers raising their fists in the black power salute and
holding up a sign which read “Justice for Mario Woods.” Woods was shot by police for refusing to drop a knife in 2015 – after Woods
stabbed a black man.

Yet Woods is portrayed as a victim and the police, who put their lives at risk protecting us from violence, are targeted as the enemy.
Ironically, Beyonce received the benefit of that protection as she was given a police escort into the Super Bowl.

The anger perpetuated by the messaging of Beyonce’s performance and groups such as The Black Panthers and “Black Lives Matter,” leads only to more violence and racial division. 

Let me repeat the last sentence from the Daily Signal quote above: “It is now ‘cool’ to embrace violence, mayhem, and frankly even
racial separatism in the cause of civil rights.” 

In this month celebrating Black History it is important to remember the horrible time in our nation’s history where civil rights – and
freedom – were denied to a huge segment of Americans.

However, healing won’t take place at the hands of violence. As Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently reminds us:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” … “Love is the
only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

To support our efforts please click here
<https://secure4.afo.net/ada/donate.php>
or mail your gift to American Decency Association (ADA), PO Box 202,
Fremont, MI 49412. 

American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
 

---