Why Don’t It Make You Feel Guilty, Gladys?

Singing legend Gladys Knight values money more than Black lives. Knight plans to perform at the Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta. She’s got every right to get her coins. But, why does Knight want coins from NFL owners clearly confusing stadiums with plantations? Knight justified her decision this way.

“I am here today and on Sunday, Feb. 3 to give the anthem back its voice, to stand for that historic choice of words, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free it from the same prejudices and struggles I have fought long and hard for all my life, from walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good — I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country’s anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII,” she said.

So, Knight passionately believes she’ll vanquish the division, homophobia, racism, sexism, and xenophobia rampant in the nation by singing the Star-Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl. If that were possible, Whitney Houston would’ve eradicated those scourges in 1991 at Super Bowl XXV in Tampa. Knight’s statement has a “don’t talk back to your elders” vibe.

If she’s in the battle longer than many of her critics, calling out her critics wasn’t enough. Knight even came for someone who hadn’t sent for her — Colin Kaepernick.

“I understand that Mr. Kaepernick is protesting two things, and they are police violence and injustice,” Knight said in a Variety interview. “It is unfortunate that our national anthem has been dragged into this debate when the distinctive senses of the national anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone.”

Here’s the thing, the Star Spangled Banner which doesn’t stand for justice. A slave owner wrote it to celebrate one group of White people’s victory over another group of White people. The third verse, which some people pretend doesn’t exist, celebrates the bloodshed of slaves fighting for the British.

Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave

Is it me or can you hear the wailing and gnashing of Kaepernick-haters too? No, players aren’t slaves. Far from it. They’re bringing home millions. Apparently, keeping quiet about injustice and participating in a paid patriotic dog-and-pony show guarantees the money keeps rolling. Doing so also seems to guarantee whether one can get hired.

Before 2009, NFL teams stayed in the locker room during the National Anthem. Teams began receiving kickbacks from the U.S. Department of Defense for patriotic tributes.

By taking this gig, Knight has transformed herself from a legend to NFL’s paid “one Black friend.” Her ancestors — and mine — bled and died to ensure “all men are created equal” wasn’t just a phrase. They bled and died to make sure that women of color were considered equal too. Cashing the NFL’s check dishonors them.

Letting the NFL use her as a Black band-aid to cover the Black community’s wounds isn’t helpful. Her decision begs one question: Why doesn’t it make you feel guilty, Gladys?