CULTURE

Why Some People Are Angry When Black Culture Takes Center Stage

Those accustomed to privilege see inclusion as oppression

Black performers bend their backs, form American flag | From Super Bowl Halftime Show 2025

Why does the mere presentation of black culture provoke anger and disdain? Those accustomed to privilege see inclusion as a form of oppression. Take, for instance, the backlash to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show. The Pulitzer and Grammy-award-winning hip-hop artist performed as the headliner. An array of Black singers, dancers, and surprise guests accompanied him. It’s become the most-watched U.S. broadcast since the moon landing in 1969. This surpasses viewership for Michael Jackson, the King of Pop’s half-time performance in 1993. Despite its popularity, some people feel triggered when black culture takes center stage.

Rich Tsai, a Republican politician, complained that “not a single white person” performed. Playing the “black national anthem” upset Shelby Alexander, a White woman from Pennsylvania. “The Super Bowl halftime show was so black it would leave fingerprints on coal,” a woman named Susan said. She also felt angry that “not a single Caucasian” performed during the halftime show. The NFL set the tone with their decision to remove the “end racism” sign from the field. As a result, some expected to see fewer Black performers. These comments read like…