OPINION: The political messages in Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show

Photo via Kenny Sun/Public domain/Wikimedia Commons

Alaina Sayre and Ava Jelepis, both freshmen studying Journalism, argue that the political messaging found in the Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show by Kendrick Lamar will put it down in history as one of the most memorable .

The Super Bowl is bound to get anyone excited, football fan or not. Between the game, the ridiculous commercials, the parties and the halftime show, there is something for everyone. However, this year's Super Bowl featured a halftime show that included not only a great performance, but also a strong political message.  

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show opened with actor Samuel L. Jackson portraying the American symbol Uncle Sam. Jackson spoke to the audience, saying, “Salutations! It's your Uncle Sam, and this is the great American game.” Throughout the performance, Jackson played a key role in contributing to Lamar’s message. 

Lamar appeared on the PlayStation-shaped stage. According to Shelley Rodgers, the show’s art director, this was intended to portray Lamar’s life as a video game. “I think the [video game theme] was symbolic, his way to reach young people,” Rodgers said. “A lot of it is showing his journey, traveling through the American dream.”

He began his performance with a warning by saying, “The revolution ‘bout to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy.” This was a direct reference to the 1971 poem by Gil Scott-Heron about Black liberation, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” Dancers wearing red, white and blue filled the stage, but the performance was interrupted by “Uncle Sam.”

Jackson represented an archetypal and dismissive critique of hip-hop music and Black culture in entertainment by calling Lamar’s performance "Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto." He then said, “Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game? Then tighten up!” This quote has been speculated to call out the system that makes it hard to thrive in America as a Black person unless you conform to certain standards, or in other words, “play the game.”

Lamar continued his performance with his song “HUMBLE” and his dancers formed an American flag. Lamar stood in the center, splitting the flag down the middle. Some believe this could symbolize how divided America is right now. Ironically, President Donald Trump, the man who is arguably responsible for the large amount of division in America, was in attendance. Fans also noted that the dancers who formed the American flag were all Black. An X user wrote, "Black folk representing the American flag because modern America was built on our labor… Kendrick I see you."

The split American flag may not have been the only symbol in reference to the division in the United States. The message “WARNING WRONG WAY” appeared in lights in the crowd. It's been suggested that the message could be referring to how we are moving in the wrong direction as a country.

Jackson made yet another appearance as Uncle Sam during the performance. This time he speaks to Lamar, who exited the frame along with his backup dancers/singers, who were just surrounding a light pole. Jackson saw them and said, “Oh, you brought your homeboys with you, the old culture cheat code. Scorekeeper, deduct one life." This quote gives the audience reason to believe that Uncle Sam could be meant to represent the voice of authoritarianism in America as he pushes fear-mongering and racism. 

Lamar later brought out SZA to play “Luther” and “All the Stars,” to which Jackson replied, “That’s what America wants – nice, calm. You’re almost there, don’t mess this…” Jackson was then interrupted by the introduction to “Not Like Us,” Lamar’s five-time Grammy-winning diss track against Drake. 

In the introduction to this song, Lamar says one of the most impactful lines in the entire show: “It’s a cultural divide and I’m gonna get it on the floor. 40 acres and a mule this is bigger than the music.” 

In 1865, William T. Sherman promised reparations for previously enslaved people, 40 acres and a mule to be exact. This was meant to help them recover and gain economic prosperity in America, but this was all taken away once Abraham Lincoln was assassinated and Andrew Johnson succeeded him. By including this line, Lamar reminded the audience that Black people never received proper reparations and they are still impacted by racial and economic inequality today as a result. 

For the people who understood Lamar’s performance, it was an outstanding condemnation of America’s institutional racism, as well as the significant divide and political polarization happening in the country. However, those who did not understand it wrote off the performance as nonsense, some even going so far as to say it was the worst Super Bowl halftime show of all time. 

Some Republican representatives spoke out about the show as well. For instance, former Congressman Matt Gaetz posted on X, “The halftime show you just watched is clearly the regime’s response to Trump’s historic gains with black men.” This response was completely inaccurate, considering that this was a Black man’s critique of the current state of the country, particularly the way President Trump has split the country. 

Lamar’s halftime show was one for the books. The Pulitzer Prize-winning artist showed his musicality and symbolism through this show, and it will go down in history.

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.