Super Bowl 2023 : Rihanna and the Black Quarter Backs: "Still We Rise"

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Rihanna

Jalen Hurts

Patrick Mahomes
One Caribbean Nation





                                     



                                                                 




By Michael Headley 

Letter From Brooklyn                         

As if the National Football League (NFL) Sports' Gods wanted to pay homage to the celebration of Black History Month, Super Bowl LV11 saw two African- American quarterbacks, competing against each other, in the final at Arizona's State Farm stadium on February 12.  This iconic American Football game final was Historic because Patrick Mahomes, of mixed-race parents, quarterbacked the Kansas City Chiefs and Jalen Hurts the Philadelphia Eagles.  The sport is not only about brawn, but it also demands that coaches and players alike make intelligent, critical decisions to compete effectively and win games. It has nothing to do with equity.   And most of the players take active roles in their communities.   In 1920 'Fritz' Pollard was the first African American to play in the NFL. Douglas Lee Williams was the first African American Quarterback, to both start and win a Super Bowl.  He won with the then Washington Redskins - now renamed the Washington Commanders - against the Denver Broncos, in the 1988 Super Bowl XX11.

In the 2013 Super Bowl XLV11, the Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers to win the coveted Vince Lombardi trophy.  And on that winning team was Barbados-born Ramon Bernard Harewood -offensive tackle. 

Now in 2023, another Barbadian and National Hero, Robyn, Rihanna Fenty (Riri) brought a sense of national pride and patriotism to the NFL. Sports enthusiasts and Bajans, tuned in throughout the Diaspora, as Riri rocked the NFL's Super Bowl halftime show with a spectacular performance.  She entertained the spectators with a montage of her signature songs, conspicuously dressed in her brightly colored outfit, and accompanied by some outstanding choreographed dancers and backup singers.  The show was well received and is still being talked about - the suspended platform was a big hit.  Already known for her philanthropy and business acumen it was a treat to see this 'loyal Bajan daughter' performing on stage.  Even some negative and unnecessary comments, made by former president Donald Trump- regarding a 2020 anti Trump Rihanna twitter spat, had little or no effect.  The Kansas City Chiefs won the game with a score of 38 - 35. 

Michael Headley is a social commentator based in Brooklyn New York. 

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