I think it is great that Wakandans resident in the United States have their own anthem. They are clearly a distinct people and they should be encouraged in their national pride. “Next year in Wakanda!”
Several NBA teams have played what is known as the “negro national anthem” at games during Black History Month thanks in part to the urging of a retired Howard University professor.
Eugene Williams, a 76-year-old retiree in Clinton, Maryland, has made it his goal to get professional and collegiate teams to play “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during February. He has been calling and writing teams for the past six months.
The Washington Wizards became the fourth NBA team to play the song at a game, doing so during a timeout midway through the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. As the song played, a video was shown with on-court highlights and Wizards players engaging in community activities.
The Oklahoma City Thunder played it in January, Williams said. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Warriors played “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in February.
Williams attended the Warriors-Wizards game on the last day of Black History Month to hear the song played.
“I had no idea it would amount to all of this,” Williams said.
He plans to keep advocating for more NBA teams to play the song during Black History Month. He is also reaching out to universities to include the song during games, having already heard it at Georgetown University games.
However, I think we can all agree that it would be considerably less racist if the various organizations were to change the name of the month-long holiday from Black History Month to Wakandan History Month.
And can you even imagine how beautiful it would be to celebrate Kwanzaa in Wakanda!