American singer-songwriter Sevyn Streeter was set to perform the national anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers game on Wednesday night, but was told just minutes before the scheduled performance that she would no longer be permitted to go on due to her jersey sporting the message “We Matter.”
Streeter uploaded a video on Twitter describing the incident. She asserts that she was never given a dress code nor told that she would have to receive approval of her attire beforehand.
Was suppose to sing the anthem at @sixers & @okcthunder game but mins b4 @sixers said I couldn’t because I was wearing a “We Matter” jersey pic.twitter.com/wjoJN3rq0r
— Sevyn (@sevyn) October 27, 2016
The Sixers organization claims that its decision was made in the spirit of unity, something which it apparently believes the Black Lives Matter movement does not support. The team said in a statement, “The Philadelphia 76ers organization encourages meaningful actions to drive social change. We use our games to bring people together, to build trust and to strengthen our communities. As we move from symbolic gestures to action, we will continue to leverage our platform to positively impact our community.” Jemila Worley, member of the Sixers dance team, performed the anthem instead.
Streeter was heartbroken and insulted by the incident. “I was angry, extremely, extremely angry, and disappointed and honestly brought to tears by all of it. It broke my heart . . . Honestly, I was very excited about being able to perform the national anthem. I was really looking forward to that,” she said.
This incident occurred in the wake of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem in protest against racial oppression. A similar form of protest was demonstrated by Denasia Lawrence, who kneeled while singing the anthem at an NBA preseason game in Miami last Friday.
While some support the 76ers’ decision, many feel that the team’s actions are contradictory of their alleged sentiment — that by denouncing Streeter’s assertion that her life and all other black lives matter and by ultimately condemning the BLM movement in its entirety, the team’s organization is promoting something quite the opposite of unity.
The NBA seems to feel very strongly about the issue in general, as the association actually requires players, coaches, and trainers to stand in a “dignified posture” during the national anthem, a rule of which the constitutionality is certainly questionable.
But as for Streeter, Kaepernick, Lawrence and many others, the issue of protesting during the national anthem (a song which was founded upon racism and oppression) is not about disrespecting America itself; it is about admitting and addressing the fact that racism is still profoundly prevalent and largely ingrained within our society. In regards to the “ongoing challenges and ongoing injustice” that black Americans face, Streeter says, “Yes, we live in the greatest country in the world, but there are issues that we cannot ignore. This can’t be ignored.”
