Editing Lift Every Voice and Sing (section)

=== Prominence after the George Floyd protests ===
In mid-2020, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" began to receive renewed attention amid nationwide [[George Floyd protests|protests]] over the [[Murder of George Floyd|police murder of George Floyd]], which became a [[cause célèbre]] for what protesters considered brutal policing of the Black community: it was sung during demonstrations and other events which were held in solidarity.<ref name=":1" /> Presidential candidate [[Joe Biden]] referenced the hymn in his action plan for addressing racial disparities in the United States, which was titled "Lift Every Voice: The Biden Plan for Black America".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kight|first=Stef W.|title=Biden campaign unveils "Lift Every Voice" plan for African Americans|url=https://www.axios.com/joe-biden-campaign-african-american-plan-7a66d416-e72d-4d64-888b-b280dcd18f11.html|access-date=February 6, 2022|website=Axios|date=May 4, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> On June 19, 2020, Google featured a [[Juneteenth]]-themed [[Google doodle|animation on its home page]], set to a [[spoken word]] rendition of the hymn's first verse by [[LeVar Burton]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Porter|first=Jon|date=June 19, 2020|title=Google Doodle celebrates the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/19/21296635/google-doodle-celebrates-the-155th-anniversary-of-juneteenth|access-date=February 6, 2022|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref> In 2021, [[Vanessa Williams]] sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing" on the [[PBS]] [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] special ''[[A Capitol Fourth]]'', commemorating the recognition of [[Juneteenth]] as a federal holiday.<ref name=":5" />   

The hymn also began to be incorporated into sporting events: during [[NASCAR]]'s [[2020 Pocono 350]], musicians Mike Phillips and West Byrd quoted "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as part of their rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner",<ref name=":1" /> while the [[National Football League]] announced that "Lift Every Voice and Sing" would be played or performed as part of the pre-game ceremonies of all Week 1 games during the [[2020 NFL season|2020 season]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 2, 2020|title=The NFL Will Play 'Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing' Before Each Season-Opener Game|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/07/02/886936096/the-nfl-will-play-lift-every-voice-and-sing-before-each-season-opener-game|publisher=NPR}}</ref> The decision came as part of a new social justice campaign being introduced by the NFL, stemming from the league's acknowledgements of the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement,<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=June 5, 2020|title=NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says league was wrong for not listening to players earlier about racism|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/05/sport/roger-goodell-responds-nfl-stronger-together-video/index.html|publisher=CNN}}</ref> and its handling of players [[Taking the knee|taking a knee]] during the singing of the national anthem in order to [[U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present)|protest against]] [[Racial inequality in the United States|racial inequality]] and [[Police brutality in the United States|police brutality]].<ref name=":2" /> The NFL's [[NFL Kickoff Game|opening night kickoff game]] featured a filmed performance of the hymn by [[Alicia Keys]] at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]],<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=September 11, 2020|title=Everything to Know About 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,' The Black Anthem Alicia Keys Performed at NFL Kick-Off|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9447704/lift-every-voice-sing-history-black-anthem|access-date=July 16, 2021|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}</ref> which was later replayed as part of the pre-game show of [[Super Bowl LV]] on February 7, 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 7, 2021|title=Super Bowl: Jazmine Sullivan, Eric Church Perform National Anthem; H.E.R. Rocks "America the Beautiful"|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/super-bowl-jazmine-sullivan-eric-church-perform-national-anthem-h-e-r-rocks-america-the-beautiful|access-date=April 19, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en}}</ref> 

The NFL stated that it would again feature the hymn at Week 1 games and other "tentpole" events (including the [[NFL Draft]] and playoff games) during the [[2021 NFL season|2021 season]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 15, 2021|title=NFL says it will play Black national anthem before games again this season|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/563270-nfl-says-it-will-play-black-national-anthem-before-games-again-this-season|access-date=July 16, 2021|website=The Hill|language=en}}</ref> Some African American fans who were interviewed by [[NBC News]] felt that the NFL's decision was "pandering" that would not have a material impact on the league's pursuits of social justice.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Why fans see the NFL's 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' gesture as blatant pandering|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/black-fans-call-nfl-s-plan-play-lift-every-voice-n1233164|access-date=February 6, 2022|publisher=NBC News|date=July 9, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> {{As of|2025|02|}}, the song has been performed at five consecutive Super Bowl pregame ceremonies.<ref name="nbc-7feb2025">{{cite news |last1=Bunn |first1=Curtis |title=Why some are lashing out at the Super Bowl's pregame ceremony |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/2025-super-bowl-are-lashing-lift-every-voice-sing-black-national-anthe-rcna191030 |access-date=February 9, 2025 |work=[[NBC News]] |date=February 7, 2025}}</ref>