How Jordin Sparks Took A Stand And Sang The National Anthem At The Same Time
Over a year after former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick peacefully protested American injustices by kneeling during the singing of the national anthem, the #TakeAKnee movement has washed over the NFL.
Though the players have used their on-field platforms to join in on the demonstration following Donald Trump’s brash hate speech, R&B singer Jordin Sparks used her voice and hand to send her own message amid the controversy.
Leading in the Dallas Cowboys matchup against the Arizona Cardinals for Monday Night Football (September 25), Jordin powerfully crooned out "The Star-Spangled Banner." Perhaps even more powerful was the “Prov. 31: 8-9” Bible scripture penned on her left hand, which was holding the mic she sang from that evening.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed,” the scripture reads to according to the New Living Translation of the Bible. “Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”
The silent testimony came after the entire Cowboys team, including their owner, knelt and locked arms with one another in a demonstration of unity prior to Jordin’s singing of the national anthem. It also follows Trump’s “sons of b*****s” comment, which he used to describe players such as Kaepernick who were peacefully protesting. Demanding not only an organization-wide protest against the NFL for not “disciplining” the players, Trump also declared that all owners immediately fire any player who wouldn’t stand for the national anthem.
Thus, Jordin’s message comes in handy now more than ever.
See her performance and her silent statement below.