Super Bowl

Rihanna. black woman in grey snakeskin dress and black tattoo on collarbone smiles in front of dark navy wall with grey text
Sameer Rao  Oct 19, 2018 11:39AM EDT

Rihanna Says No to the Super Bowl

The singer reportedly declined to perform at the halftime show in solidarity with blacklisted NFL player and activist Colin Kaepernick.
Ciara. Black woman in white outfit performs on stage with blue lights
Sameer Rao  Sep 20, 2018 3:00PM EDT

10 Atlantans Who Should Have Been Asked to Perform at the Super Bowl

The National Football League skipped tons of local Black talent to hire Maroon 5.
Black men in green football uniforms with white numerals walk under black sky with green light beams
Sameer Rao  Feb 8, 2018 10:55AM EST

Eagles Reader: Five Must-Read Articles on the Philly Team and Racial Justice

As Philadelphia prepares to celebrate the “wokest team” in the NFL’s Super Bowl win, here’s what you should be reading right now.
Black man in brown suit and white shirt sits in front of green grass
Sameer Rao  Feb 5, 2018 12:30PM EST

Dodge Faces Backlash for Using Anti-Capitalist Martin Luther King Jr. Sermon in Super Bowl Ad

The truck commercial uses part of King’s “The Drum Major Instinct” sermon—conveniently omitting the part where he denounces advertising as part of an oppressive economic system.
White men and women in green and and black and white and grey clothing stand over grey and yellow traffic pole on grey sidewalk in front of grey buildings and black night sky
Sameer Rao  Feb 5, 2018 11:38AM EST

Black Lives Matter Activist Calls Out 'White Privilege' of Post-Super Bowl Property Damage

Hawk Newsome: ”You can riot if you’re White and your team wins, but if you’re Black and being killed, you can’t speak out.”
Black woman in black performance outfit in front of blue-lit stage and musicians
Sameer Rao  Oct 23, 2017 3:09PM EDT

Fans Demand #JusticeForJanet After Justin Timberlake's New Super Bowl Halftime Gig

“White privilege is at an all time high,” tweeted one Twitter user. Many others agreed.
Split screen of two faces with word "accept" across them in white letters
Kenrya Rankin  Feb 6, 2017 11:53AM EST

How the Super Bowl Became a Battle for America's Soul

The subtle—and not-so subtle—roles race, xenophobia and Islamophobia played in Super Bowl LI.
Tony Dungy in beige suit next to brown metal bust of his head
Sameer Rao  Aug 8, 2016 11:44AM EDT

Tony Dungy Honors Trailblazing Black Football Coaches at Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Dungy, the first Black head coach to win a Super Bowl, recognized predecessors during the ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Sameer Rao  May 13, 2016 11:09AM EDT

Joy Alert! Cam Newton Makes Kids' Dreams Come True in New Nickelodeon Show

“All In with Cam Newton” debuts on June 3. 
Sameer Rao  Feb 16, 2016 4:50PM EST

3-Person Anti-Beyoncé Protest Dwarfed by Nearby Counterprotest

One of the anti-Beyoncé protesters didn’t even see the singer’s performance. 
Sameer Rao  Feb 15, 2016 5:28PM EST

WATCH: Trailer for 'The Black Panthers' Doc Ahead of Tonight's PBS Premiere

“The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” airs tonight on PBS at 9 p.m. EST. 
Sameer Rao  Feb 8, 2016 3:39PM EST

Cam Newton Criticized For Walking Out of Post-Super Bowl Press Conference

Add the outrage at Newton’s despondency to the pile of bulls**t that a White player would never have to handle. 
Sameer Rao  Feb 8, 2016 1:45PM EST

ICYMI: 'SNL's 'Ebony and Ivory' Spoof Perfectly Captures the Double Standard Facing Cam Newton

For a show with its own diversity and racism issues, this was a pretty solid sketch.  
Sameer Rao  Feb 4, 2016 6:49PM EST

10 Reasons to Watch the Super Bowl This Sunday

Hint: Most of them involve Cam Newton being dope. 
Sameer Rao  Feb 3, 2016 4:29PM EST

Coldplay and Beyoncé's 'Hymn for the Weekend' Video is More Orientalist Than Appropriative [OP-ED]

The video—which dropped just in time for this weekend’s Super Bowl halftime show collabo—has sparked controversy.
Sameer Rao  Jan 28, 2016 12:54PM EST

Cam Newton: 'I’m an African-American Quarterback That May Scare a Lot of People'

The Carolina Panthers quarterback dropped hard truths during a recent interview. 
Jamilah King  Feb 2, 2015 10:06AM EST

Missy Elliot Explains Why She Cried After Super Bowl Show

It was a moment of redemption for the performer.
Aura Bogado  Jan 29, 2015 1:57PM EST

Marshawn Lynch: 'You All Shove Cameras and Microphones Down My Throat'

Lynch turns the table on the media’s obsession with him.
Jamilah King  Jan 28, 2015 10:17AM EST

Marshawn Lynch's Quiet Riot

The Seattle Seahawks running back is famous for refusing to cooperate with the predominantly white NFL press corps. His refusal to play ball with reporters has earned him a bad rep that he doesn’t quite deserve. Here, we present four things to love about the enigmatic star.
Jamilah King  Jan 26, 2015 12:07PM EST

Watch Kenan Thompson in Hilarious Spoof of 'Deflategate' on SNL

It’s Super Bowl week, but this story isn’t going away.