Super Bowl 2023 Historic Moments

Sheryl Lee Ralph performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at Super Bowl 2023 on Sunday, February 12.

In 2020, the NFL incorporated “Lift Every Voice and Sing” into the pregame ceremonies. That year, Alicia Keys sang the anthem during the Super Bowl telecast in a pre-recorded video. Last year, Mary Mary performed the song from outside the stadium. Ralph made history this year by becoming the first Black person to perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on the field in the stadium.

February 12th is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was first performed by a choir of 500 students in Jacksonville, Florida, to commemorate the president’s birthday. James Weldon Johnson, who wrote the anthem, was the school’s principal at the time.

The “Abbott Elementary” star posted on social media, “One hundred and twenty-three] years ago today, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ was performed publicly for the 1st time. Today I will sing it for the 1st time as part of the Super Bowl pre-game show in the stadium!”

Ralph’s performance was interpreted by 20-year-old American Sign Language performer Justina Miles. Miles is the first deaf female performer to sign at the Super Bowl’s halftime show. Her historic performance has gone viral as she danced and signed for deaf viewers.

“I value the opportunity to make it possible for all deaf people to enjoy these songs, and not have them miss out on the full Super Bowl experience,” Miles told CNBC prior to the show.

This was also the first Super Bowl where two Black quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) and Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), played on opposing teams for the first time.

“Lift every voice and sing, til earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of Liberty. Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us; sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us. Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.”