Shakira & Jlo’s Super Bowl performance is as American as it gets

via the Hollywood reporter

The Kansas City Chiefs (from Missouri Mr. President, not Kansas), swept the 2020 Super Bowl in a surprising victory against the SF 49ers— taking over in the second half.

Blah blah okay about the halftime show.

via good morning america

For the first time ever, the Super Bowl had a Latinx performance for its halftime show: Shakira (whose birthday was also Sunday) and Ms. Jenny from the Block, Jennifer Lopez. It is no question that the Super Bowl is under scrutiny for penalizing their players for peacefully protesting police brutality. The debate of the NFL supporting their black players and their community only when it fits the corporate greed agenda. This more than bad press has given them a difficult time finding entertainment from black artists for their halftime shows.

Who could forget Jay-Z “Apeshit” line: "I said no to the Super Bowl. You need me. I don’t need you.” And Rihanna for making a blanket statement to Vogue that she, as a black artist, would never perform for a corporation that doesn't support her black community. And alas, who could for one of the most powerful, political, and most watched Super Bowl performance of all time Beyonce, who performed back to back, (and black to black truly) giving a stunning ode to Michael Jackson’s Super Bowlperformance and the Black Panther movement support of black Americans.

via vanity fair

While some considered Shakira and JLo's acceptance of the Super Bowl halftime as a surrender of marginalized unity, the two women did the next best thing. They proved you couldn’t have a halftime show, or America, without diversity-- without Latinx.

Shakira and JLo did not shy away from their culture. They made racist Americans uncomfortable to witness it. To celebrate it. To accept it. On the biggest stage in American television, during one of the most "American" sport to ever exist, America and the world is forced to see Latinx for who they are. Powerful. Vital. American. Us.

These women proved, that when you want American you’re getting Latinx. You’re getting African musical influences. You’re getting Lebanese movement and Arabic and modulation. You’re getting the spirit of Puerto Rico. Because they’re ALL American.