For those who missed it, as the dancers transitioned for the next performance of Be Humble, a subtle yet powerful visual emerged—the American flag, composed solely of Black men. The women performers in that moment had dispersed, leaving behind a striking image that wasn’t just symbolism, it was a movement!

A nation built on Black labor, Black blood, and Black brilliance continues to deny Black people the very freedoms that flag is supposed to represent. In this moment, Kendrick Lamar made it clear: those ideals have never fully applied to Black men in this country. Mass incarceration, police brutality, systemic racism—these are not just historical injustices; they remain woven into the fabric of America today.

While many see red, white, and blue as symbols of unity and patriotism, for Black America, they also embody enslavement, exclusion, and oppression. And even after the 14th Amendment, Black people have been erased from its legacy.

Did you know a young Black girl helped sew the Star-Spangled Banner? Grace Wisher, a 13-year-old indentured servant to the family of Mary Pickersgill, played a crucial role in its creation, yet history barely acknowledges her. Black women’s contributions are constantly overlooked in the workplace, as they are often underpaid compared to their peers, face double discrimination due to the intersection of race and gender, and are promoted at far lower rates despite holding advanced degrees at higher rates than most other demographics.
Lamar’s performance was a reminder that in American society, Black Americans, especially Black women are made to feel invisible in a nation we have birthed and raised, literally.

The revolution was televised. America, you picked the right guy!