Being a Louisiana native, I’ve lived through many monumental sporting moments here.
The last time we had the Super Bowl in New Orleans was over 12 years ago. It was the first time the game had ever experienced a mass blackout, lasting 34 minutes. However, this year towers over all of those.
With a combination of some of the most famous performers in this generation, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, and athletes like Jalen Hurts and Travis Kelce, social media has never been fed better.
New Orleans is a vessel for culture. The outside world really forgets about how hardworking the people that live here are. The city pushes you; it’s challenging every day because there is always something new.
New Orleans isn’t modern and doesn’t get caught up in the conventions of being like other cities. It’s full of music and life, and you can’t meet the same people in New Orleans in a larger city elsewhere.
Combined with having Lamar, a recent Grammy-winning artist and SZA, one of the most influential artists to date, it takes the history of New Orleans to a completely different level.
Lamar performed alongside other stars in the 2022 Super Bowl. However, performing as the headliner, with only one confirmed guest, is so on brand for his successful year.
I used to complain about Louisiana being so behind the times, but as of recent, I’m reminded of how lucky we all genuinely are. There aren’t any more cities that truly represent community and resilience.
The Southern hospitality gene runs strong through the people in New Orleans. They love to put on shows and more for their city. They are hosts and showcase how much more there is to their home outside of the famous Bourbon St.
The first game in the Superdome with the Saints after the natural disaster Katrina was magnetic. The energy from the people and the players was so emotional because nobody knew if they would ever see each other again. These people are like a family because of their love and passion for the city and the game. They came together after one of the deadliest disasters, and were filled with gratitude and joy.
The city of New Orleans still faces challenges to this day. As of late, we all witnessed the terrorist attack that took place earlier this year. Innocent lives and family members were taken from one another. Much like after Katrina, the sense of community is stronger than ever.
The people of New Orleans deserve to be celebrated. And you can see from the number of people crowding the streets of Bourbon this week that this halftime performance means so much more. It means being together as a community during hardships.
With so many people in positions of power touring the city this weekend, it’s important to acknowledge the correlation between who’s going to the game, who’s performing and how big of a statement that makes.
Lamar is renowned for his activism in the Black community. In an underrepresented city like New Orleans, the stories of undeniable struggle deserve to be shared under his platform. I am excited to know that a person of his achievement and background will represent the culture here.
Blair Bernard is a 21-year-old theater performance major from Lafayette, La.
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