Usher's Super Bowl Halftime Show: Music, Pole Dancers, and NFL Controversy

Usher has been announced as the headlining performer for the Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show, following acts like Rihanna, the Weeknd, and Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, selected by Roc Nation since their partnership with the NFL began in 2019. While many celebrate the diversity of Black acts on the prime-time stage, the article questions whether Usher's performance erases the NFL's treatment of Colin Kaepernick, who hasn't been signed by a team since 2017. The NFL's partnership with Roc Nation has been seen as a response to Kaepernick's protests against racial injustice, but the league still faces criticism for its racist hiring practices and bias against Black quarterbacks. The article argues that the NFL's use of artists like Usher is a way to deflect from its own systemic issues.