How Coco Jones Used The Super Bowl Stage To Honor Black History 

coco jones performing
Via Wikimedia Commons
Briona Lamback
February 25, 2026

Here’s how singer Coco Jones wove layers of Black history into her 2026 Super Bowl performance.

Lift Every Voice and Sing 

Originally written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson in 1900, our Black National Anthem is a song of hope. Its lyrics urge us to stand together and reimagine a liberated future where “victory is won” against anti-Black people, their beliefs and their policies.

Whitney-Inspired Outfit 

Jones’  outfit was a clear callout to Whitney Houston’s look in her 1991 Super Bowl performance. Like Houston, Jones wore a sports-inspired white bomber jacket with a red stripe, white bottoms, and a matching headband. And the designer? Another tribute to our history.

Designed By Karl Kani 

Jones tapped pioneering streetwear designer Karl Kani to craft her look. Kani launched his brand in 1989 and undoubtedly helped define the distinctive look of music legends like Tupac and Aaliyah.

Remembrance has always been a part of our legacy. Paying homage to those who came before us is an integral part of Black culture, and we can never forget that. What’s one thing you can do this week to honor those who came before us, both in history and in your own family?

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