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Kendrick Knows … Red, White & Blue
Unpacking the Superbowl Performance
Key Vocabulary
“Call to action” - a speech, piece of writing, or performance that encourages people to take action against injustice.
Choreography - the sequence of steps and movements in dance or performance.
Crip Walk - a dance move characterized by quick, intricate footwork, often spelling out "C-R-I-P" with the feet, that originated in the 1970s within the Crips gang culture in Compton, California.
Django - refers to the movie Django Unchained (2012) by Quentin Tarantino, about a formerly enslaved man who accompanies a bounty hunter, and finds his long-lost wife also enslaved. The themes of this movie are slavery, revenge, and injustice. In this movie, Samuel L. Jackson plays a “house slave,” who is extremely loyal to his enslaver. See house slave below)
Exploiting - using in an extremely unfair and selfish way; taking advantage of a particular thing or person.
Explainer - a brief statement, article, or video that explains a concept, topic, situation, etc., often popularized on social media.
“House Slave” - a house slave was an enslaved person who worked (and often lived) in the house of the slave owner, performing domestic labor. (See definition of Django above)
Incarceration - imprisonment; being confined in prison.
Jot - to write something down quickly, a first response or thought
Karma - (in Hinduism and Buddhism) is the sum of a person’s actions throughout their life; fate is caused by certain actions. Mass Incarceration - refers to the extremely high rates of imprisonment in the United States, particularly affecting marginalized communities, and the disproportionate number of people incarcerated, especially people of color.
Pulitzer Prize: - a highly prestigious annual award, established by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, recognizing outstanding achievement in journalism, literature, and music in the United States.
Squid (game) - a pop culture reference taken from a South Korean children's game, Squid, that involves strategy, agility, and physical confrontation, made popular by the 2021 Netflix show, Squid Game, which explores capitalism/wealth inequality, and the exploitation of impoverished people.
Uncle Sam - a commonly recognized symbolic figure used to represent the United States, as depicted by an older white gentleman with a goatee, top hat, and red, white and blue attire.
* References to “Kendrick & Drake’s Feud” for background knowledge: Kendrick Lamar and Drake have been in a feud since 2013, going back and forth with lyrics in various songs “dissing” each other. Read more in Bunk.
Choreography - the sequence of steps and movements in dance or performance.
Crip Walk - a dance move characterized by quick, intricate footwork, often spelling out "C-R-I-P" with the feet, that originated in the 1970s within the Crips gang culture in Compton, California.
Django - refers to the movie Django Unchained (2012) by Quentin Tarantino, about a formerly enslaved man who accompanies a bounty hunter, and finds his long-lost wife also enslaved. The themes of this movie are slavery, revenge, and injustice. In this movie, Samuel L. Jackson plays a “house slave,” who is extremely loyal to his enslaver. See house slave below)
Exploiting - using in an extremely unfair and selfish way; taking advantage of a particular thing or person.
Explainer - a brief statement, article, or video that explains a concept, topic, situation, etc., often popularized on social media.
“House Slave” - a house slave was an enslaved person who worked (and often lived) in the house of the slave owner, performing domestic labor. (See definition of Django above)
Incarceration - imprisonment; being confined in prison.
Jot - to write something down quickly, a first response or thought
Karma - (in Hinduism and Buddhism) is the sum of a person’s actions throughout their life; fate is caused by certain actions. Mass Incarceration - refers to the extremely high rates of imprisonment in the United States, particularly affecting marginalized communities, and the disproportionate number of people incarcerated, especially people of color.
Pulitzer Prize: - a highly prestigious annual award, established by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, recognizing outstanding achievement in journalism, literature, and music in the United States.
Squid (game) - a pop culture reference taken from a South Korean children's game, Squid, that involves strategy, agility, and physical confrontation, made popular by the 2021 Netflix show, Squid Game, which explores capitalism/wealth inequality, and the exploitation of impoverished people.
Uncle Sam - a commonly recognized symbolic figure used to represent the United States, as depicted by an older white gentleman with a goatee, top hat, and red, white and blue attire.
* References to “Kendrick & Drake’s Feud” for background knowledge: Kendrick Lamar and Drake have been in a feud since 2013, going back and forth with lyrics in various songs “dissing” each other. Read more in Bunk.
Read for Understanding
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, which aired on February 9th, 2025, from Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been (as of March 2025) watched an total of 133.5 million times around the world – making it the most watched halftime Super Bowl show in history. This halftime Show has been described as a multifaceted performance of Lamar’s most popular songs, delving deep into themes of American divisiveness and Black History. The performance was about more than entertainment. It was inspired by history, the current state of political affairs, and our precarious future. Using lyrics and imagery to emphasize significant ideals, Kendrick voiced a call to action. Kendrick Knows… Red, White, and Blue emphasize these messages by breaking down some of the most prominent visuals utilized throughout the show.
Engage:
Why is Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 performance the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime Show in history?
The February 9th, 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans, a 13-minute performance by artist Kendrick Lamar and invited collaborator SZA, drew more viewers than the football game itself. The show, now the subject of an NFL documentary film, is the most-watched, and perhaps the most debated halftime show in history. Our friends at the Graphic History Co. helped us break it down with a 2-page explainer, and we are going to unpack it all here!
Context
Watch, Stop, & Discuss: Why is this the most-watched Super Bowl Halftime Show in history? Make a copy of the slide deck and graphic organizer provided or use a paper copy as directed by your teacher.
- What do you observe?
- What is the camera’s focus as it moves around?
- What colors, patterns, or symbols do you notice?
- What words stand out to you? Why?
- What do you find surprising? Why?
Your teacher may ask you to record your answers on an exit ticket.
Explore:
How does comparing the video of the performance – along with the lyrics, imagery, and symbolism – to the comic panels help you understand and interpret the significance of certain elements/sections of Kendrick’s Halftime Show?
Use the interactive slides with close-up images of the comic panels and edited video segments to analyze each part of the performance. Make a copy of the exit ticket below to record your responses.
Questions to Consider: (Explore: Observe, Discuss & Jot)
- Why is it so meaningful to have Samuel L. Jackson play the role of Uncle Sam? Explain.
- How do you interpret Uncle Sam’s tone when comparing the video to the comic panel? Explain.
- What makes the image of a game controller / Squid Game stage impactful? Explain.
- How does observing the use of color and symbolism impact your understanding of the lyrics during this section of the performance?
- How are your observations of the dancers harmonizing during this section of the performance enhanced when compared to the text on the comic panel? Explain.
- What makes the use of tennis champion Serena Williams crip walking during this performance particularly impactful? Explain.
- How do you interpret the message of “They Not Like Us” alongside the various images, choreography, and symbols throughout this section of the show? Explain.
- How do you interpret Kendrick’s call to action, “turn the TV off”? Explain.
- After analyzing this panel, why do you think the performance ended with the lights in the audience spelling “GAME OVER”? Explain.
Your teacher may ask you to record your answers on an exit ticket.
Explain:
How can comics help us break down and understand significant symbols and imagery based on cultural events?
Spend some time discussing your notes and findings regarding the comic and video of the Super Bowl Halftime Show with a partner/small group. You may read along on the digital copy or use a printed copy if provided by your teacher.Take notes using the S-I-T strategy of the people, places, and events you are most interested in exploring.
(Your teacher may provide a paper copy, or you may make a copy of the Google Docs version using the link below to record your responses.)
Your teacher may ask you to record your answers on an exit ticket.
Elaborate:
How much of an impact do you feel symbols and visuals can have on an audience to convey a message and call to action?
Choose one of the panels from the comic to discuss further: (You may select an image of the panels from the interactive slide deck).
- What do you observe?
- How does this image connect with the performance?
- What is the message?
- Why is this significant?
- How does this motivate the audience to take action?
Share your interpretation with a partner, and listen to their own ideas and inferences based on one of the images.
Your teacher may ask you to record your answers on an exit ticket.
Extend:
How does an artist expand upon his ability to impact culture and create a sense of urgency among his audience?
Kendrick Lamar is not only a Platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated artist, he is also a Pulitzer Prize winner. The Pulitzer Prize is a highly prestigious annual award, established by newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, recognizing outstanding achievement in journalism, literature, and music in the United States. His dedication to his craft and representation of the complexity of Black culture is emphasized throughout his music, lyrics, and performances.
After reading the articles, “Hip Hop Is the Soundtrack to Black Lives Matter Protests” and “From Billie Holiday to DakhaBrakha: The Uniting Power of the Protest Song,” consider how Kendrick’s Super Bowl Halftime Show can be considered a protest performance with a strong message and call to action. Explore some of the Bunk Connections to the first excerpt.
Your teacher may ask you to record your answers on an exit ticket.
Citations:
Greason, Walter & Tim Fielder (illustrator), “Kendrick Knows…Red, White & Blue”, Graphic History Company. Accessed March 16, 2025. https://www.graphichistorycompany.com/kendrickknows
Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl 59 Halftime Show, New Orleans, February 10, 2025. YouTube.com. Accessed March 16, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDorKy-13ak
Corujo, Jennifer, “Sentence Frames for ELLs,” May 19, 2023. HMH.com. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.hmhco.com/blog/sentence-frames-for-ell-students
“S-I-T: Surprising, Interesting, Troubling.” Facing History & Ourselves. Accessed June 17, 2024. https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/s-i-t-surprising-interesting-troubling
Steptoe, Tyina, “Hip Hop is the Soundtrack to Black Lives Matter Protests,” BunkHistory.org. Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.bunkhistory.org/resources/hip-hop-is-the-soundtrack-to-black-lives-matter-protests-continuing-a-tradition-that-dates-back-to-the-blues
Sousanis, Aurora, “From Billie Holiday to DakhaBrakha: The Uniting Power of the Protest Song,” AllMusic.com. Accessed March 16, 2025. https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/the-power-of-the-protest-song