The Super Bowl always finds a way to give us a moment that’s bigger than football. This year, it wasn’t just about the Eagles shutting down the Chiefs’ three-peat dreams in a wild 40-22 smack-down at the Caesars Superdome. Nah, it was about something way deeper. Something cultural. Something historic. See, while Jalen Hurts was out there slinging the rock and securing that MVP nod, Kendrick Lamar was making sure Black History Month wasn’t just a footnote. And right after that halftime show? The First Lady of Texas Football, Loreal Sarkisian, dropped a powerful message on ‘Black History’ that had the internet buzzing.

Kendrick Lamar didn’t just perform at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show—he took over. As the first solo hip-hop artist to ever headline, he came out swinging with a set that screamed unapologetic Black excellence. We’re talking hits like HUMBLE., DNA., and Euphoria, all wrapped in a performance that blended art, history, and straight-up rebellion.

But let’s talk about the moment that had everybody’s jaw on the floor. Right before Lamar even touched the mic, Samuel L. Jackson popped up dressed as Uncle Sam, setting the tone. This wasn’t just entertainment; this was straight-up black excellence. The dancers? Rocking red, white, and blue. The transitions? Layered with messages about revolution, defiance, and Black identity. And if that wasn’t enough, Lamar made sure to remind the world about the streak of anti-Blackness that’s been lurking in America’s past and present. He wasn’t just performing—he was protesting.

And who was sitting right there in the crowd? Donald Trump.

Now, this wasn’t just another halftime show where we forget about it the next day. Lamar’s act sparked reactions all over social media, and one voice stood out—Loreal Sarkisian. If you know college football, you know her. Wife of Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian. A powerhouse stylist. A woman who knows how to make a statement. And boy, did she.

Right after the performance, she hit up IG and reposted the NAACP’s appreciation post for Lamar. But she didn’t stop there. She added her own words, simple but heavy: “Black History is American history.” Sister preached. Loreal’s all about Black History Month. In a world where people still try to downplay the significance of Black History Month, Sarkisian made sure her stance was clear. And coming from someone in her position? Married to the head coach of one of the biggest programs in college football? Yeah, that’s gonna get some attention.

Black History Month: College football’s roots run deep

Let’s go on an educational trip. Look, before college football became the billion-dollar machine it is today, Black athletes had to fight just to get on the field. Back in the day, schools in the South straight-up refused to integrate, keeping talented Black players out of the game. It wasn’t until the late ‘50s and ‘60s that things started to change.

Duke Slater was one of the early trailblazers, becoming the first Black player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. And let’s not forget Sam Cunningham, the USC fullback who single-handedly changed minds about integration when he ran all over Alabama in 1970. Bear Bryant saw that game, looked at his roster, and said, ‘Yeah, we need some brothers on this team.’ The rest is history.

Fast forward to today, and Black athletes ain’t just playing; they’re dominating. Jalen Hurts just cooked on the biggest stage. Marcus Freeman became the first black head coach to compete in Natty. Deion Sanders is out here rewriting the coaching game. And yet, the fight for equality in college football ain’t over. There’s still a serious lack of Black head coaches in Power Five programs. There’s still a system that benefits from Black talent but rarely puts Black leadership at the top.

That’s why moments like Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show—and Loreal Sarkisian’s response—matter. They remind us that Black History Month isn’t just about the past. It’s about the now. And if you’re paying attention, you’ll see that history is still being written every single day. So yeah, Super Bowl LIX gave us an insane game. But it also gave us a reminder—Black history is American history. And whether it’s on the field, on the stage, or on IG stories, the message ain’t changing anytime soon.