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I am not really an NFL fan, so when it comes to the Super Bowl, I’m generally only concerned about the food, commercials, and halftime show. And let me tell you, this year’s halftime show did not disappoint, in my opinion. This performance by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira was the first time two Latinas ever headlined the event together. (They are not the first Latinas to perform and headline a halftime show; that honor goes to Gloria Estefan). There were myriad reactions to the performance, from people who absolutely loved it, to those who thought it was over the top and distasteful. I do have to wonder if the criticism would have been the same if it were two white female performers…but that’s a post for another day. 

For 15 minutes, these two women unapologetically shared their vast Latin heritage with the approximately 103 million viewers watching, through song and dance. Lopez is Puerto Rican and Shakira is Latin (from Colombia) and Lebanese. 

For 15 minutes, these two women unapologetically shared their vast Latin heritage with the approximately 103 million viewers watching, through song and dance. Click To Tweet

The most powerful moment to me was the performance of Lopez’s hit “Let’s Get Loud,” mashed up with “Born in the USA.” During the set, Lopez, donned in a feather cape with the Puerto Rican flag on one side and the US flag on the other, was joined by kids in cages on the field and a large fence appeared behind the stage. Clearly, this was a statement against President Donald Trump’s immigration policy of separating children from their families at the border and keeping them in cages in detention centers. Her performance was a call to action. After the Super Bowl, Lopez confirmed that the imagery was very intentional: “The message tonight was ‘use your voice, get loud – speak up, stand up for yourself,’” Lopez said.  

Lopez also posted on Instagram a touching moment captured of her and her daughter, Emme, who joined her on the stage for Super Bowl night during the “Let’s Get Loud” number, with the caption: “All I want my girls—the little girls on stage with me and all over the world—to know is how to use their voices and be proud of everything they are. We are proud to recognize that all of us together are what makes this beautiful country truly great.” 

I absolutely loved the loud, authentic, unapologetic display of the Latin culture from Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. “I think it’s super important for two Latina women to be headlining the Super Bowl,” Lopez told the Los Angeles Times. “Especially right now in Trump’s America.” Before the Super Bowl, Lopez and Shakira faced criticism for agreeing to perform, with continued controversy over Colin Kaepernick being locked out for kneeling in protest of police brutality and killings of unarmed Black people. This is still a conversation that must be had… and giving the stage to two powerful, Latina women during halftime doesn’t negate that. I do believe that through various political statements, and the proud display of Latin culture, Lopez and Shakira understood the opportunity they had and used their platform to raise awareness of injustices and inequities that exist in our country. 

Lopez and Shakira faced criticism for agreeing to perform, with continued controversy over Colin Kaepernick being locked out. This is a conversation that must be had, and giving the stage to two powerful, Latina women during… Click To Tweet

I hope that whatever progress was made through Lopez and Shakira’s performance continues. I hope that it continues to spark much needed conversations about injustice and inequity in America. I hope it helps to shift hearts and minds and to break down barriers.