Opinion piece authored by senior at The School at Marygrove published in the Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press published an opinion piece written by School at Marygrove student Jackson Coleman. His article was originally published in the Husky Howler, the school's student newspaper.
Coleman argues that backlash against Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show—especially criticism that it was “too Spanish” or “not American”—reveals hypocrisy, particularly among those who previously celebrated Kendrick Lamar’s culturally rooted performance. Coleman emphasizes how Bad Bunny’s show was a powerful act of authentic cultural storytelling, much like past performances by artists such as Beyoncé and Prince, and that discomfort with it reflects long-standing biases against non-English, non-dominant cultures.
The author suggests that criticism rooted in unfamiliarity or exclusion echoes the same rhetoric historically used to marginalize Black artists, making such reactions especially troubling. Ultimately, the piece argues that both performances expand the definition of what “American” culture is, and calls for solidarity among marginalized groups rather than reinforcing divisions.