The Super Bowl halftime show is always a big deal, but this year, something about it hit differently. It wasn’t just about the music, the flashing lights, or even the performance itself. It was the moment I saw Serena Williams, one of the greatest athletes of all time (in my opinion), completely at ease, dancing to Kendrick Lamar’s set. It was a moment of joy, of cultural connection, of belonging. It also brought up a lot of feelings about what it means to finally feel at home in a space.
Growing Up Watching Serena and Venus
I grew up watching Serena and Venus Williams change the face of tennis. As a Black girl, I didn’t see many people who looked like me in the spaces I frequented (orchestral classical music), but I did in them. They were powerful, unapologetic, and breaking barriers in a sport that didn’t make space for them willingly. They weren’t just winning titles, they were forcing the world to see them, to acknowledge them, even when that world pushed back hard.
But with every victory came something else. Criticism, coded language, microaggressions, outright racism. As I grew older it infuriated me more and more. Whether it was the way commentators talked about their bodies, the policing of their emotions, the media and their hurtful caricatures, or the way the tennis world tried to undermine their dominance, it was exhausting to witness. And deep down, I understood something painful: being the best didn’t always mean being accepted.
"For so many of us, whether it’s in sports, music, or the workplace, we spend a lot of time proving we belong. But when you find a space where you don’t have to do that? That’s everything."
A Moment of Freedom
That’s why seeing Serena at the Super Bowl, in a space that celebrated Black culture and excellence, felt different. There was no tension, no fight for respect. Just her, enjoying the music, surrounded by a performance that honoured the very culture she came from. It was a reminder of how rare those moments can be, and how much they matter.
Because for so many of us, whether it’s in sports, music, or the workplace, we spend a lot of time proving we belong. We navigate spaces that weren’t built for us, constantly aware of how we’re being perceived. But when you find a space where you don’t have to do that? That. Is. Everything.
The Power of Cultural Safe Spaces
Kendrick Lamar’s music has always spoken to what it means to be Black in America. The struggles, the resilience, the joy. His Super Bowl performance wasn’t just about putting on a show. It was a celebration, a declaration that Black artistry belongs on the biggest stage. And in that space, Serena didn’t have to shrink herself. She didn’t have to justify why she was there. She could just be.
That’s what true belonging looks like. Not just being let in, but feeling like the space was made with you in mind. And for those of us who have spent our lives navigating spaces where that isn’t the case, seeing it happen, even for a moment, hits differently.
"True belonging looks like not just being let in, but feeling like the space was made with you in mind."
Why This Moment Matters
Serena Williams has spent decades proving herself. She’s won everything there is to win. And yet, even after all that, there are still spaces where she’s questioned, critiqued, and disrespected. That’s why seeing her in a space where she didn’t have to fight for her presence felt so powerful.
This wasn’t about tennis. It wasn’t about celebrity. It was about something bigger. The need for spaces where we are not just tolerated, but fully embraced. That is the crux of inclusion. A reminder of why representation matters, why cultural safe spaces are necessary, and why belonging isn’t just a nice idea, but something we all deserve.
Seeing Serena Williams there, completely at ease, was a joyful moment for me. A true visual representation of that connection, especially in relation to the backlash she faced when she did this dance (called a crip walk) in celebration of her 2012 gold win at the London Olympics. It was proof of what it looks like to be somewhere you don’t have to explain yourself. And that, in itself, was worth celebrating.
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This blog post was written by Samantha Stimpson, CEO at SLS 360.
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