Why J-Lo’s and Shakira’s Halftime Show is Important

This past Sunday, pop music icons Jennifer Lopez and Shakira joined forces at the Super Bowl to perform in the Pepsi halftime show. Aside from the praise of their incredible dancing, lights, and costumes, the cultural significance of this performance is not getting the attention it deserves.

Shakira and J-Lo both brought to the Super Bowl stage representation that has never been seen. Of course there have been performers that are people of color in the past, including Beyoncè, Bruno Mars, and Prince; however, never before has a halftime show embraced global cultures in such a way as Sunday night’s did. Shakira and J-Lo fully embraced their Latina culture, and the pride they both have for their heritage shone through on America’s biggest stage in a time in which Latin culture is not always celebrated.

Shakira sang her big U.S. hits “Whenever, Wherever,” “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Waka Waka,” and “She Wolf” but also sang songs with entirely Spanish lyrics such as “Ojos Así” and “Chantaje.” In her set, Shakira also brought out Puerto Rican trap artist Bad Bunny to sing his Spanish verse on the hit Cardi B song “I Like It.” In addition to embracing her status as a global superstar, Shakira also paid homage to her Lebanese roots by doing a zaghrouta, or a ululation common in Middle Eastern culture performed in times of celebration. Her set was a beautiful display of cultural heritage that is unprecedented on the Pepsi halftime stage.

Jennifer Lopez then came out, also embracing her Puerto Rican roots while also pulling out all of the stops to dazzle as the American icon she has come to be. Singing her biggest hits, “Jenny From the Block,” “Waiting for Tonight,” and “On the Floor",” concluding with a mashup of “Let’s Get Loud,” a Latin American pop anthem and Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA,” an icon American anthem. J-Lo’s glitzy and glamorous performance was tied up with a beautiful and not-so-subtle political statement, using lit up set pieces to resemble cages, relating to the immigration border crisis.

This halftime show will go down in history for the songs, the outfits, the unbelievable dancing, and the unity of two pop phenomenons. However, it should also go down in history for bringing Latin culture to America’s most-watched television event, and not forcing these stars to shy away from their roots, but to take pride in them and show them off to America and the rest of the world.