<p id=”par-1_56″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/samuel-l-jackson/?swcfpc=1″>Samuel L. Jackson</a>‘s cameo during the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/super-bowl-players-still-have-to-pay-for-tickets.html/”>Super Bowl LIX</a> Halftime Show surprised many viewers. The 76-year-old emerged in an Uncle Sam costume, enthusiastically challenging Kendrick Lamar as a foil for the rapper’s symbolic performance. Jackson experienced a full circle moment at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Those who know his unique history may understand it best.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-samuel-l-jackson-s-surprising-connection-to-martin-luther-king-jr”>Samuel L. Jackson’s surprising connection to Martin Luther King Jr.</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-funeral-Samuel-L-Jackson-1968.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”A high-angle view of the casket of assassinated Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on a mule-drawn cart during a massive funeral procession through the streets of King’s hometown, Atlanta” class=”wp-image-3774295″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>The casket of assassinated civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a massive funeral procession through the streets of Atlanta on April 9, 1968 | Robert Abbott Sengstacke/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-2_57″>Since the ’60s, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/samuel-l-jackson-couldnt-believe-quickly-blew-marvel-deal.html/”>Samuel L. Jackson</a> has advocated for civil rights, as biographer Gavin Edwards details in <em><a href=”https://lithub.com/why-samuel-l-jackson-was-expelled-from-morehouse-college/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Bad Motherf***er</a>: The Life and Movies of Samuel L. Jackson</em>. The future <em>Star Wars</em> actor deeply identified with Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophies of nonviolence and equality. This led him to participate in the Black Power movement and many demonstrations. </p>
<p id=”par-3_57″>Through a series of serendipitous events, Jackson even became an usher at MLK Jr.’s funeral on April 9, 1968. “I remember seeing people like Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier,” he later told <a href=”https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/samuel-l-jackson-how-i-became-an-usher-at-martin-luther-king-jrs-funeral-guest-column-1099033/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The Hollywood Reporter</a>. “People that I thought I’d never see, let alone have a relationship with later on in life. The funeral was pretty much a blur.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-morehouse-college-even-expelled-jackson-for-participating-in-a-protest”>Morehouse College even expelled Jackson for participating in a protest</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Samuel-L-Jackson-1993.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Budding actor Samuel L. Jackson attends a conference in Las Vegas in 1993″ class=”wp-image-3774296″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Samuel L. Jackson in Las Vegas on July 11, 1993 | Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-4_70″>While attending Morehouse College, the Atlanta HBCU temporarily expelled <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/samuel-l-jackson-felt-actors-couldnt-watch-themselves-films-find-another-job.html/”>Jackson</a>. He and other students had held members of Morehouse’s board of trustees hostage, demanding reforms to the school’s curriculum and administration. As Jackson told THR, “I came to a realization that we were being groomed to be something that I didn’t necessarily want to be. The Morehouse College administration was rooted in some old-school things that the majority of us students didn’t believe.”</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-3″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Samuel-L-Jackson-Morehouse-College.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Wearing a Morehouse hat, Samuel L. Jackson speaks onstage at a benefit for Morehouse College in 2004″ class=”wp-image-3774294″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Samuel L. Jackson attends a benefit for Morehouse College on September 29, 2004 in Beverly Hills | Vince Bucci/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-5_74″>At the time, Jackson was involved with activists H. Rap Brown and Stokely Carmichael, who led the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee as it transitioned to the Black Panthers. Jackson clarified, according to <em>Bad Motherf***er</em>, “I was never a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/denzel-washington-helped-inspire-character-black-panther.html/”>Black Panther</a>. But the fact that you were alive during that period in America, you had to either be part of the problem or part of the solution. We chose to be part of the solution.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-samuel-l-jackson-s-super-bowl-lix-appearance-explained”>Samuel L. Jackson’s Super Bowl LIX appearance explained</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-4″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Samuel-L-Jackson-Super-Bowl-LIX-Halftime-Show-2025.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Wearing a red, white, and blue Uncle Sam suit, Samuel Jackson performs onstage during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans” class=”wp-image-3774298″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Samuel Jackson and Kendrick Lamar during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome | Chris Graythen/Getty Images </figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-6_75″>Since his younger days of activism, Jackson has become a vocal supporter of social justice causes like Black Lives Matter. He’s received accolades for keeping racial equality in the public eye, including the NAACP Image Award and BET Humanitarian Award. The <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/samuel-l-jackson-reaction-losing-oscar-pulp-fiction-brutally-honest.html/”><em>Pulp Fiction</em> star</a> has also publicly supported Democratic candidates like Barack Obama and Kamala Harris. Jackson’s journey from civil rights activism to Hollywood stardom explains his <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-embarrassed-booing-super-bowl-body-language-expert-says-hit-a-nerve.html/”>participation in the Super Bowl halftime show</a>. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-5″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Samuel-L-Jackson-Super-Bowl-LIX-Halftime-Show.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Wearing a red, white, and blue Uncle Sam suit, Samuel Jackson performs onstage during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans” class=”wp-image-3774299″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Samuel Jackson during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on February 9, 2025 | Gregory Shamus/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-7_78″>Fast forward to February 9, 2025. Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam, lending his booming voice to the controversial performance. The morning of the event, the <em>Django Unchained</em> star called it a “super huge honor” on <a href=”https://x.com/SamuelLJackson/status/1889003444972769754″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>X</a>. Wearing an oversized top hat and custom navy Bode suit embellished with American flag-style stars on the lapels, he challenged Lamar, saying, “Too loud, too reckless, too ghetto. Mr. Lamar, do you really know how to play the game?” </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-6″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Samuel-L-Jackson-2025-Super-Bowl-LIX-Halftime-Show.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Wearing a red, white, and blue Uncle Sam suit, Samuel Jackson performs onstage during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans” class=”wp-image-3774297″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Samuel Jackson during the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans | Emilee Chinn/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-8_65″>With the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/7-super-bowl-lix-questions-answered-kickoff-halftime-show-performers.html/”>halftime show</a>‘s heavy American theme and political and cultural references, we can assume that everything and everyone involved, including Jackson, were intentional choices by Lamar and his team. Some saw the show as celebrating American culture and government. But many believe this was not a pro-America performance upon closer inspection, especially considering special guest <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/nasty-terrible-donald-trump-ongoing-feud-meghan-markle.html/”>President Donald Trump</a> watching from a VIP box. </p>
<p id=”par-9_65″>Fans took to <a href=”https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1ilvso7/samuel_l_jackson_is_the_uncle_sam_i_didnt_know_i/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Reddit</a> to praise the show. One commented, “That’s the Uncle Sam we need right now.” Another wrote, “For those that don’t realize it, Uncle Sam was an intended character put in by Kendrick to represent the people who kept trying to control the way he designed his show. It’s his way of protesting and mocking both the producers and the Obnoxious Orange.”</p>
<p id=”par-10_30″>For Jackson, it was a full-circle moment reflecting his lifelong commitment to social commentary and change. And we won’t even get started on the meaning behind Serena Williams’ surprise cameo.</p>