MyDD :: The Black National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner and Black folks

The Black National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner and Black folks

by AAPPundit, Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 06:28:20 PM EST

There is a lot of hating going on regarding one black woman and black folks in general. Have you been watching all the reporting in the national media? One black woman seems to have pissed off a whole bunch of white folk, and a lot of black folks too. There are many black bloggers who support the sister, yet are concerned like black blogger, Black Super Woman who says, "I’m all for artistic expression, and think that she was definitely expressing herself in an artistic way by doing this. I saw the tape on the news and it was a beautiful rendition of Lift Every Voice. I just hope that this doesn’t turn into a “Black folks think they are uppity now that Obama is the nominee and if we elect him they are going to be uncontollable” moment. I like it when we go buck, but I don’t want Obama to lose votes because the masses get scared of a potential slave uprising."

So folks, was the black woman wrong for what she indicates was an expression of how she felt about living in the United States, as a black woman? Why didn't she do what Marvin Gaye did and sing the song she was contracted to sing?

Check out the report in USA today on the controversy after singer substitutes 'black national anthem' for 'Star-Spangled Banner'

A singer surprised dignitaries by singing Lift Every Voice and Sing, also known as the "black national anthem," to the tune of The Star-Spangled Banner during the mayor's State of the City address yesterday in Denver.

Rene Marie, who was introduced by City Council president Michael Hancock to perform the national anthem, says she made the switch without informing the mayor's office.

Cross Posted on African American Political Pundit.com

Marie tells The Denver Post she decided to switch the lyrics months ago and will no longer sing the national anthem because she sometimes feels like a foreigner in the USA.

"When I decided to sing my version, what was going on in my head was: 'I want to express how I feel about living in the United States, as a black woman, as a black person,'" Marie tells KUSA-TV, a fellow Gannett property.

Lift Every Voice and Sing was first performed in 1900 to commemorate almost 40 years of freedom for blacks in America.

Mayor John Hickenlooper says he discussed the situation with Marie following her performance. "She was very apologetic," he tells the Post. "She meant no disrespect, and she was singing an artistic expression she thought represented love and hope for her country."

Marie tells KUSA-TV she has no regrets.

The Rocky Mountain News says the City Council president has been receiving hate mail, even though he had never met Marie before he introduced her at the State of the City event.

"I'm getting — as if I made the decision to do this — I'm receiving a lot of hate mail," he says. "I've received quite a few e-mails that are quite nasty.

Maybe what she did was ugly, maybe not. What do you think?

Tags: The Star-Spangled Banner, Black National Anthem, African Americans, Blacks (all tags)

Permalink :: 7 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: The Black National Anthem, (2.00 / 4)

I don't think it was ugly, the song was beautiful,she has a beautiful voice.
I do think if she decided to stop singing the National Anthem months ago, she should have informed the venue where she was supposed to sing the National Anthem, and if they so chose, they could choose to hire another singer.

by skohayes on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 06:41:27 PM EST

Re: The Black National Anthem, (2.00 / 2)

One black woman does not own the rights to grievance of life in America anymore than one poorer white or one poor Asian woman.

You see the circumstance of poverty that precedes the so called `lousy life' is not the sole proprietorship of black people.

He was warmly received by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who called him "a leader that God has blessed us with at this time."

by roxfoxy on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 08:03:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The Black National Anthem, The Star-Spangled (2.00 / 4)

I don't know, I think there are multiple valid perspectives on this one. I think that, if the singer had notified people ahead of time of her intentions, there would be no controversy. But, it does sound like the person intended to catch people off guard and to provoke some sort of response by turning a fairly routine and largely meaningless ritual into an ambiguous political statement. It's easy to see why some would take it as a sign of disrespect, no matter how well the song was sung. That's the risk someone runs when they decide to do something unexpected and provide no context to outsiders about their actions (I'd never heard of the song or its unofficial title before now), and I suspect that the singer knew that.

Obviously, though, racism has no place in this discussion.

by rfahey22 on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 06:44:39 PM EST

Re: The Black National Anthem, The Star-Spangled B (none / 0)

She claiming artistic license. Oh well then, don't expect universal acceptance. As a matter of fact, plan for outrage and confusion, because that's often what artistic license gets you.

that being said, anyone who doesn't get the part where she was paid to sing a particular song with an expected set of lyrics -- and that her not doing so would justifiably piss people off -- and trying to make some sort of race issue out of that -- well, bullshit.

BUT -- I fail to see what the hell this has to do with Obama. I also don't get why this is such a huge deal. Don't book her again to sing something specific; obviously she sings what she feels like singing. It's not like it was a World Series game, fer cripes sake. No one would have known about it if the press didn't see some stupid "significance" in this that really isn't there. The Denver City Council?? Why should I care again?

So, the interest of the press and the blowhard outrage out there seems suspicious to me, along the lines of "look what we are going to get if we let 'them' get out of hand." If Obama wasn't the presumptive nominee, would anyone give a damn about this story? Would it have lived more than 24 hours?

Sexism is real.

by grassrootsorganizer on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 07:53:42 PM EST

She was wrong for one reason (none / 0)

She was asked to sing the national anthem, which she did not do. Anything beyond that is making a bigger issue then it needs to be.

Being black does not give you the right to offend other Americans like this, its not what she was asked to do and she did not say she was going to do it beforehand. If people want the National Anthem, they want the national anthem. And I am black for full disclosure.

"Is there no keeping with class in whom we mingle with anymore?"

by Brandon on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 08:23:47 PM EST

Re: She was wrong for one reason (none / 0)

It certainly doesn't give her the right to offend other Americans.

But as an American, Marie has every right to offend us.

Happy 4th!

And far full disclosure, I am black as well.

by ChangeMatters on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 10:41:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Lift Every Voice and Sing! (none / 0)

I remember as a child, the only black radio station in our area was a "sunset" station (went off the air at sunset). The last song they would play as they signed off was the Black National anthem (Lift Every Voice and Sing), and that is where I learned the words. You should google the song and read the words. They are inspirational. I think she should have informed the organizers, tho.
The song itself, is beautiful.

by Mae Scott on Sat Jul 05, 2008 at 10:47:45 AM EST

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