Did You Even Know there is a "Black National Anthem?"
By rightwingscottie Posted in Breaking News — Comments (17) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Did you even know there was a Black National Anthem that is different from the Star Spangled Banner? A controversy is breaking out in Denver as a singer, Rene Martin, was introduced to the crowd at Mayor John Hickenlooper's State of the City address to sing the national anthem. What she sang was "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson, sometimes referred to as the Black National Anthem. Words here: http://www.black-network.com/anthem.htm
I think the most offensive thing is that the proper national anthem was never sung.
Coverage has been virtually blacked out in the Denver media market, which at the time I write this, there is no mention of it on the websites of The Denver Post, The Rocky Mountain News, or any of the 3 major TV sites.
UPDATE: The Denver Media is beginning to cover the story. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/16762609/detail.html
Of course. Being proud of being white while being white is racist.
Being proud of being any other race is ok.
Just not white.
we're racist.
...
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Dependence is Slavery.
Hey I'd be happy to be allowed to simply not feel guilty for feeling white. I'm not particularly "proud" of being white necessarily, considering the wide range of great accomplishments and horrible crimes committed by white people in a wide range of countries throughout history. But I don't see any evidence that white people are any worse than any other race.
Western Civilization may have had slaves but it has also virtually wiped out worldwide slavery for the first time ever. Western Civilization may have had horrible wars but it is now very peaceful. As far as I'm concerned every race is equal and 99% of all differences betwen races are a product of culture and upbringing, not anything genetic.
member Trinity church....why along with his seal Obama will now be having this sung at events.....perfect!
Freedom of Religion NOT Freedom from Religion
Believe it or not, I am not slamming anyone but I do find it utterly amazing that it seems that some of you are just finding out that there is a "Black National Anthem" (called the "Negro National Anthem" when I was growing up). For the sake of this post, I will not comment on whether it is "good" or "bad" or "right" or "wrong"; I am just saying that I am surprised that, evidently, many of you are just now learning about it. I well remember learning it and singing it when I was in elementary school over thirty years ago.
Indeed, I know of many events -- including many official government, civic and legal events -- where it has been sung before all through the years. In many different states and venues.
Although I readily admit that it is not something that would come up in casual conversation but it does lead me to ask, do you have any Black friends or anything?
I'm sorry but it just seems so incredulous to me that you never heard of the "Black National Anthem" before. Whatever you think about it, whether or not you like it or not or don't even like the idea of it or not, I just find that very interesting.
Again, I am not trying to be confrontational and I am honestly not trying to "flame" anyone. I just find it very interesting and somewhat amazing that some of you have never heard of it before.
*****
Unrepentant African-American nationalist, Unapologetic African-American conservative!
I think the issue is not one of not having heard of it... but that it was played isntead of the ACTUAL National Anthem.
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Dependence is Slavery.
But the title of this blog is, "Did You Even Know there is a "Black National Anthem?"
And aside of the issue of whether it should have been played instead of the national anthem -- and my position on that issue may or may not surprise you -- I find the question posed by the title of the blog to be ... well ... interesting.
*****
Unrepentant African-American nationalist, Unapologetic African-American conservative!
Well, that's true... I can't speak for the one who made the blog, I was speaking for myself.
However, what is your position on the playing/singing of this song instead of our actual national anthem for such events?
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Dependence is Slavery.
*****
Unrepentant African-American nationalist, Unapologetic African-American conservative!
No worries, it just hasn't been my day for what seemed like dodgy answers. lol.
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Dependence is Slavery.
But make no mistake. I do like the song and think it does have it's place. Indeed, one of my most poignant memories of it being sung was at the public funeral services for Harold Washington.
I can think of many public venues where the "Black National Anthem" can, was, and should have been sung.
*****
Unrepentant African-American nationalist, Unapologetic African-American conservative!
I should add that I learned the "Black National Anthem" in the same public schools where we first started the day by putting our right hands over our hearts, facing the USA flag, and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
*****
Unrepentant African-American nationalist, Unapologetic African-American conservative!
Until today I have never heard of it. And judging by the reaction on the radio, I'm not alone.
As a matter of fact, when Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper was on the radio this afternoon, he admitted he had never heard of it either. Perhaps it's a Southern thing that us growing up in the North never were exposed to.
The main point of my post was not to condemn this song, but to utter my surprise that it existed. The secondary point was that this was inappropriate time and place to sing it.
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Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake - Napoleon
That's where I first learned and sang the song. But I have heard it all over the country.
By the way, thank you for not taking issue with my comments. Let me explicitly state that I am not mad or angry or think ill or whathaveyou with those who have never heard the song. In fact, I will also agree that it would be inappropriate to be sung instead of the "regular" National Anthem.
But I just find it interesting that so many (dare I say, "White") people have never heard of it before.
Again, I don't mean that as a "flame," I just honestly find it interesting.
*****
Unrepentant African-American nationalist, Unapologetic African-American conservative!
I grew up in South Dakota and moved to Colorado as a young adult.
I'm surprised that it seems to be well known amongst blacks, but almost unknown amongst whites like myself. At my office (admittedly a small sample - there are 6 of us), no one had a clue that such a song existed. Based on 2 hours of listening to the radio, we are not alone.
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Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake - Napoleon
And no, I had never heard of it before.
Actually, the more I think about it, I find it unbelievable.
Growing up in Maryland I never heard of the "black national anthem". I had lots of black friends as a kid and in high school, but I don't happen to have any close black friends right now. I'm just out of college and I honestly found the "progressive" college atmosphere to be easily the most segregated I have ever lived in. Of course where I grew up was so racially harmonious and integrated that I thought racism was entirely in the past through age 18.
I bet if we had a White National Anthem there would be an uproar of epic proportions.