woman sings "black national anthem" instead of star spangled banner.

[jsarno]

There is some serious outrage going on about this, while others are proud she did it. What's your take?

Denver singer opts for black national anthem lyrics over 'Star-Spangled Banner' - Los Angeles Times

[Lady Brave]

There's a time and place for everything. It was inappropriate IMO. If she had a problem singing the anthem, she should have declined or let them know of her intent.

If I had been standing there, it would have been very difficult for me not to step forward from the crowd and try to lead the assembly in singing the anthem myself.

[mooby]

I think this can only fuel racial tensions. I'm not trying to disrespect anyone, but like LB said there's a time and a place, and that was most certainly not the time or the place for that. If you are asked to sing the National Anthem, you should feel honored, and I feel that she kinda just disrespected us by singing that instead. If she wanted to sing that song, she should've asked if she could sing that song after she sang the National Anthem. You really shouldn't use an opportunity to sing a respected song like the NA to advance yourself as an artist by singing the BNA.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

As Lady Brave said, it was a dumb decision on her part. But, is it really that big of a deal?

[mooby]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

As Lady Brave said, it was a dumb decision on her part. But, is it really that big of a deal?

It's not so much that it is a big deal, although in today's society it most certainly is going to become a big deal because something like that is a sensitive issue.

I just feel that you really shouldn't mess with the National Anthem like that. Everyone takes pride in our National Anthem, and I think singing the Black National Anthem instead of the actual one is just kinda disrespectful to people of other races.

[FRPLG]

I think it seems disrespectful that one race gets to have their own "National Anthem" honestly. That's real good for unity and race relations. Can anyone sing the words to the "White National Anthem"? I shake my head in this country at how so many people can stand on their bully pulpits and speak out against racial divisions but fail to speak up when individual races seek to highlight and strengthen those same divisions when it suits them.

[saden1]

What a dumb ass. She's never getting invited to sing anything again that's for sure. Seriously, if you're invited to sing the national anthem, you're invited to sing THE National anthem. You sing The Star-Spangled Banner and try to not embarrass and make a fool of yourself...this is how you do it!

[saden1]

As for the black "national" anthem, I have no problem with it's existence considering it was written right after the civil war and was officially adopted in 1900. To be honest here The Star-Spangle Banner and it's predecessor "Hail, Columbia" rang all the right tunes but not for African Americas. They talked about freedom and all of that meanwhile African Americas were enjoying all that slavery and Jim Crow had to offer.

[djnemo65]

The issue I have is not with what she did, which was dumb, but it becoming a national news story. We now live in the outrage culture, in which every perceived affront to American tradition and values is debated on awful news shows, made to be part and parcel of a larger assault on American heritage.

She's an obscure jazz singer who did a stupid thing at a local event. Why give her the celebrity of even acknowledging her?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by saden1

As for the black "national" anthem, I have no problem with it's existence considering it was written right after the civil war and was officially adopted in 1900. To be honest here The Star-Spangle Banner and it's predecessor "Hail, Columbia" rang all the right tunes but not for African Americas. They talked about freedom and all of that meanwhile African Americas were enjoying all that slavery and Jim Crow had to offer.

True, but it's the same United States of America that later decided slavery was a horrible idea, eventually gave blacks the right to vote, and ended segregation.

She didn't sing the song in 1863. She sung the song in 2008.

I get that the song is rooted in history, and should be appreciated for the two different worlds blacks and whites lived in back then. But it's not like that now. If you want to put out a CD with that on it, go for it. But at a public event? To me it was very self-indulgent and inappropriate.

[Hog1]

Petty and stupid.
To me things like this just manufacture more ammunition for the haters. While she may think she is striking a blow for something, I think the opposite is true.
HOWEVER, I have a much greater problem what that pig, Roseanne Barr did to the National Anthem some years ago

[mredskins]

People probably said a lot of the same stuff that is said here when Rosa Parks decide the front of the bus is a much better option.

Because one time someone decide to sing the "black" anthem over the national anthem, who cares you can hear the national anthem a million times.

Until today I never knew their was a black national anthem. Glad she sang it I learned something new today.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I think it seems disrespectful that one race gets to have their own "National Anthem" honestly. That's real good for unity and race relations. Can anyone sing the words to the "White National Anthem"? I shake my head in this country at how so many people can stand on their bully pulpits and speak out against racial divisions but fail to speak up when individual races seek to highlight and strengthen those same divisions when it suits them.

But why do so many people get annoyed at the ACLU when it tries to get states like Mississippi and Alabama to remove giant tablets of the Ten Commandments from state buildings? It oftentimes seems that those in the majority (e.g., Christians) have no problem when their own heritage is celebrated, but seem to get annoyed when minorities (e.g., agnostics) get uppity.

[70Chip]

I suspect she's gotten what she wanted which was some easy publicity.

I wonder which is the worst: Changing the words to the national anthem, forgetting the words to the national anthem, or flagrantly butchering the national anthem a la Roseanne Barr?

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

True, but it's the same United States of America that later decided slavery was a horrible idea, eventually gave blacks the right to vote, and ended segregation.

She didn't sing the song in 1863. She sung the song in 2008.

I get that the song is rooted in history, and should be appreciated for the two different worlds blacks and whites lived in back then. But it's not like that now. If you want to put out a CD with that on it, go for it. But at a public event? To me it was very self-indulgent and inappropriate.

I'm leaning toward you on this one, Schneed. Personally, that's the first time I've heard of the Black National Anthem and I'm black for crying out loud!

The biggest issue I have with this, however, is one of motive. The motive of the lady singing the song and the motive of the media coverage. For one, had she sang this song during, let's say, the month of February -Black History Month - while it still would have been unacceptable in my view, at least it would have provided a tacit of context for her behavior.

On the other hand, I too question the media's motive for making this a national story. It's not like it was at national event for the world to see. This could have very much remained a local story. So my only reasonable conclusion, and maybe I'm reaching here, is that they both were trying to somehow connect this story with this year's Presidential election.

Now neither the lady nor the media have admitted this, but every chance the media get's to disect polls related to Obama, they segregate and highlight class and race. And we all know how race and gender has been front and center throughout. I wonder if she was intending to signify racial pride on some level by sending this subtle message; that she's proud of this moment.

Also consider Denver will host the DNC convention next month.