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

[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.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

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.

They have been doing polls using class and race for sometime now so I don't think Obama has anything to do with the type of polling done.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by firstdown

They have been doing polls using class and race for sometime now so I don't think Obama has anything to do with the type of polling done.

Yeah, it's quite simple why they look at it that way. It's the same reason advertisers break people up by demographic. They want to target certain messages to certain audiences, and based on age/income/race/gender/location, they can tailor the message and distribute it in an efficient manner to garner more votes. If white women aged 18-35 are already heavily favoring Obama, he can refrain from putting too many TV ads on Lifetime and Oxygen. If white men are favoring McCain, he can refrain from advertising during major sporting events.

Same reason you see more commercials for beer and Ford Mustangs during football games than you do during Entertainment Tonight.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by firstdown

They have been doing polls using class and race for sometime now so I don't think Obama has anything to do with the type of polling done.

Hmm...I don't know about that. Anyway, not too long ago I saw a poll that said Obama is doing poorly among suburban "white" women. Why is such a poll even necessary?

[saden1]

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 agree as indicated in my first post.

[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?

[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

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Hog1

HOWEVER, I have a much greater problem what that pig, Roseanne Barr did to the National Anthem some years ago

Yeah, a lot of people have sung the actual anthem and done it complete injustice. I especially hate the stupid "O!" scream at the "Oh Say Does That Star Spangled Banner Yet Wave..." part. I think it's stupid at Orioles games, and doubly stupid everywhere else

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Yeah, a lot of people have sung the actual anthem and done it complete injustice. I especially hate the stupid "O!" scream at the "Oh Say Does That Star Spangled Banner Yet Wave..." part. I think it's stupid at Orioles games, and doubly stupid everywhere else

It's really annoying when it happens at a DC sporting event (ie, when the O's played the Nats in DC last weekend) because it seems like half the people yell it and then the other half starts to boo. Both sides are being idiots in that type of situation, IMO.

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Yeah, a lot of people have sung the actual anthem and done it complete injustice. I especially hate the stupid "O!" scream at the "Oh Say Does That Star Spangled Banner Yet Wave..." part. I think it's stupid at Orioles games, and doubly stupid everywhere else

Great point. Why doesn't anyone get pissed off about "home of the Chiefs?"

[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.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

I don't have any problem with it. It's a beautiful song. I suppose she didn't keep her word, if she agreed to sing the National Anthem, but whatever. I give her props for her courage.

After reading the lyrics, it is apparent that all races can relate to them -- not only African Americans.

America is defined by so much more than the War of 1812 (for which the Star Spangled Banner was written). I think this song is more reflective of America's struggle and character than the Star Spangled Banner.

[EternalEnigma21]

1st off America the Beautiful should be our national anthem, in my opinion... but if it is an American tradition to sing our national anthem, and someone sings any other song, it is very unpatriotic. Using a racial stance to hide behind a publicity stunt should be shunned upon by anyone on either side of the debate about the song. Singing both would have been a far more civilized statement, but we wouldn't be discussing it here... She knew that and took advantage of her situation. We're the drubs for buzzing about it now....

[BleedBurgundy]

If you read the comments readers have posted on the linked site, multiple people have said they won't vote for Obama now because of this. What the hell does one have to do with the other??? I'm not an Obama supporter but if you are basing your vote on something like this, do everyone a favor and stay the f home on election day.

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by BleedBurgundy

If you read the comments readers have posted on the linked site, multiple people have said they won't vote for Obama now because of this. What the hell does one have to do with the other??? I'm not an Obama supporter but if you are basing your vote on something like this, do everyone a favor and stay the f home on election day.

Especially when the article also has the following:

Even Sen. Barack Obama, campaigning for the presidency this week in Colorado, weighed in.

"We only have one national anthem," Obama told the Rocky Mountain News on Thursday. "And so, if she was asked to sing the national anthem, she should have sung that. 'Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing' is a beautiful song, but we only have one national anthem."