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!

[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?

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

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.

Because it is the ACLU. They are the poster child for their reputation preceeding them. Tons of things they advocate and fight for are probably pretty solid issues but it gets lost in the high profile crap they espouse in other situations.

My point is that allowing groups of people to segregate themselves culturally on seeks to maintain divisions in the races when I think it would be better to break down ALL barriers.

MLK said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. "

Well we judge because we perceive differences and we perceive differences more greatly when they get high-lighted. If we are to ever actually break the barriers of skin color and be truly color blind then we need to try to at least to do that much. We need to try to ignore skin color as much as possible.

I am not saying the history of African Americans isn't of value to us culturally or educationally but I think as time goes on it needs to become less and less prominent and all races need to start looking at ourselves as just Americans. To do otherwise seems to just perpetuate the problems.

And this all ignoring the effect that self segregation has on the small minded who see it as support for their bigotted ideas.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

MLK said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. "

I am not saying the history of African Americans isn't of value to us culturally or educationally but I think as time goes on it needs to become less and less prominent and all races need to start looking at ourselves as just Americans. To do otherwise seems to just perpetuate the problems.

Words to live by

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Because it is the ACLU. They are the poster child for their reputation preceeding them. Tons of things they advocate and fight for are probably pretty solid issues but it gets lost in the high profile crap they espouse in other situations.

My point is that allowing groups of people to segregate themselves culturally on seeks to maintain divisions in the races when I think it would be better to break down ALL barriers.

MLK said "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. "

Well we judge because we perceive differences and we perceive differences more greatly when they get high-lighted. If we are to ever actually break the barriers of skin color and be truly color blind then we need to try to at least to do that much. We need to try to ignore skin color as much as possible.

I am not saying the history of African Americans isn't of value to us culturally or educationally but I think as time goes on it needs to become less and less prominent and all races need to start looking at ourselves as just Americans. To do otherwise seems to just perpetuate the problems.

And this all ignoring the effect that self segregation has on the small minded who see it as support for their bigotted ideas.

Good post.

[70Chip]

[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.

[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.