Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Black Anthem??

What an incredible mess!

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=123223

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Well she was enjoying herself. HA.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" — often called "The Negro National Hymn" or "The Black National Anthem" — was written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) and then set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson (1873–1954) in 1900.

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" was first performed in public in Jacksonville, Florida as part of a celebration of Lincoln's Birthday on February 12, 1900 by a choir of 500 schoolchildren at the segregated Stanton School, where James Weldon Johnson was principal.

Singing this song quickly became a way for African Americans to demonstrate their patriotism and hope for the future. In calling for earth and heaven to "ring with the harmonies of Liberty," they could speak out subtly against racism and Jim Crow laws—and especially the huge number of lynchings accompanying the rise of the Ku Klux Klan at the turn of the century. In 1919, the NAACP adopted the song as "The Negro National Anthem." By the 1920s, copies of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" could be found in black churches across the country, often pasted into the hymnals.
In 1939, Augusta Savage received a commission from the World's Fair and created a 16 foot tall plaster sculpture called Lift Every Voice and Sing. Savage did not have any funds for a bronze cast, or even to move and store it, and it was destroyed by bulldozers at the close of the fair.[1]
During and after the American Civil Rights Movement, the song experienced a rebirth, and by the 1970s was often sung immediately after "The Star Spangled Banner" at public events and performances across the United States where the event had a significant African-American population.[citation needed]

In Maya Angelou's 1969 autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the song is sung by the audience and students at Maya's eighth grade graduation, after a white school official dashes the educational aspirations of her class.[2]

In 1990, singer Melba Moore released a modern rendition of the song, which she recorded along with others including R&B artists Anita Baker, Stephanie Mills, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Brown, Stevie Wonder, Jeffrey Osborne, and Howard Hewett; and gospel artists BeBe and CeCe Winans, Take 6, and The Clark Sisters. Partly because of the success of this recording, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was entered into the Congressional Record as the official African American National Hymn.



Wiki.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift_Every_Voice_and_Sing

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

I really couldn't care less what the lyrics are. They could be a straight quote from scripture, and I still wouldn't appreciate it. "Statements" like this just try my LAST nerve.

And it is an HONOR to be asked to sing the national anthem.

She disrespected every single AMERICAN at that event--AND her country.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/fiveliveb...owersalute.jpg

This stirred muched debate at the 1968 Olympics too.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Why the need to make oneself distinct FROM American tradition? Isn't the whole idea to integrate INTO American culture? Why fight to be a part of something you don't respect or appreciate?

I don't get it.

I have no problem with Special Hymns for Special Occasions. However, certain things such as the American flag, the National Anthem, and other symbolism should be held sacred and respected above other similar symbols. To be placed on the same plain as another song, flag, etc., is inappropriate, and to even combine them is inappropriate. IMO, anyway.

We still teach our kids to stand up when saying the pledge of allegiance, to place their hands over their hearts, and our son to remove his hat during the pledge or the national anthem. I suppose that's old fashioned. I don't consider times of patriotism to be the platform for personally gratifying political statements.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

I don't care about your feelings. :) She disrespected Americans, whether you "feel" that she did or not.

It would be equally annoying for a Christian to be asked to sing the national anthem and to sing "Amazing Grace" instead.

Some people try justify a rude and inappropriate action by pointing out that it was noble or even self-sacrificing. But really, it's just rude and inappropriate, and the superior "cause" is irrelevant.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Now certain patriotic songs about love of country and God are reified as sacred and some not so sacred ... oh boy....

Had she sung God Bless America or America the Beautiful (what we sang in grade school after the pledge) ... would we be having this conversation?

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

I didn't say that all Americans "felt disrespected", Daniel. :) I said, "She disrespected." I'm aware that she will have sympathizers, American or not.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Hmmm. Maybe you need to have this conversation with someone else, because I am VERY rigid about this sort of thing.

In my opinion:

1. From a patriotic standpoint, she missed the mark.
2. From a standpoint of etiquette, she missed the mark.
3. From one singer to another, she missed the mark.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

I like Bill Cosby. :D

What do you think he would say? :coffee2 (Other than the above quote)

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Who knows ... who cares? What is it w/ some of you ... sheesh.

Either extreme and dogmatic in theology or in political ideology...

Y'all really need to chill:toofunny

She sang a patriotic song out of turn and will suffer the consequences ....

Whatevah.

Talk radio must be slow these days.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Dan - bottom line - No, you wouldn't "feel" disrespected - because you aren't normal.... :boxing :boxing

MissB You are right on in all aspects! You go girl! :happydance:happydance:happydance

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

I always thought it was interesting that they hung their heads.......why didn't they raise them up if they were so proud?

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

:toofunny

I'm not an American and have no real right to comment. So just ignore me if you choose.

I think if someone is asked to sing the National Anthem of thier country and they decide to sing something entirely different without permission, they are inviting criticism. To sing the national anthem at an event is a great honor.

The National Anthem of the United States is for every American Citizen to sing proudly. Black, White, Hispanic, or even Texan :D

The land of the free and the home of the brave.
I think it speaks for itself.

It seems to me that the lady wanted to make a statement and garner attention. Even the "brother" behind her was looking with a "whaaaaa???" expression.

I'm with Miss B, if I were an American I'd be a bit turned off.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

What was an insult to me was she tried to make the words fit to the tune of our national anthem.

As Miss Brat mentioned, it would be like someone singing "Amazing Grace" to the tune of the national anthem when asked to perform "The Star Spangled Banner"before an important public gathering. I would be just as insulted!

Well, she got her 15 minutes of fame! What a cockroach!

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

She did not use wisdom, that is for sure...

I can remember as a teen, the only Black station was a low powered one. At 6 pm it went off the air with a choir singing "Lift every voice and sing..."

I thought it was so beautiful...

The tragedy about this recent event is not just her total disrespect, but that it now may cause some look with disdain at truly beautiful and moving song.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Yeah, If I just won the olympics, I think I'd be raisin' my big swelled head up, and stick my chest out just as far as I could regardless of either anthem.:bliss

I primarily only have one problem with it, which is in the last line: true to our native land. What about being true to our United States of American land. There could be hint of question on loyalty to America, since it wasn't mentioned.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

One must remember the time in which the poem was written...

My thoughts re the young men with bowed heads...as a teen seeing this, I thought their bowed heads were in respect...and they were making a statement.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Yeah, that's a good point on probably being "bowed heads for respect". I do think they could stand to throw some "American Loyalty"(true to America) in the last line, since their singing it "nowadays", long after the break away from slavery.

I just wish I could hear the video. My speakers aren't working, so all I can do is watch it.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

I agree with Miss Bratty on this. Personally, I kind of like the song "Lift E'vry Voice..." but things do have their place and time. To completely usurp the National Anthem sends a message of divisiveness.

Artists are given a tremendous amount of liberty to interpret and express themselves, but there are lines that should not be crossed. For example, Mickey Mangun's "... the free! ... the free ...!" went over okay whereas Rosanne Barr's crotch scratching was rightly vilified.

Add to this event in Denver the fact that the mayor himself was shut out of the last minute "change" in the program and one really is left with the impression that the whole affair was a usurpation and subversion.

It was supposed to be the one day of the year when the local mayor gets to stand in the spot light and set forth his goals for the city and region - instead it became a soap box for a stranger and no one even remembers anything that the mayor said.

That's the problem often encountered in making such statements. As someone else pointed out concerning the 1968 Olympics "salute," then American men held their heads down. As I recall, one of them said at the time that they bowed their heads out of humility and "respect" for the fact that they were disrupting the Olympic spirit and tradition with their raised fists.

The singer in Denver would have done well to show a little more respect for the venue that she was usurping by immediately breaking into the National Anthem immediately after "Lift E'vry Voice..." Her antics will probably end up costing Obama some Colorado votes.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Just to be sure I was not misunderstood in starting this thread... I have little or no issue with the words.

The issue is that someone would so disrespect others as to make a political and racial statement when afforded the opportunity to sing the National Anthem.

Agenda or ignorance it matters not. Things like this that hurt the cause she hopes to promote (if it includes good PR for the black community).

I feel the same way about it as I would if she had sung CLC's "I'm a Pentecostal"

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Yes, the song is not the problem. It was using the words to the National Anthem and taking advantage of the honor of singing it.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

The thing I have the most problem with is that she used the melody of our national anthem to sing a song which has a totally different melody.

Next it will be sung to the tune of "God Save the Queen"!

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Hey now!!! :D

No, Stephen Hoover is working on a version sung to the tune of "I'm a Pentecostal"

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

:toofunny:toofunny:toofunny

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

What is so disappointing to me is the cry for unity, yet the actions still show division.

I heard a commercial on the radio this week for a black college here in Memphis. They said "attend where everyone looks like you and talks like you"................WHAT??????

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Agreed...however, someone mentioned the words, so that was my response.

I agree with all that she was wrong in doing as she did...

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Back in the day when Morehouse, Wilberforce, Howard, and a few others were established, that was the only means of education afforded to people of color.

Today, the commercial for the school in Memphis does sound disappointing.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Do you suppose she regrets it at all?

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Are you kidding? Her 15 minutes of fame probably quadrupled her bookings and income!

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

Excellent point Stephen. I agree.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...
 

I would say probably not.........she knew what she was doing and wanted to make that statement.

I think if I had been in charge of the event I would have politely walked her off the stage and come back to lead everyone in singing the National Anthem.

I guess they kept thinking she was going to finish by singing the original anthem.

Re: Black National Anthem?? What in the world...