Black National Anthem
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I just watched the shameful snubbing of our Star Spangled Banner National Anthem at Denver, and the singing instead of the Black National Anthem.
This is what it has come to? The blacks are already celebrating victory in November by cramming a new National Anthem down our throats.
Most of any chance I had of deciding to support Obama disappeared when I saw all the pictures of the people in the Middle East praying to the "Monkey God" for Obama's victory (Obama carries a replica of this "monkey God" in his pocket, along with the Virgin Mary).
Now, I would be more likely to vote for his Monkey God than I would vote for Obama.
This is what it has come to? The blacks are already celebrating victory in November by cramming a new National Anthem down our throats.
Most of any chance I had of deciding to support Obama disappeared when I saw all the pictures of the people in the Middle East praying to the "Monkey God" for Obama's victory (Obama carries a replica of this "monkey God" in his pocket, along with the Virgin Mary).
Now, I would be more likely to vote for his Monkey God than I would vote for Obama.
Rene Marie's unexpected choice at a mayor's event where she was asked to sing the more traditional song has prompted a chorus of criticism.
By DeeDee Correll, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 4, 2008
Link
((fist bump))=Unity
I heard something about a "black national anthem" but did not hear the rendition. I don't know what it has to do with Barack Obama, other than he happens to be black.
Also, run a google for "monkey god" and "obama". If you haven't heard about this then you might have a one-track mind....
I can Google any old thing and find it - there are a lot of freaks on the internet, ya know?
A jazz singer named Rene Marie was singing The Star Spangled Banner at Denver's State of the City event and changed some of the lyrics to include lyrics from "Lift Every Voice And Sing":
"Rene Marie sparked a lot of controversy by singing the “Black National Anthem" during Denver's State of the City address Tuesday. Marie was asked to sing the national anthem before the Denver event. However, instead of the “Star-Spang led Banner, “, the crowd heard “Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing, “ also referred to as the “Black National Anthem."
Marie sang the lyrics to the tune of the “Star-Spang led Banner."
Mayor John Hickenlooper said, at first, he was offended. “We were as surprised as anyone and she didn't tell anyone, she made this decision with her husband, her musical mentor and decided just to do an artistic expression and she kind of wove the two songs together, “ he said.
Marie says she meant no disrespect and wasn't trying to make a political statement. “I decided to sing my version. What was going on in my head was, I wanted to express how I feel about living in the United States as a black woman." She went on to say she “wouldn't change a thing" about the performance.
Hickenlooper did say that Marie apologized for making the switch.
“Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing, “ often called “The Negro National Hymn" or “The Black National Anthem, “ was written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson and then set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson in 1900.
It was first performed in public in Jacksonville, Florida as part of a celebration of Abraham Lincoln's Birthday on February 12, 1900 by a choir of 500 schoolchildren at the segregated Stanton School, where James Weldon Johnson was principal.
Rene Marie is a jazz singer who has recorded five albums since 2000, four of which were on the MaxJazz label. She has received much acclaim for her voice and has also performed at the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C."
Now, I have to admit I have heard "Lift Every Voice and Sing" - it is a gospel standard - but I have never heard it called "The Black National Anthem" before today!
It was at an event for the Mayor of Denver, his State of the City address.
Mike W
Tulsa+
Who knows our convention is in Denver, but sees no other connection
Rene Marie is an American, just like most of us on this blog.
AND like many of us on this blog, she does not like our national anthem. many of us consider it to be to war like in tone and do not like it.
Throughout the years many bills have been before our congress to change the national anthem to either My Country tis of thee or America the Beautiful.
Apparently this singer combined lyrics from both these songs and sang them at a national event.
SHE HAPPENED TO BE BLACK. But that is of no more consequence that if a white person did it.
She does not speak for Black America any more than if a white person who did this speaks for white America.
Like the "Star Spangled Banner," though, it isn't the easiest song to sing because of timing.
But if they hired this lady to sing "The Star Spangled Banner", despite the tendency for jazz performers to improvise, she probably should have not improvised this time.
I do not know the lady and have never heard her albums, but I reckon she was trying to make some kind of political statement by altering the national anthem in some way - she was certainly not the first person to do it, but I can remember several times in the past when people were up in arms because a singer at a ballgame or other event did not sing a straight, traditional version of the song.
Do you remember when Rosanne Barr made a pig's ear out of the national anthem? I remember it - wow, everybody was so mad at her! But I don't remember anyone blaming any politician for her stunt, do you?