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

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

[url=http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-anthem4-2008jul04,0,1711041.story]Denver singer opts for black national anthem lyrics over 'Star-Spangled Banner' - Los Angeles Times[/url]

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

[quote=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;455354]As Lady Brave said, it was a dumb decision on her part. But, is it really that big of a deal?[/quote]

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.

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

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.

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

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!

[YT]qciWEufZ2xA[/YT]

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

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.

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

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?

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

[quote=saden1;455368]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.[/quote]

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

[QUOTE=FRPLG;455358]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.[/QUOTE]

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.

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

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?

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

[quote=Schneed10;455376]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.[/quote]

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.

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

[quote=Schneed10;455376]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.[/quote]

I agree as indicated in my first post.

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

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.

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

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....

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

[QUOTE=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;455382]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.[/QUOTE]

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.

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

[quote=FRPLG;455420]

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.

[/quote]

Words to live by

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

[QUOTE=Hog1;455380]HOWEVER, I have a much greater problem what that pig, Roseanne Barr did to the National Anthem some years ago[/QUOTE]

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

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

[QUOTE=SmootSmack;455424]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[/QUOTE]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.

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

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.

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

[quote=FRPLG;455420]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.[/quote]

Good post.

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

[YT]_uDc5tQxmJY[/YT]

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

very few people have any respect for our country anymore. look at all the illegals waving the flag of mexico. and nobody says shit. this is america if you dont like it go back to where you came from!

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

[QUOTE=SmootSmack;455424]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[/QUOTE]

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

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

[quote=redskinjim;455483]very few people have any respect for our country anymore. look at all the illegals waving the flag of mexico. and nobody says shit. this is america if you dont like it go back to where you came from![/quote]

I have no doubt that you're truly as stupid as you sound...I will pray for you though I doubt it works on defective individuals like you.

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

[QUOTE=redskinjim;455483]very few people have any respect for our country anymore. look at all the illegals waving the flag of mexico. and nobody says shit. this is america if you dont like it go back to where you came from![/QUOTE]

Is this a joke? A bad joke?

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

[quote=BleedBurgundy;455427]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.[/quote]
Especially when the article also has the following:
[QUOTE]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."[/QUOTE]

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

[quote=redskinjim;455483]very few people have any respect for our country anymore. look at all the illegals waving the flag of mexico. and nobody says shit. this is america if you dont like it go back to where you came from![/quote]
Not a great way to make a point....BTW what is your point.

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

[quote=12thMan;455389]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.[/quote]
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.

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

[quote=firstdown;455631]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.[/quote]

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.

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

[quote=firstdown;455631]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.[/quote]

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?

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

[quote=12thMan;455638]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?[/quote]

For campaign strategy.

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

[QUOTE=12thMan;455638]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?[/QUOTE]To give former sociology majors (like myself) a job after college.

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

[quote=Schneed10;455641]For campaign strategy.[/quote]

But Schneed some independent group polled a total of 1,000 women and the media, namely MSNBC, took off and ran with the results as if it had some legitimacy.

What's the real value in polling 1,000 women from the burbs and drawing some conclusion about the larger electorate? None.

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

[QUOTE=12thMan;455643]But Schneed some independent group polled a total of 1,000 women and the media, namely MSNBC, took off and ran with the results as if it had some legitimacy.

What's the real value in polling 1,000 women from the burbs and drawing some conclusion about the larger electorate? None.[/QUOTE]Hear hear. That's just slightly more people than they poll for Celebrity Family Feud.

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

[quote=12thMan;455643]But Schneed some independent group polled a total of 1,000 women and the media, namely MSNBC, took off and ran with the results as if it had some legitimacy.

What's the real value in polling 1,000 women from the burbs and drawing some conclusion about the larger electorate? None.[/quote]
Don't discount the soccer moms of America!

;)

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

[quote=12thMan;455643]But Schneed some independent group polled a total of 1,000 women and the media, namely MSNBC, took off and ran with the results as if it had some legitimacy.

What's the real value in polling 1,000 women from the burbs and drawing some conclusion about the larger electorate? None.[/quote]

Oh yeah, goes without saying that if you're trying to use a poll like that to draw conclusions about the larger electorate, you've got no idea what you're doing. So if that was MSNBC's intent, they're being retards, unless they're able to put it into context within overall state populations. But a poll like that does tell you how Obama is faring amongst a certain part of the population, which can indicate which messages he may push ahead with in the coming weeks/months. It also highlights the issues that are most important to certain parts of the population. For example, the working class and the poor are going to have a totally different set of priorities than the affluent.

You can also use these polls to examine historical data. Historically, there has been a very strong correlation between the candidate picked by certain demographic groups and the winning candidate. If you establish that historical correlation, you essentially establish that demographic as a swing vote. Polling that group can then be a helpful barometer for the upcoming election, provided you put the proper context around it.