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article image'Black National Anthem' Sung at Denver State of the City Address Spurs Angry Reaction

Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  Samantha A. Torrence in Politics | 15 comments | 635 views
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A woman invited to the State of the City address in Denver to sing the American national anthem, decided instead to sing what is knows as the "Black National Anthem" and solicited an angry response.
The State of the City address in Denver Colorado turned into a venue for "artistic expression" yesterday. Chanteuse René Marie, a local Jazz singer, was invited to sing "The Star Spangled Banner." Instead she sang a hybrid of the lyrics to "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" to the tune of "The Star Spangled Banner." Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing is often referred to as the Black National Anthem.

Mayor John Hickenlooper was deeply disappointed and offended at the singer's action that over shadowed his speech. He expressed a wish that Rene Marie would have discussed the song with him before hand. Marie apologized for offending, saying she was only trying to show her love for her country in a unique way.

Rocky Mountain News reports:

Marie said she had no regrets. She deliberately didn't tell anybody about her song choice "because I don't think it is necessary for an artist to ask permission to express themselves artistically," she said


Some felt Marie's expression was rude to say the least, and that there is no substitution for the National Anthem. City officials have also received hate mail over the incident.


LIFT EV'RY VOICE AND SING
also known as "The Black National Anthem"
by James Weldon Johnson


Lift ev'ry voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring.
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise,
High as the list'ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast'ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet,
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee,
Shadowed beneath thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.
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  • sumdume Posted Jul 2, 2008 by  sumdume
    #1
    Thanks for posting the story.

    Any bets on how long it will take for the talk show jocks to say that Senator Obama will change the National Anthem to the BNA;)
  • Hargrove Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  Hargrove
    #2
    She was wrong to offer something different than what she was contracted to do. Actually, she could get sued for it, she breached her contract.

    In her defense, sometimes people have legitimate issues, but they select illegitimate ways of addressing them.
  • Jedediah Redman Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  Jedediah Redman
    #3
    Such a breach of contract really grates on folks who prescribe to the notion that people ought to know their place.
  • Samantha A. Torrence Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  Samantha A. Torrence
    #4
    @ Hargrove
    She was wrong to offer something different than what she was contracted to do. Actually, she could get sued for it, she breached her contract.

    In her defense, sometimes people have legitimate issues, but they select illegitimate ways of addressing them.


    I am sure she had something very important to express, I am just a time and place kind of person. Like if she had arranged it before hand she could have probably sang both back to back. People would have been far more accepting I am sure, I know I would have.


    @ sumdume
    Thanks for posting the story.

    Any bets on how long it will take for the talk show jocks to say that Senator Obama will change the National Anthem to the BNA;)


    lol yup I am sure a shock jock will start something over it.


    @ Jedediah Redman
    Such a breach of contract really grates on folks who prescribe to the notion that people ought to know their place.

    Lets run Amuk, amuk, amuk, amuk. Because Jed wants anarchy so people can lose all sense of society and start killing, raping, stealing, and we can turn into barbaric troglodytes, quit farming, go back to nomad hunting and killing for shits and giggles!!
    If'n ya do like society, there are plenty of Cabins in the woods with no internet connections and only the grumpy bears to keep you company. Just ask I am sure we can take up a collection to send you to one. =)
  • Hammster Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  Hammster
    #5
    Red, Yellow, Black and White we are precious in who's sight?

    I believe that every person will say they're not prejudice, but won't know what it means to see everyone as GOD does, until someone they love (who is of a different color or nationality) is deeply hurt by racist remarks.

    The Star Spangled Banner is a "war song" - can we fight racism and terrorism at the same time, but not without help from GOD. When it gets to be "White America" or "Black America" I'll find another country.
  • redhawk Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  redhawk
    #6
    OK Ok .. At ease ya'll .. take this unsavory incident as a preview of what is meant by " CHANGE"...
    At first "change" was but an oratorial typical political piece of junk... and Some are taking it seriuously with the demostrated " appetizer" before the Main Course...
    Enjoy !!!!
  • redhawk Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  redhawk
    #7
    @ Jedediah Redman
    Such a breach of contract really grates on folks who prescribe to the notion that people ought to know their place.

    Sick.. Sick.. Sick...
  • redhawk Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  redhawk
    #8
    @ Hammster
    Red, Yellow, Black and White we are precious in who's sight?

    I believe that every person will say they're not prejudice, but won't know what it means to see everyone as GOD does, until someone they love (who is of a different color or nationality) is deeply hurt by racist remarks.

    The Star Spangled Banner is a "war song" - can we fight racism and terrorism at the same time, but not without help from GOD. When it gets to be "White America" or "Black America" I'll find another country.



    .. may want to start looking for new quarters.. a look who is starting the divisiveness.. .. they claim one thing but they practice in reverse mode BIG Time!
  • Hammster Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  Hammster
    #9
    Redhawk - I grew up in the South and I've seen people (whites and blacks) have a change in heart. It took them agreeing with GOD's view (that we are all created equal, but not born equal.

    Example: I attended the graduation service for my niece this past month. The young lady giving the commencement speech has a fowl mouth, but got a round of applause when she said, "We're all born equal, but some of us need sun block and some don't."

    If I'm born equal then the world's eyes I should viewed the same as a Kennedy, or a Rockefeller or a Bill Gates or a ML King? WRONG. We'll not all born with the same talents, money or poverty or length of life.

    "Born Equal"- NO

    "Created Equal" - YES

    I'll move when Obama (Obee) or whomever makes the laws to "CHANGE" one to the other.

    Chanteuse René Marie was given a privilege to sing not an entitlement to do her you go girl friend jazz - thing.
  • redhawk Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  redhawk
    #10
    @ Hammster
    Redhawk - I grew up in the South and I've seen people (whites and blacks) have a change in heart. It took them agreeing with GOD's view (that we are all created equal, but not born equal.

    Example: I attended the graduation service for my niece this past month. The young lady giving the commencement speech has a fowl mouth, but got a round of applause when she said, "We're all born equal, but some of us need sun block and some don't."

    If I'm born equal then the world's eyes I should viewed the same as a Kennedy, or a Rockefeller or a Bill Gates or a ML King? WRONG. We'll not all born with the same talents, money or poverty or length of life.

    "Born Equal"- NO

    "Created Equal" - YES

    I'll move when Obama (Obee) or whomever makes the laws to "CHANGE" one to the other.

    Chanteuse René Marie was given a privilege to sing not an entitlement to do her you go girl friend jazz - thing.


    I agree that God needs to be always recognized.. One of the reasons that bothers me is that " In God we Trust" is a stand aginst that the progressive Liberal Sector of our Country is working very Hard to eliminate .
    many of the Traditional Values of our Great Country:
    The National Anthem
    The Pledge of Allegience
    " in God we trust"
    Service inthe Military and so on
    are being dervalued by this groups.

    and so on.. Unfortunately until proven wrong , based on his so far rather empty slate and questionable associations for the past 25 or so years ( Alinsky, Wright, Ferrakahn ..) I have very serious reservations regarding Barack. Obama.
    Not to say that I could not voter for the Right Black person or Woman... I just have reservations reagrding Obama's ties with Move On.. and their direction also.
    Now Colin Powell I'd have voted for Him .. Military man.. Executive experience.. Honorable and a self made man.. From CCNY to the highest Military position and high Government level positions...THAT is EXPERIENCE severely missing from Obama Resume.. Oratory without background ain't cutting it with me....Anyone can write speeches or "program" a Candidate.. BUT Who is he and what has he done????
  • DAVID SMITH Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  DAVID SMITH
    #11
    THE NATIONAL ANTHEM SHOULD BE SANG AS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM ...IT IS AN AMERICAN ANTHEM IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT OR DON'T LIKE IT THEN MOVE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY....JUST LIKE HOW EVERYONE WANTS TO BE REFERRED TO AS SOMETHING-AMERICAN.....THERE IS ONLY ROOM FOR " AMERICANS" IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT OR CANT BE A TRUE AMERICAN AND DON'T LIKE THE RULES THEN GO LIVE IN SOME 3RD WORLD COUNTRY ...THANK YOU !
  • avatar Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  Nikki W (karateblossom)
    #12
    @ DAVID SMITH
    THE NATIONAL ANTHEM SHOULD BE SANG AS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM ...IT IS AN AMERICAN ANTHEM IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT OR DON'T LIKE IT THEN MOVE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY....JUST LIKE HOW EVERYONE WANTS TO BE REFERRED TO AS SOMETHING-AMERICAN.....THERE IS ONLY ROOM FOR " AMERICANS" IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT OR CANT BE A TRUE AMERICAN AND DON'T LIKE THE RULES THEN GO LIVE IN SOME 3RD WORLD COUNTRY ...THANK YOU !

    well said...regardless of race, colour or creed, religion etc - it is still AMERICA.
  • redhawk Posted Jul 3, 2008 by  redhawk
    #13
    @ Nikki W (karateblossom)
    well said...regardless of race, colour or creed, religion etc - it is still AMERICA.

    COPY THAT... Unless some want a separate Nation in which case LIBERIA was so set up a long time ago!
  • avatar Posted Jul 6, 2008 by  SuperSockPuppet
    #14
    Wait. I thought the black national anthem was "Where da hood at" by DMX.
  • redhawk Posted Jul 6, 2008 by  redhawk
    #15
    @ SuperSockPuppet
    Wait. I thought the black national anthem was "Where da hood at" by DMX.

    DAT Be also

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