Rumors that the National Football League plans to play the “Black National Anthem” before the games after their return have not satisfied anyone. People either think it’s divisive or don’t go far enough to fight racism.
The NFL plans to have “Lift Every Voice And Sing” performed live or before every game of week 1, ESPN reported on Thursday, citing “A source familiar with the league’s discussions.”
The move would be just one of the measures Commissioner Roger Godell wants to think about to raise awareness “Systemic Racism.” Other planned actions include listing the names of African Americans killed by the police on players’ uniforms and creating educational programs.
Hey fix / address police brutality, lack of black representation, systemic racism, etc. The NFL: you get a week of the Black National Anthem???? pic.twitter.com/WqAmgLrE6D
– JT ™ (@JTandNene) July 2, 2020
Far from pleasing social justice activists, the rumored move was condemned as a meaningless gesture in the face of concrete demands. A prominent #resistance activist even called for the song to continue playing after the first week and that former player Colin Kaepernick, who started the trend to kneel for the U.S. national anthem, needed to be hired by a team.
The NFL, which plays “Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing” (also known as “Black National Anthem”), is a meaningless gesture if: 1) Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned2) the league supports anything but players who take # TakeAKnee .3) only one game is played a week. https://t.co/hn3NdlUuk2
– Matt (@nosoupforgeorge) July 2, 2020
In the meantime, conservative experts and activists were outraged at the idea of a “Black anthem” argue that the “Star-Spangled Banner” represents all Americans and describe the rumored NFL stunt as undesirable “Urge to separate our society again.”
Hey @NFL, there is no black or white national anthem. There is only the national anthem! ????????
– Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte), July 2, 2020
so the division continues I see. The left and the enlightened among us continue to urge to separate our society. I’m sorry, the Black National Anthem is played at NFL games? “Really?” The actual national anthem doesn’t cover all people? Fill me out
– Joe Pags Pagliarulo (@JoeTalkShow) July 2, 2020
‘Lift Every Voice And Sing’ was written in 1900 and set to music in 1905 “Negro national anthem” 1919 by the National Association for the Promotion of Colored People (NAACP). Part of it was recited when President Barack Obama took office in 2009 and performed at the opening ceremonies of the National Museum of African-American History and Culture in 2016.
The musician Rene Marie caused a scandal in 2008 when she was asked to show the “Star-Spangled Banner” at an event in Denver, but instead used the words “Lift Every Voice And Sing”.
Social justice activists have developed resentments against the U.S. national anthem in recent years and have objected to a rarely used verse about a “Rent and slave” as well as the fact that its author, Francis Scott Key, had been a slave owner.
Also on rt.com
Are national anthems like “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Save the Queen” racist and do their lyrics need to be revised by 2020?
A precedent for the use of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before the national anthem was set when NASCAR used some of it at the opening of the Pocono 350 race on June 28 in Pennsylvania. Previously, the Stock Car League had asked the FBI to investigate allegations that a “Loop” had been planted in the garage of the African American driver Bubba Wallace. The FBI decided it was a door handle and no hate crime had been committed.
Do you think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
