Aug 31, 2016 mark clague says the national anthem doesnt glorify slavery or racism but it is a product of its time. National anthem has always been tainted with racism. The star spangled banner, americans hazily remember, was written by francis scott. A statue honoring francis scott key, author of the starspangled banner, was vandalized last week in baltimore, apparently because of the perception that the national anthem is racist for. If this verse replaced the third and fourth verses of keys lyrics, we would have a national anthem that truly embraced freedom for all people in our country. The star spangled banner and slavery is the legacy of black slavery enshrined in a lesserknown stanza of the u. The forgotten verses of the starspangled banner everything. The lyrics come from the defence of fort mhenry, a poem written on september 14, 1814, by the then 35yearold lawyer and amateur poet francis scott key after witnessing the bombardment of fort mchenry by british ships of the royal navy in baltimore harbor during the battle of baltimore in the war of 1812. The songs popularity increased enormously during the civil war. B y now youve probably heard the claim that americas national anthem, the star spangled banner, is an expression of racial hostility toward african americans and should be either. It is one of the most racist, proslavery, antiblack songs in the american. The attack on fort sumter, south carolina in april 1861 launched the nation into civil war and brought about lasting changes in how americans viewed and used the star spangled banner.
By the time of the civil war, some on both sides tried to claim it as their own. We should understand that for many years the american flagnot the confederate flagwas, for cubans, the starspangled banner of slavery. The song was penned by a slave owning lawyer who spent a lifetime fighting against the rights of africanamericans. The flag in the civil war share photos and stories. The new slaves for whom no last names are listed were all born subsequent to the making of the star spangled banner. About the star spangled banner the star spangled banner is a charity single recorded by american singer whitney houston to raise funds for soldiers and families of those involved in the persian gulf war. Take down the star spangled banner its way past time.
Francis scott key, songwriter of the starspangled banner, defended slavery and attacked the abolitionist movement. The star spangled banner lyrics and slave is a direct reference to the british practice of impressment kidnapping american seamen and forcing them into service on british manof war ships. Key saw the fort hold during the attack and was inspired to write the star spangled banner, which became the u. It is one of the most racist, pro slavery, antiblack songs in the american.
The starspangled banners racist lyrics reflect its slave owner. The starspangled banner does not celebrate slavery the. There are dozens of articles online saying the starspangled banner has an extra verse that talks about the deaths of slaves. Aug 29, 2016 the starspangled banner and slavery is the legacy of black slavery enshrined in a lesserknown stanza of the u. Why we should be protesting the national anthem the intercept. No refuge could save the hireling and slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave. After a century of general use, the fourstanza song was officially adopted as the national anthem by an act of congress in 1931.
The national anthem has always been tainted with racism. For many black americans, it rings of the unfilled promises of their country. The missing verse of the star spangled banner that may change. Does the star spangled banner have an extra verse referring to the killing of slaves. The star spangled banner, national anthem of the united states, with music adapted from the anthem of a singing club and words by francis scott key. The starspangled banner s racist lyrics reflect its slave owner author, francis scott key francis scott key and colin kaepernick are perfect opposites in a drama of privilege versus protest in. Does part of the national anthem talk about the death of.
During the 19th century, the starspangled banner became one of the nations bestloved patriotic songs, performed during both public events and more personal gatherings. Some people try to claim he was writing about some other group of slaves, but there is no historical evidence that slave referred. Key believed that anyone who would consider abolishing slavery was willing to associate and amalgamate with the negro. Sep 06, 2018 national anthem the starspangled banners racist lyrics reflect its slave owner author, francis scott key. Sep 28, 2017 and the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave while the land of the free is the home of the brave. During the war of 1812, key witnessed the attacks on baltimore and wrote the words based on his experiences this night.
Mar 02, 2020 the starspangled banner becomes official u. Slavery and the star spangled banner chamblee54 said, on september 14, 2017 at 10. Saturday to discuss his book what so proudly we hailed, which looks at the cloudy back story behind francis scott key. By the time the song officially became the countrys anthem in 1931, it had been one of. The popularity of the star spangled banner grew continuously in the decades after key wrote the lyrics. Nowadays, almost no one sings the third verse of francis scott keys the star spangled banner, and for good reason. Does part of the national anthem talk about the death. Key was an aristocrat and city prosecutor in washington, d. Jan 27, 2020 the star spangled banner, long a treasured symbol of national unity, has suddenly become one of the most racist, pro slavery songs in american culture. There was a lot more to the man than just that he wrote the starspangled banner under dramatic circumstances. The starspangled banner and slavery is the legacy of black slavery enshrined in a lesserknown stanza of the u. Detail of portrait of francis scott key by joseph wood, 1816 image via walters art museum its third verse uses the word slave, but it may not. Apr, 2017 the 30foot by 42foot star spangled banner that inspired the national anthem was made in the summer of 1812 by a 37yearold baltimore widow named mary young pickersgill. In defense of the national anthem and francis scott key.
Historians disagree on whether the starspangled banner is racist. B y now youve probably heard the claim that americas national anthem, the starspangled banner, is an expression of racial hostility toward african americans and should be either. Yesterday, a monument to the starspangled banner and to its author, francis scott key who lived in georgetown, washington, d. Francis scott key observes the bombardment and the u. September 14 is recognized as the anniversary of the writing of the starspangled banner by francis scott key in 1814. A statue honoring francis scott key, author of the star spangled banner, was vandalized last week in baltimore, apparently because of the perception that the national anthem is racist for. There are dozens of articles online saying the star spangled banner has an extra verse that talks about the deaths of slaves. Reasons the star spangled banner shouldnt be honored by. Like so many famous songs of yore, the star spangled banner started as a poem, called the defence of fort mchenry. After this war, the attitude of the white man towards the natives got worse.
By now youve probably heard the claim that americas national anthem, the star. While the first verse of the starspangled banner is widely known by the american public, the last three verses are generally omitted in performances. Francis scott key and colin kaepernick are perfect opposites in a drama of privilege versus protest in america. Aug 30, 2016 the starspangled banner wasnt written for people like kaepernick. Slaves, the national anthem and other notable comments. The star spangled banner, after all, reinforces america as the land of the freea notion irreconcilable with the millions of slaves in the nation. Historians disagree on whether the starspangled banner.
Francis scott key and the slavery question the globalist. The missing verse of the star spangled banner that may. In 1814, the poet and lyricist francis scott key penned the lyrics to the starspangled banner, originally known as defense of fort mhenry. His role in sustaining slavery adds another layer to the kaepernick kneeling. Spangled banner, is an expression of racial hostility toward african americans and should be either. From day one, the united states has always struggled to walk its talk. How did the starspangled banner become the us national anthem.
It was an article that lied about history to promote a radical ideology. Lets take the national anthem literally, and the songwriter. Star spangled banner writtenonly for freemen, not for. Mark clague says the national anthem doesnt glorify slavery or racism but it is a product of its time. The lyrics come from the defence of fort mhenry, a poem written on september 14. The song was penned by a slaveowning lawyer who spent a lifetime fighting against the rights of africanamericans. Protests against the starspangled banner are not new. Francis scott key, who wrote the starspangled banner, celebrated slavery in the original lyrics. Francis scott key august 1, 1779 january 11, 1843 was an american lawyer, author, and amateur poet from frederick, maryland, who is best known for writing the lyrics for the american national anthem the starspangled banner. Francis scott key was a lawyer who witnessed the daylong assault of fort mchenry by british troops during the war of 1812. Beyond the transgression of its author, the star spangled banner is a national joke due to our inability to sing it or to remember the words of even the first verse there are four. Francis scott key august 1, 1779 january 11, 1843 was an american lawyer, author, and amateur poet from frederick, maryland, who is best known for. He points out that key lived for more than 28 years after his song was published.
Fifty years later, in 1861, poet oliver wendell holmes sr. Opinion africanamericans and the strains of the national anthem. Sep 24, 2017 cnnquarterback colin kaepernicks refusal to stand for the traditional pregame singing of the starspangled banner in protest of racism in the united states is proving to be a potent attack that will add a vibrant chapter to the fascinating history of the us national anthem. Author and historian marc leepson joins cbs this morning. Its a song every american has heard countless times, but how much do you really know about our national anthem. Slavery and the star spangled banner posted in history, race, uncategorized by chamblee54 on september 24, 2012 there is a terrific backstory episode about the war of 1812. Star spangled banner writtenonly for freemen, not for slaves, not hired indentured. Francis scott key, who wrote the star spangled banner, celebrated slavery in the original lyrics. Written by francis scott key, the star spangled banner is the national anthem of the united states. National anthem the star spangled banner s racist lyrics reflect its slave owner author, francis scott key. Aug 28, 2016 colin kaepernick is righter than you know. Inevitably, some writers questioned the merits of the starspangled banner itself, pointing toward the fact that its author, francis scott key, was a slave. Aug 29, 2016 francis scott key, who wrote the star spangled banner, celebrated slavery in the original lyrics. Oct 03, 2016 star spangled banner as youve never heard.
A poorly written report by snopes popularized this bad information to verify the illogical justification of many nfl players to kneel during the national anthem. The star spangled banner wasnt written for people like kaepernick. The starspangled banner is the national anthem of the united states. Associated press i like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Lets take the national anthem literally, and the songwriter at his word. To understand the full starspangled banner story, you have to understand the author. Abolitionist star spangled banner oh say, do you hear. It was written by francis scott key in 1814 during the war of. In the case of our national anthem, the starspangled banner, perhaps not knowing the full lyrics is a good thing. Aug 31, 2016 the star spangled banner lyrics and slave is a direct reference to the british practice of impressment kidnapping american seamen and forcing them into service on british manof war ships. The slave owner who stitched the original starspangled banner. Jul 04, 2018 and the starspangled banner in triumph doth wave. Sep, 2017 there is nothing to suggest that the star spangled banner is racist or pro slavery. He helped shape the national debate on slavery, which was the no. The starspangled banner wasnt written for people like kaepernick. Like so many famous songs of yore, the starspangled banner started as a poem, called the defence of fort mchenry. Usa today columnist james robbins explores the history of the song and its author to answer these questions. Why ill never stand again for the starspangled banner.
The starspangled banner, americans hazily remember, was written by francis scott. Sep, 2014 the starspangled banner, so often a prelude to our ceremonies for others, finds itself on center stage this weekend as baltimore, the city of its birth, celebrates the national anthems. There is nothing to suggest that the star spangled banner is racist or pro slavery. Aug 29, 2016 thom reads an article by shaun king, which shares the racist, missing verse of the star spangled banner that has made him never want to stand for the anthem again. Francis scott key opposed land of the free zinn education. Sep 10, 2015 beyond the transgression of its author, the star spangled banner is a national joke due to our inability to sing it or to remember the words of even the first verse there are four. When san francisco 49ers quarterback colin kaepernick decided not to stand for the national anthem, he set in motion a chain of events that not even he a. The star spangled banner is the national anthem of the united states. Title of an online article from the cato institute addressing current charges that keys use of the word slave in his third stanza of his.
Thom reads an article by shaun king, which shares the racist, missing verse of the star spangled banner that has made him never want to stand for the anthem again. Jul 05, 20 francis scott key and the slavery question what role did the famous author of the starspangled banner play in the debate over american slavery. The starspangled banners racist lyrics reflect its slave. The starspangled banner american national anthem britannica. The starspangled banners racist lyrics reflect its.
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