Why we "Lift Every Voice and Sing" | The story behind the 'black national anthem'
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2017
- With so much debate around the national anthem recently, we thought it was time to revisit the historic meaning of "Lift Ev'ry and Sing," the song unofficially known as the 'black national anthem.'
theGrio's Deputy Editor, Natasha Alford, breaks down the story behind the 100+ year old hymn and its meaning to our culture.
Read more here: thegrio.com/2017/10/07/why-we-...
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I am a proud graduate of "New Stanton," the successor to the school where the work was first performed (and of which James Weldon Johnson was also a graduate before completing higher education and returning to the school to serve as it's principal. He made it into a high school. Today the school is called "Stanton College Preparatory School," and is one of the highest-rated public high schools in the country. James Weldon Johnson was also a fantastic writer and novelist. His novel, "The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man," is totally mind blowing, but it is NOT about the author. To help make that clear, he subsequently wrote his actual autobiography, and it is entitled "Along this Way." It is also quite excellent.)
@don1carter: Your alma mater has a RICH history. Thanks for the info.👏👏👍👍😁😁 Btw, Mr. Johnson's brilliant book, "The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man", is one of my favorite novels since it was assigned to me to read years ago in college along with the W.E.B. Dubois classic, "The Souls of Black Folks". Fyi, I grew up near the Fisk University campus where Dr. Johnson taught many, many years ago. While I still live in the same city, I don't live in that neighborhood but I occasionally go through the Fisk neighborhood. Earlier this year while passing through that area, I noticed that the house where Dr. Johnson lived (There is a plaque detailing this.)when he taught at Fisk had been beautifully renovated. I was glad because in the recent past it had fallen into serious disrepair.
@@elainesmith7512 So glad to hear that his house near Fisk has been repaired. Never been to that city but it's on my bucket list. Here in Jacksonville a stretch of I-95 has now been named the James Weldon Johnson Memorial Highway and it is noted that this is his birthplace. Some 30 years ago the city erected a plaque commemorating his birth place, but I've been told by knowledgeable sources that they (inadvertently?) put it in the wrong location. SMH
@@don1carter As I wrote, I only go to that neighborhood when I have business on that side of town, and when I did go there it always bothered me to see how terrible it looked. But it looks WONDERFUL now. Yes, you should visit Nashville, "Music City, USA" with an MSA population of over a million people. We are blessed with TWO HBCUs, Fisk and Tennessee State University. I graduated from TSU. We are also the home of Meharry Medical and Dental school where many, many black doctors and dentists from America and around the world have studied and graduated. Take care, and thanks again for the info about this brilliant man.😁
don 1 carter and most important of all he was a REPUBLICAN.
@@gandolfthewhite Yes, I agree Dr. Johnson was, as most black Americans were in those days, Republican when it was the party of Abraham Lincoln not today's party of Trump. I suggest that you read about the "Southern Strategy" implemented by the Republicans after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Bill and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Their passage and enforcement resulted in the gradual change in the philosophies of each party. I don't know if you are a troll or ignorant or both, but you need to educate yourself.
like the man said, it a song that gave African Americans HOPE. I don’t think this song makes somebody a “black supremacist”. African Americans aren’t saying they want to be separated with this song, they’re simply taking a song and making it theirs. Making it something to uplift them and put them in good spirits when times are hard.
I just don’t understand why when African Americans do or make something for themselves, it’s bad and it’s not supported. We can’t worship ourselves without somebody saying well what about this race, what about that. Like why can’t we cherish ourselves and uplift ourselves without making it seem like we’re “black supremacist”
I agree, but I also think labeling it an anthem is a bit much
Let's just leave it as the hymnal for sure
Only weak bucks and wenches think that
I was taught this in preschool
I taught it to my Korean students in Chuncheon, South Korea.❤️
Awesomeness! Thanks for making a big difference in the world! ❤
why? its a racist black supremacist song
@@007kingifrit its no such thing as black supremacy if being black means 3/5's of a human SMH😞😞
@@chim7741 yea that was 150 years ago you aren't going to get any sympathy from me, get over it
you want to be oppressed so you can find excuses for your black supremacy
@@007kingifrit its no such thing as black supremacy! I don't know who made that up. White supremacy is definitely real
Lift every 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 faith that the dark past has tought 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 day that hope unborn had died;
yet with a steady beat,
have not our weary feet,
come to the place on witch 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 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 frm the places, our God, where we met thee,
least our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee,
shadowed beneath the hand,
may we forever stand,
tru to our God,
Tru to our native land.
You got list'ning correct a lot of folks say listening 👍
You might think about correcting the mistakes in these lyrics.
@@jeanielovetri9157 Why, did the missing (e) stop you from understanding the other words? You are so damn petty. I bet you don't or never said anything about other poems lyrics, just this one about Black pride.
paula turner It’s so sad, this is how it’s getting to be! Instead of complimenting, or just saying that’s really interesting, like old English, it’s all about criticism, picking, bullying. We are all children of a loving God, the Ten Commandments are being forgotten.
I agree.... but the FACT that the “REAL NATIONAL ANTHEM” is to UNITE ALLLLLLLLLLLL... ahem... ALL RACES. ALL GENETICS- all PEOPLE OF GOD.
The “BLACK” National Anthem is nothing but RACISM THAT the Dems pushed on African Americans. And you’ve been brainwashed unfortunately. I pray to THE LORD THAT
YOU ALL SEE THE POLITICS WANTS TO KEEP WHITES AND BLACKS SEPERATED:
Lift Every Voice and Sing did not start as a poem as stated at the .32sec mark. From the lips of James Johnson himself, it was an idea he had that he and his brother would write a song. Read The Autobiography of James Weldon Johnson "Along This Way" for why he wrote the song.
It was definitely a poem first
Don't forget Denise Williams and Al Green covered it before the 90s.
1985
We had to sing this every morning before school...Belmont Runyan elementary school in Newark.
I grew up in Newark NJ and I learned the song at school too.
We use to sing this in church and at Grambling events.
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Never forget ❤
I was super proud I knew all the lyrics just like the older guy. I learned it at my grandmother's church and YWCA Camp 🙌🏾
You like being a racist?
@@jaredguidry1753 do explain your mindset 🤔
@@sweetncool would it be cool if there was a whites only national anthem?
@@jaredguidry1753 it's not really a black only anthem. The white girls that went to the camp learned it as well for history purpose. It's really just one from slavery that anyone can really learn. I mean its saying let their be peace on earth. Just read the lyrics
@@sweetncool okay, but its literally titled the black national anthem. This insinuating that for some reason black people need to have more of a sense of pride based on race rather than nationality
How could you overlook Kim Weston!!
We opened our Girl Scout meetings singing this. ♥️
You definitely look like a Girl Scout I’m sure with that beard you’re very sexy and a Girl Scout dress I’ll make me a sandwich bitch
Love this song! A very powerful testimony. I like the version Kim Weston sang at the Watts event back in the day. Very uplifting.
Before God was taken out of school we would recite a biblical scripture and then sing this song all three verses
Can't stand this with too many runs! No! Please stop!
Lol. Ikr. Just sing the melody. Sing the song. Keep it simple.
I agree! It is beautiful and moving as originally written.
But if this was not how you were brought up that way......🤷🏿♂️
I was taught this in church
I'm confused what country has one set of songs for people of color oh yeah that was America that did that before so many died to stop the evil injustice people suffer when they are not treated as other citzens. One nation under God has one anthem.
One nation under God. Do you understand the importance of that phrase alone? If it were a nation under God at any point in time, the injustices that led to the authorship of Lift Every Voice and Sing, would have never occurred to begin with. It’s insane that a nation established in 1776 took close to 200 years to end segregation and allow blacks to vote. My parents can recount living in the segregated south and how members of their family were lynched and they’re only in their sixties. It’s odd to me how everyone just wants black people to completely forget their history here in America.
Excellent video, especially the compilation of groups/soloists & verse lyrics 🌈 thank you
This song explains the history of Black people of the United States!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Christian song written for a white president...whose monument is now racist...good God, people
The song was not written for him or about him. It was written in 1899 and performed for Lincoln’s bday some years later.
Tant d'émotions cette chanson😢😢😢😢😢😢😭😭😢😭🎉🎉💃🎉🎉
3:09 The second on the left "But if homeboi 's coming with this national anthem, homeboi's gonna like... get it."
Also, since when is a person properly referred to as having duel titles! I'm called a white man and an American and not a Polish American. African American terminology means duel citizenship.
Apparently, you do know history. The terminology for blacks have changed throughout history. It is not something that Blacks have done. Terms: Negro, Colored, Afro-American, Black, African-American
Rospan Dhinal 6
We need this so much right now. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thats so stupid , this athem on the NFL ONLY give force to the "racismo" that doesnt exist in US !! The black ppl are integrated , and is American since i have been born 83 !!
You need 2 parent homes and the ability to defer gratification.
No we dont.
lll2910 who needs this so much right now? Nice song. Uplifting song. Not going to replace our National Anthem.
III2910 who is we? What do you think you will accomplish?
Was written for Abraham Lincolns birthday.
First recited for Abraham Lincoln Birthday not written for him.
It was actually written as a tribute to Booker T. Washington, a black conservative...And did I mention that it was also written by a black conservative??
Thank you for your video! It really helped me explain the significance of this song to my class of first graders.
@Brady Mardany It is in the books. Nice try WS.
Beyonce/Vogue brought me here.
What's wrong with the one we have now.If the original is racist to blacks,then this is racist for whites.And im Hispanic.
😂 your ignorance is showing
He was an amazing Leader, also a conservative republican.
And
True
Who?
Wut
We only need one (1) National Anthem.
this song comes from a time when black people were most likely told the Star Spangled Banner wasn't for them, it's a fucking title, it's not actually competing for the spot of the national anthem, it's about what it meant to those people over a hundred years ago
The song is beautiful song
Is this a religious song? Will each ethnic group now have their own anthem sung? I thought we were supposed to be one nation.
If this is supposed to be one nation, than sharecropping, black codes, jim crow, redlining, & allowing slavery to be legal through prison wouldn't have happened/been happening to black americans. And if those weren't created, the song wouldn't have become a thing.
@@sontho6995 Yet here you are spewing your hate on RUclips in the year 2020. Who do you think created modern technology and gave everyone in this country the freedoms and rights to spew their hate publicly? How else would you be here as a free person without the "group" which you hate so much? Your people enslaved and sold you like some tool shed item. The group that you hate so much eventually corrected their wrongs and well, here you are enjoying those privileges.
@@blunthonest1 Who do you think decided to make black slaves worth 3/5ths a human and had the 13th amendment allow slavery to still be legal to this day? Who do you think decided to put crack into the poor communities & then start a law arresting people who have crack? Who do you think decided to introduce sharecropping after slavery was made illegal?
Every group enslaved & sold their own, it was when one group won a battle over the other; the greeks did it, the romans did it, etc. Chattel slavery was introduced & dehumanized human beings & even after slavery was illegal, America still couldn't live without it, that's how sharecropping. "spewing your hate" nothing was hurtful towards anyone in my comments, but I guess talking about the atrocities that america pulled would hurt you.
@@sontho6995 Wtf are you even talking about slavery still being alive today? Drop your crackpipe!
@@blunthonest1 You were already talking about it before I did & you were using as an excuse for how black people were dehumanized during this period.
💜
2:24
The National Anthem is for EVERY American. No other "National" anthem is needed unless a specific population wants to leave America and start their own country somewhere else.
How is it for every American when the third stanza supports slavery. Don't worry I'll wait.
We built this American country we are more American than your immigrant family
I've never commented on a video before, but I felt compelled. Thank you for posting this. You gave me goose bumps and tears with this compilation. Thank you, thank you. It was beautiful.
You like being a racist ?
I call it beautiful.
We HAVE to keep fighting and making changes to show our abilities of excellence 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏽💪🏻💪🏽🙏🏾🙏🏾✊🏾
T Cook it is your fighting that isn't going to show your abilities. Fighting and causing problems when none exist except what has been put in the mind of the black man is causing you a problem.
@@gandolfthewhite the fight I am talking about is for CHANGE in the INJUSTICES towards people and that is worth causing problems when its been a problem for DECADES and it NEEDS TO STOP the INJUSTICES then WE can heal
@@tcook7147 those injustices were planted in your mind by Obama. There hasn't been any injustices for decades. Your leaders have convinced you otherwise. You aren't going to stop injustice and heal anything burning and looting your own neighborhoods. Causing millions of dollars worth of damage by destroying the heart of a city isn't punishment equal to the death of Floyd who was a sadistic thug. His rap sheet goes back to 1998. He even served 5 years in prison for beating a pregnant woman and sticking a gun to her pregnant belly with 4 other men while robbing her. If that thug had been gunned down on a street in a ghetto somewhere no one would ever had heard of him. A small minority of you 42 million blacks are going to stop a majority of us 170 million whites from supporting you.
@@gandolfthewhite again this is about INJUSTICES not property damage
@@tcook7147 again this is about your believing all the stories that cops are killing blacks when none of it is true. I guess you don't care about the 80 year old black woman who walked to the store everyday for her food in Minneapolis? The injustice to her is that the store was burned to the ground and she isn't able to purchase food anymore or get other things she needs. That is just one isolated incident. Another young black woman who just had a child has no store to go to anymore for formula or diapers as well as food. The store was looted and burned to the ground. This scenario is magnified thousands of times in just Minneapolis alone. There are thousands of people living in Minneapolis who have no cars and can only walk to the stores. So you are saying that those people don't come first before a thug? I guess Black Lives don't even matter to you?
Awesome share! Wishing you many more blessings.
Racist
You don’t matter more then any other stop pushing over others
I always thought America the beautiful would make a better anthem than Star spangled banner.
AGREED
I first heard this song in elementary and have loved it ever since. A beautiful song ❤
Negative
The gentleman at 11:55 may be the best example of what an American should be.
I don’t mind this. It seems like a nice song.
How unifying😂
Absolutely ridiculous!!
Stop with the ignorance
He was also a proud member of the republican party.
In the past. Today, that's the same party bashing the song and calling it racist even though there's nothing in it that judges or praises one race over the other. Definitely NOT today's Republicans. Not even close.
GamerZrage Right!
@@yahtoray3 hey genius nobody's calling it racist we're just saying it divides us even more. That is the whole goal of the media.
They selectively leave things out like the fact that George Floyd held a pregnant woman at gunpoint. or according to the last UCR you are 25 times more likely to be attacked by a black man as a white man as vice versa. Just the other day at 12 year old was punched on the street dancing just because he was white did the mainstream media say anything about it no. Liberals are useful idiots.
4touchdowns1game Hey genius, if you look at the history of the song and WHY it was made juxtapose to how white people were acting during that time you’d see why it came into being. You guys claim titles and expect respect or gratification while doing horrific shit. None of you have that same energy for the people who start all of this and continue this, but act as if those reacting to racist white people’s actions are some how equal when they hardly face the consequences for their actions.
Never new about this I thought it was made up. I learned something today and it should be played after all sporting events.
a racial anthem should be played after sporting events? you a black supremacist? not very unifying
Hey hey Hey. I know I'm a late comer to this thread. The Song Is a GREAT song. Just take the "Black" out. Perhaps an "Alternative National Anthem". Crazy using a GREAT song to subtlety divide people. BTW I'm a White Guy.
THE NFL RUclips PAGE HAS 6.66 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS, HOW POIGNANT...
A black national anthem? What about a Native American national anthem? Or a Muslim national anthem? Do they get one too?
Don’t encourage them cause to be honest if we don’t stop this here and now they will.
Black native americans
Mary Carson asain native Americans
I see you un the school
There is only one national anthem , is not w.e this is.
love it, beautiful
What I don’t understand is why you sing this song and do the OPPOSITE of what the lyrics are.
You'd have to ask white people that.
@@joeterzio7175 no... it's not white culture.
Then it's no different than a normal hymn sung in a normal church.
Black don’t deserve a black anthem cause there is not Black Country. America is every one home and SSB is every one anthem.
This beautiful song is a piece of grit in the eye of white fragility. Lift every voice, loud and clear at every opportunity. No justice, no peace.
You want justice? Behave. Simple.
Nice song. Not the national anthem. At all. It's a church song.
No one said this was the national anthem. And btw, the Star Spangled Banner is a war song.
So it's a war song. So what? Do you know how we won independence? Through a war.
So you want a divided America?
It was written to celebrate Lincoln birthday and booker T Washington visiting a group of school kids
I will be kneeling through this song with my fist raised if it is used to replace the Star-Spangled Banner.
I’ll be whistling as loud as I can all the way through.
I’m hear to tell you right now, we don’t care 😂
Micaiah Simmons trust me if your community try’s to fight people over dreads their gonna care about this
SketchMan 1O1 actually we don’t. Interviewed all the black grandmas and grandpas at church where it’s played every Sunday and they said they don’t care 😂😂
SketchMan 1O1 and plus those are two different topics so
Bravo, Lift Every Voice is a huge improvement over the Star Spangled war song!
I would really appreciate making the song more inclusive by replacing the religion references with the shared humanity of all.
Even without my proposed change, I support Lift every voice as it for replacement of the obscurest, war song, Star Spangled...
Yo, you said that so perfectly. I feel the exact same way with every line you wrote.
Same
I definitely think we should know about the song, but this should be taught in addition to NOT INSTEAD of the actual national anthem
If you were talking about The Constitution of America being really more inclusive and true shared humanity, then yes. Religion is different for every person that walks this earth, so lets leave it out of this conversation and stay just on the poem/song. It is perfect as is. We at Sumner said this every morning and at every meeting for the four years I attended.
**@tom500k I agree with you 100%**
Kim Weston
First of all I respect where respect is deserved! At least have the common sense to call a song or poem or saying what it was given. There is no "Black National Anthem" to begin and end with! There is a Negro National Anthem and that is the name! At least be honest with everyone!
Why didn’t they use Swing Lo Sweet Chariot? That’s a good song.
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is a coded spiritual about escaping slavery. Lift Every Voice and Sing, while it mentions the struggle black Americans faced, is rooted much more in hope. "Facing the rising sun, of our new day begun, let us march on, till victory is won."
LindsLebl swing Lo is indeed a spiritual (Christian) song. But nothing to do with slavery itself. It’s referring to the story of Elijah when he ascended to heaven on. Chariot of fire. Many Christian worship songs talk about going to heaven.
@@MrTibTib1991 I have a degree in music education and I can absolutely tell you that swing Low is a coded spiritual about enslaved people escaping. In fact, most spirituals not only served the purpose of "work songs," but were used as a form of communication due to the fact that they couldn't speak while working. They would bury the coded message in a biblical text to confuse any slave owners who might have been listening.
LindsLebl it’s a bullocks degree. You’re just repeating another person who was wrong. “Coded message” idea just sells well.
@@MrTibTib1991 ok
This should be the nations national anthem. The Stars Spangled Banner is for the birds. Has anyone read the words in the third stanza? If you really want to hear its beauty, Oakwood University Choir sings the most beautiful rendition that I have heard.
Lol your dumb, the nation anthem has been around way longer, if u guys paying attention, the black.national anthem was written for a white man bday, this shit is a joke and a lie
no black people should keep some things for ourselves
DO YOU REALIZE THAT WE WOULD BE PART OF ENGLAND IF WE HAD LOST THE WAR OF 1814
That is a church hymn people, not the black national anthem. Hope they got the author's permission.
Well the author was alive and working in the NAACP in 1919 and 1920. So I'm thinking he was ok with the whole idea. Imagine that a black man so successful during his time but still thought his people could use a thankful, hopeful and God centered song to uplift them on life's journey.
This is a beautiful song. I am sad that I have never heard it until now and under this stupid circumstance and being called “black national anthem” how stupid. I wish it was sung in my church. Oh, I love the five young men and the three young women singing, two thumbs up for both.
Lord forgive us all and help unit us. Not through black lives matter but through Jesus. Leviticus 19:15-18 you shall do no injustice in court...you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but ...you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
What's stupid is that you don't honor the history and the importance of the song. It's called the Black National Anthem because it was written as a call fpr hope and encouragement for Black Americans who were oppressed and suffering.
I get why you would call it the black national anthem, the problem is optics and unfortunately it does end up also having negative optics despite the intentions were to never have it negative. Maybe National anthem for Emancipation? It sounds long winded and I am not even sure if it is appropriate.
There is nothing typically too inappropriate of the song, it is a bit religious but whatever. It is what it is.
The song is great. That's NOT the issue. The issue is the term "National Anthem" is in there. Let's break down the definition of "National Anthem", from Google. "a song that praises a particular country and that is officially accepted as the country's song." -- I'm sorry... does that say "a song that praises a particular RACE"??? NO. It's about coming together as a country. This is division.. once again.
National anthem in the figurative and metaphorical sense. As you imply they are songs used by nations to rally behind. Well for the black community that is what this song is. It is the song that their community can rally behind together similar to how those of a nation does
Back when I was in the 2nd grade, I attended a primarily black elementary school in Detroit, Michigan. Every morning to close out the morning announcements, we would have to sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing". Every week a different student was chosen to lead in the Pledge of Allegiance and the closing "Lift Every Voice and Sing". I got chosen at least twice that year and each time I remember the office got really quiet due to my singing. Made me proud.
beyonce sang this too
Two anthems = two nations?
Song is beautiful. But take that word “National Anthem”. We can call it the Beautiful Black or Hope song...
It's still is national hymn for black Americans
I’m just trying to learn the history, but hear a bunch of randos sing it
It’s stupid. But at least they singing it in English.
Beautiful song ment to unify not divide. I am a Christian and I will be kneeling when this song is playing. All lives matter because Jesus is Lord. The left wants to segregate anthems now 🤦🏽♂️
We all heard this song. if you haven't you probably don't have a childhood
Will be played before games in the NFL for Week 1. Beautiful!
The very definition of racism. Beautiful
You are the sole definition of what a hypocrite is, And anti American.
This is a beautiful song, and I, a white 58 year old American woman living overseas since I was 15 am learning about today. It moved me, it uplifted me, it made me long for a home I have had in my mind for a very long time but that I realise today has never really existed.
Reading the comments below I see a continued divide : many commenters are upset that "the black community" should have their own national anthem, others think maybe all ethnicities should each have their own, others yet want to force the "Star Spangled Banner" down everyone's throats, some say the USA is ONE country, others disagree, etc.
My comment : Why don't, through these changing times, we all get together and rewrite a new National Anthem that talks about all of our shared ideas and wishes for a future United States of America. Not forgeting our histories, but dwelling on what we can ALL aspire to in a new future together.
patchmum Filibuster: Thank you for being a normal human being!!!!! That was a great comment. Again, thank you!!!!!
The Revolutionary war won for us our freedoms, the war of 1812(when the Star Spangled Banner was written) affirmed our resolve for freedom, and the Civil War finished the job of freeing all people. I know that Democrats have put chunks in the way of freedom for all people, with Jim Crow laws and such, but, Republicans finally put an end to that nonsense, even though it took a very long time(about 70 years). I bet you forgot history already, haven't you? That's the problem. People have a tendency to distort truth, and that's why we do need to continue teaching it. It has an effect on the future, because those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. I'm sure you have heard that before.
@@2nemobob The republican party just took a long time to get the place the Democratic party of the epoque realised was the wrong way to go. Today, the republican party is the party of racism, of xenophobia, of hatred, and followers of trump show it to the world every day. Don't crow to loudly about republican accomplishments, Bob, they are not noteworthy. As to the Star Spangled Banner, I suggest you reread it in its entirety. It is not the uplifting song for everyone. As to the civil war - if you really believe it "finished the job of freeing all people", I suggest you start rereading that history too with special interest to the African American population, to women, to children of all races. It did not free everyone. And America is still not free today - not of hatred, not of racism, not of bigotry, not of guns, not of false christian cults, not of politics, not of megadonors, not of millionnair lobbyists.
It is time to change the future of the United States of America so that everyone can finally be free. But there is a lot of work to be done yet. So I'll lift my voice also, if I may, and sing "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and ignore little people of your ilk.
@@patchmumfilibuster7202 You are absolutely wrong. Abraham Lincoln was a Republican, and the first 22 Black members of Congress were Republicans, and there were Black lawmen, and such, before the Democrats instituted the Jim Crow laws. The KKK was a Democrat terrorist group, designed to scare Black people, and the abolitionist that settled in the South from voting for Republicans. In the 1960's, it was the Republicans who put in the civil rights laws, which the segregationist in the south fought against violently. It was the Democrat party that was against desegregation of the schools, and everything else. It is the Democrat party who believes that they can keep Black people under their thumbs(in their plantation, so to speak of), by saying that they don't have the ability to pass college without their help, and can't do as well in the workplaces. That's why they feel that they must make it easier for them to be hired, and for them to attend colleges. The Democrats are the racists who want to hold black people down, while, at the same time, getting their votes. Republicans have never been slave owners or racists. Now, there may be a few who just simply don't like black people, but, you cannot just all Republicans by them. The Democrats believe in buying the votes from black people by doing things such as giving them free phones.
@@patchmumfilibuster7202"No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."----- Slavery existed at that time, and existed for thousands of hears before that. This is NOT a good example against the Star Spangled Banner at all. It is putting slaves in the same level as hirelings. This song is about a particular battle in history. Do you even know that?
I think this song is beautiful and powerful, and am all for it being played. However, our National Anthem is supposed to unify us. All Americans, all colors. Calling this the "Black National Anthem" completely goes against that and not only DIVIDES us, but is goingto do more harm than good. This is only the beginning. It starts with the song, then are you trying to go back to separate schools, and busses too? It's appalling that our country has come so far and you still allow yourselves to be victimized, and are actually causing this nation to go backwards. I don't understand the hypocrisy by people who claim that they want equality between races, but then go and agree with something like this that only segregates us. You're your biggest problem. EDUCATE YOURSELVES (search Candace Owens. Anyone can learn a lot from her.)
Naive but sure Heather...
@@amirolumroti6345 🤣
What is the Hispanic national anthem?
The Japanese/American national anthem?
The Native American national anthem?
They surely deserve their own too.
Perhaps they have one that the majority culture isn't familiar with or privy to. But if they do, that's great. All cultures should have a way to remember their history and pass their story on to their children and successive generations.
@@katrinab7657 our current national anthem is for everyone. It was written with the intent that ALL races were Americans no matter what. This current direction we are heading in is only going to cause division. Absolutely sad state our country is in right now...
@@slappymcslapster8845 I agree that unity is needed, but I disagree that the stAr spangled banner was written for all Americans. It was written around 1814 when slavery was in full swing. It includes the lyrics: "No refuge could save the hireling and slave'
From the terror of flight and the gloom of the grave
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!"
These differentiate between slave and freemen/ land owners"
Lift Every Voice And Sing was written around 1900. It doesn't replace the national anthem. As a young black child (I'm 50 now), we routinely sang the Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, My Country Tis of Thee, AND Lift Every Voice And Sing, every morning and at school assemblies. Being proud of our history as African Americans never stopped us from also being proud Americans. It isn't one OR the other. The issue may be that some people who recently learned about Lift Every Voice And Sing think it was recently composed to be decisive. It is literally a call for rememberance and unity. I don't think that singing it or not singing it should be the source of further division. Even if it is not deeply significant to others, then it's a song. Maybe someone thought sharing this song would help the races come together. But nothing will bring unity until individuals desire unity, more than anything else, even more than their concern about these petty and inconsequential gestures like singing a song. This is a diverse country composed of people from every nation. At some point, we have to learn to appreciate and celebrate both our differences and our commonalities. Here's hoping!❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤
@@katrinab7657 Respect for bringing the FACTS
Katrina Bradley wring it was written for Abraham Lincolns birthday. You know that white man who help free slaves.
I bet if yu asked them black females to sing W.A.P. or "Mean" by $not they would know ALL THE LYRICS
James Wheldon Johnson looks a lot like Ice-T!
there is only one national anthem in a country , not one for some of the people, and not for others.
I will never stand and put my hand over my heart for an anthem besides the anthem of the United States of America. Kneel to no one but God
This guy gets it.
Doesn't this song meantion god a lot though....?
@@KuroMochiKimchi yes and so?
@@gandolfthewhite It is just a bit interesting is all. I think the song is closer to original poster's ideals than he thinks. That's all.
@@KuroMochiKimchi ball itch
And then we wonder why there's so much division... we have a national anthem...be proud to be an American... and remember the sacrifices made by those before us with their lives so we could live in a land of the free..... let's learn from the mistakes of the past...and move forward without animosity and revenge in your heart...for those who are not responsible for the behavior of their ancestors
Shut up
@@aishaissah884 seconded
God Bless the U.S.A, by Lee Greenwood. Would that work?
NATIONAL anthem... means it's for everyone! Making a separate anthem for the black communities is only being more divisive!! I dont like it at all. Song is beautiful and the lyrics are wonderful! But have 2 NATIONAL anthems, is like have 2 separate nations.. you guys want to keep dividing this country. Support this.. people want to kneel for the ACTUAL anthem.. I will kneel everytime I hear this
Doyle? Do u think the our national anthem was for blacks also.
@@anthonyspencer6475 yes I do! It's called the NATIONAL ANTHEM!! Not, WHITE NATIONAL ANTHEM! It was meant to bring the country together in unity! And the fact that a black man wrote the "black national anthem" was written to celebrate Lincoln's birthday... a white republican that freed the slaves. The National Anthem was for EVERY SINGLE AMERCIAN in th U.S!! Not just certain races... if you think that it's not, it's why race relations are the way they are!! But I dont feel bad, nor will I make a martyr out of a career criminal that happens to be shot and killed by the police. Sorry, not sorry!
Ok doyle.in 1812 i think national anthem was written.blacks were free in 1865.do u really think the writer had black as been a free group of people.be real
Doyle.i don't want to come off as a bad person.thats not me.but i feel if your ancestors was not salves some people just don't understand.its like trying to describing a rainbow to a blind me
@@anthonyspencer6475 my ancestors are from Ireland. No other race or group of people experienced slavery to the extent, or for as long than the Irish race! So yeah.. I can relate 100%! But guess what? I wasn't a slave, nobody in my family were slaves either, we aren't crying about reparations, or how bad we have it cuz of something that happened over 100 years ago! But the Irish flourished and had a massive part in building the entire northeast coast! So learn some history before you try to tell me I dont know...
I guess we need an Asian and Hispanic anthem too.
HOPE THAT THE PRESENT HAS BROUGHT US says it all. Why are a small minority of the 42 million blacks in the US trying to tell us 170 million whites what to do? We aren't going to adopt this song as our National Anthem.
A beautiful song, with a beautiful sentiment, that's now being used for the wrong reasons. In the fight against racism, why would you introduce such a strong symbol of segregation, suggesting black people should have a separate national anthem? Its idiocy of the highest order. When will people realise that, no matter how good/positive you think you are being, if your idea promotes segregation then it's the wrong idea. This seems to be a far bigger problem in the USA and, when I see things like this, I can see why.
She cute
So...segregation again
Seperate but equal huh
Why do Black Americans have to have every thing separate? I thought the Civil War was supposed to bring us all together. Just play the Star Spangled Banner, and join the rest of the USA.
Dont think you're comprehending the song was made a century ago.
In a period where Black people weren't equal.
@@user-ed6ys8du8n How about two centuries ago. What does that matter? And, Black people were around to experience all the same things that everybody else did. They even didn't have to fight for their country, they just had to be here, sold to slave owners, both black, white and Native American slave owners, by Africans who enslaved them. Oh, you didn't actually think the EVERY black person at that time was a slave, did you? Surely you aren't thinking that EVERY slave was black, either, were you? And every white person at that time WAS NOT a slave owner. You did know that, didn't you? You also, surely knew, that not every white person was allowed to vote. In fact, if you did not own land, you could not vote. Did you know that? Even whites weren't equal at that time.
@@2nemobob The song is culturally ingrained in African American culture. Why should they stop singing it now? It's not hurting anyone. You only found about it now.
@@user-ed6ys8du8n Nobody is telling them what they may sing, or what they may not sing. But, no, it is not any national anthem, just a song that means something to them. Furthermore, there should be no African American culture. If you are from Africa, then yes, you are an African American. I've know many people from South Africa, and Libya, all white, who really are African Americans. But, people who have been in America for generations, are not African at all. They are Black Americans. Ok, they have a culture all their own. Why? They want segregation? In the 60's, they fought so much for desegregation, and now they want their own culture? Can't have your cake and eat it too.
Why not just call it what it is,
"Lift every voice and sing"?
Segregation.
Beautiful but shouldn't be played in the NFL
What should we do?
@Nathan Wilson You may be a racist or just an extremist but you're not much of a football fan. I'd take a knee or sing if it helps people get along. Good luck.
Just a heads up there’s no such thing as “the black national anthem”. There’s the Star Spangled Banner which is our national anthem. Lift Every Voice is a great song but we gotta rid ourselves of silly notions made for political activism
totally missed the point.
The video nor didn't the Weldons say this replaced the official anthem. It was a poem and song that spoke to the struggle. People informally called it that because it spoke to them as such. Don't say such things to those that know better. Speak to the NFL for trying to use a beautiful poem and song for their political game. Trust, no real American of the African diaspora is fooled by their foolishness.
Shaundra Lee I I don’t make assumptions about people I don’t know. I just want people to know that there’s no such thing as the “Black National Anthem” because there’s no country named “Black”. There’s only one “National Anthem” for the USA and that is the “Star Spangled Banner”
I’m black, I’m special, I need to segregate myself from all the other Americans with a special song just for me.
You couldn't resist dropping in to spew a little racism, could you?
Joe Terzio You are defending special treatment for a group of people based exclusively upon the color of their skin and you and calling me racist? The hypocrisy of you people knows no bounds.
@@Ikilledthebanks "You people". You put the Turd back in Turden.
@@joeterzio7175 this song is the very definition of racism dumbass
Joshua Falco truth, what other group is clamoring to separate themselves? Hispanics? Asians? No they are busy being productive in large part, no one likes a complainer