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Closing Arguments: Is "Black National Anthem" Artistic Freedom or An Outrage?
July 02, 2008 10:38 PM
A major controversy is swirling over yesterday's State of the City event in Denver, Colorado. Rene Marie, an admired jazz singer, was slated to perform the national anthem and instead, she sang the so-called "Black National Anthem," "Lift Every Voice and Sing" -- to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner. Marie hadn't told anyone before hand and many are furious. But she says she didn't mean any harm -- she just wanted to express how it felt to be a black woman in America. So what do you think? Was this a moving expression, a display of artistic freedom? Or was it an outrage, and was she utterly out of line?
July 2, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (816)
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It is an outrage and an insult to this country. Before this the last ethnic "National Anthem" was Deutschland Uber Alles and this racist diddy ranks up there with it. There is one America and one anthem for whites, blacks, hispanics, Asians and every group that unlike this doesn't exalt any race. The only difference between her and the KKK is that her sheets are on her bed.
Posted by: Political Realist | Jul 2, 2008 10:50:18 PM
She might be an obama supporter.
Posted by: sunny | Jul 2, 2008 11:03:49 PM
This is definitely an outrage. How dare she change the lyrics of the National Anthem? It is the song of our COUNTRY....not of our individual ethnicities, races or heritage. I am totally disgusted by her actions.
Posted by: Susie | Jul 2, 2008 11:25:48 PM
Sunny,
why do you assume she is an obama supporter? please due tell? and if she is what does that prove?
Why is this national news again? An artist did something odd, okay, isn't that what we expect of artist these days.
I'm being rhetorical on the last point b/c I know why every black person that does something will make news this year. I'm sure Jake tapper is calling the Obama camp for a response to some obscure singer from denver who he has never met. Great. O'well, It's the fourth, let just love our country and celebrate. Some of us are just tired.
Posted by: mesq | Jul 2, 2008 11:27:27 PM
Huge outrage!!
She was hired to do what??? Sing the National Anthem!
Not change the words and sing some black thing.
I hope she was contracted to sing and she can be gone after for breech of contract. That will teach her, and rightly so.
No mesq. It isn't what we expect of artists these days. Their behavior as an 'artist' isn't excused if they screw off. They are professionals too, act like it.
Posted by: National Anthem | Jul 2, 2008 11:41:44 PM
It's no doubt she is an Obama supporter because she said she was encouraged to sing the black national anthem in light of Obama's upcoming visit to Denver in August for the Democratic National Convention.
She did it for her personal gain.
Posted by: zhengli | Jul 2, 2008 11:53:58 PM
This is the reason I am afraid of voting for Mr. Obama because I do not know where he truly stands on the issues. On the other hand I am afraid of McCain because I know where he stands on the issues. So was this Jazz singer, she was confused as to what she needed it to deliver. We are Americans before we are White, Black Hispanic, Asian and whatever. If we do not understand that then we need a civil war.
Posted by: Rafael Beltran III | Jul 2, 2008 11:57:30 PM
Complete outrage especially since she did it to the tune of the national anthem. What was she thinking? Not everyone is black and what she did is a disgrace to our country.
Posted by: Kyle | Jul 3, 2008 12:08:39 AM
Huge outrage! Just an inkling of things to come! Scary!
Posted by: Gloria Buchanan | Jul 3, 2008 12:09:03 AM
Huge outrage! Just an inkling of things to come! Scary!
Posted by: Gloria Buchanan | Jul 3, 2008 12:09:04 AM
Good For Her!
Posted by: J. Patterson | Jul 3, 2008 12:09:09 AM
Putting completely different words to a song so revered for personal gain is an outrage. That was not what was asked of her if they can't find someone to accomplish what is asked they need to keep looking.
Posted by: Outrage | Jul 3, 2008 12:09:21 AM
It was an outrage. However, the bigger outrage was her haircut.
Posted by: Shea Trantham | Jul 3, 2008 12:09:23 AM
WE HAVE ONE NATIONAL ANTHEM! FOR ALL
IT WAS AN OUTRAGE!!
Posted by: the two of us | Jul 3, 2008 12:09:27 AM
This is an outrage. The Mexicans are not going to change American values, why to the black think they are going to? Blacks keeps singling themselves out all the time and fuel the fire. GO BACK TO AFRICA if you want to be African so much.
Posted by: Me | Jul 3, 2008 12:09:30 AM
This makes me sick. Why can't we just all get along. The answer is in the comments above.
Posted by: sick | Jul 3, 2008 12:09:36 AM
This is an OUTRAGE! This is only the tip of the iceberg.
Posted by: pattio | Jul 3, 2008 12:09:47 AM
That is not the NATIONAL ANTHEM. I cannot believe someone would confuse those words with what are nation stands for. She needs to know that this is America and you cannot play the race card anymore.
Posted by: robin | Jul 3, 2008 12:09:48 AM
She woke us up - good
Posted by: vicky | Jul 3, 2008 12:09:52 AM
That was an outrage!
Posted by: Rob | Jul 3, 2008 12:10:01 AM
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