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. The flag in the civil war share photos and stories. The starspangled banners racist lyrics reflect its slave owner. 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. 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. 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. 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. Historians disagree on whether the starspangled banner is racist. Mark clague says the national anthem doesnt glorify slavery or racism but it is a product of its time.
From day one, the united states has always struggled to walk its talk. 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. Historians disagree on whether the starspangled banner. No refuge could save the hireling and slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave. Lets take the national anthem literally, and the songwriter at his word. The starspangled banner, americans hazily remember, was written by francis scott. 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. His role in sustaining slavery adds another layer to the kaepernick kneeling. There are dozens of articles online saying the starspangled banner has an extra verse that talks about the deaths of slaves. Aug 29, 2016 francis scott key, who wrote the star spangled banner, celebrated slavery in the original lyrics. 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.
Like so many famous songs of yore, the star spangled banner started as a poem, called the defence of fort mchenry. It is one of the most racist, pro slavery, antiblack songs in the american. The national anthem has always been tainted with racism. 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. Star spangled banner writtenonly for freemen, not for.
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. Does the star spangled banner have an extra verse referring to the killing of slaves. During the 19th century, the starspangled banner became one of the nations bestloved patriotic songs, performed during both public events and more personal gatherings. The songs popularity increased enormously during the civil war. 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. Abolitionist star spangled banner oh say, do you hear. Opinion africanamericans and the strains of the national anthem. The song was penned by a slave owning lawyer who spent a lifetime fighting against the rights of africanamericans. It was an article that lied about history to promote a radical ideology. Spangled banner, is an expression of racial hostility toward african americans and should be either. The forgotten verses of the starspangled banner everything.
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. There are dozens of articles online saying the star spangled banner has an extra verse that talks about the deaths of slaves. Mar 02, 2020 the starspangled banner becomes official u. During the war of 1812, key witnessed the attacks on baltimore and wrote the words based on his experiences this night. 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.
National anthem has always been tainted with racism. Sep 06, 2018 national anthem the starspangled banners racist lyrics reflect its slave owner author, francis scott key. The star spangled banner, americans hazily remember, was written by francis scott. Nowadays, almost no one sings the third verse of francis scott keys the star spangled banner, and for good reason. 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. There is nothing to suggest that the star spangled banner is racist or pro slavery. To understand the full starspangled banner story, you have to understand the author. Author and historian marc leepson joins cbs this morning. Saturday to discuss his book what so proudly we hailed, which looks at the cloudy back story behind francis scott key. The lyrics come from the defence of fort mhenry, a poem written on september 14. Take down the star spangled banner its way past time. Why ill never stand again for the starspangled banner.
The starspangled banner does not celebrate slavery the. By the time of the civil war, some on both sides tried to claim it as their own. Star spangled banner writtenonly for freemen, not for slaves, not hired indentured. The star spangled banner and slavery is the legacy of black slavery enshrined in a lesserknown stanza of the u. The new slaves for whom no last names are listed were all born subsequent to the making of the star spangled banner. Inevitably, some writers questioned the merits of the starspangled banner itself, pointing toward the fact that its author, francis scott key, was a slave.
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. By the time the song officially became the countrys anthem in 1931, it had been one of. By now youve probably heard the claim that americas national anthem, the star. 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. 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. Reasons the star spangled banner shouldnt be honored by. Key believed that anyone who would consider abolishing slavery was willing to associate and amalgamate with the negro. It was written by francis scott key in 1814 during the war of. The starspangled banner american national anthem britannica.
Written by francis scott key, the star spangled banner is the national anthem of the united states. Jul 04, 2018 and the starspangled banner in triumph doth wave. Key saw the fort hold during the attack and was inspired to write the star spangled banner, which became the u. The star spangled banner, after all, reinforces america as the land of the freea notion irreconcilable with the millions of slaves in the nation.
Some people try to claim he was writing about some other group of slaves, but there is no historical evidence that slave referred. Francis scott key observes the bombardment and the u. The missing verse of the star spangled banner that may change. The song was penned by a slaveowning lawyer who spent a lifetime fighting against the rights of africanamericans. 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. The popularity of the star spangled banner grew continuously in the decades after key wrote the lyrics. Francis scott key, who wrote the starspangled banner, celebrated slavery in the original lyrics. Yesterday, a monument to the starspangled banner and to its author, francis scott key who lived in georgetown, washington, d. 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. Francis scott key was a lawyer who witnessed the daylong assault of fort mchenry by british troops during the war of 1812. 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. He helped shape the national debate on slavery, which was the no. Aug 31, 2016 mark clague says the national anthem doesnt glorify slavery or racism but it is a product of its time. 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.
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. Aug 30, 2016 the starspangled banner wasnt written for people like kaepernick. Fifty years later, in 1861, poet oliver wendell holmes sr. We should understand that for many years the american flagnot the confederate flagwas, for cubans, the starspangled banner of slavery. September 14 is recognized as the anniversary of the writing of the starspangled banner by francis scott key in 1814. Slaves, the national anthem and other notable comments. Francis scott key, who wrote the star spangled banner, celebrated slavery in the original lyrics.
While the first verse of the starspangled banner is widely known by the american public, the last three verses are generally omitted in performances. The slave owner who stitched the original starspangled banner. Francis scott key and colin kaepernick are perfect opposites in a drama of privilege versus protest in america. For many black americans, it rings of the unfilled promises of their country. 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. Does part of the national anthem talk about the death of. 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. Why we should be protesting the national anthem the intercept. National anthem the star spangled banner s racist lyrics reflect its slave owner author, francis scott key. Francis scott key, songwriter of the starspangled banner, defended slavery and attacked the abolitionist movement. Aug 28, 2016 colin kaepernick is righter than you know.
The missing verse of the star spangled banner that may. Francis scott key and the slavery question the globalist. In 1814, the poet and lyricist francis scott key penned the lyrics to the starspangled banner, originally known as defense of fort mhenry. Slavery and the star spangled banner chamblee54 said, on september 14, 2017 at 10. After this war, the attitude of the white man towards the natives got worse. Its a song every american has heard countless times, but how much do you really know about our national anthem. Does part of the national anthem talk about the death. The starspangled banner, americans hazily remember, was written by francis scott key about the battle of fort mchenry in baltimore during the war of 1812. Sep 28, 2017 and the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave while the land of the free is the home of the brave. Francis scott key opposed land of the free zinn education. Aug 29, 2016 the starspangled banner and slavery is the legacy of black slavery enshrined in a lesserknown stanza of the u.
Lets take the national anthem literally, and the songwriter. Associated press i like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The starspangled banner is the national anthem of the united states. Sep, 2017 there is nothing to suggest that the star spangled banner is racist or pro slavery. The starspangled banners racist lyrics reflect its slave. It is one of the most racist, proslavery, antiblack songs in the american. After a century of general use, the fourstanza song was officially adopted as the national anthem by an act of congress in 1931. 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. There was a lot more to the man than just that he wrote the starspangled banner under dramatic circumstances.
Key was an aristocrat and city prosecutor in washington, d. The star spangled banner is the national anthem of the united states. In defense of the national anthem and francis scott key. The star spangled banner wasnt written for people like kaepernick. The starspangled banner and slavery is the legacy of black slavery enshrined in a lesserknown stanza of the u. Starspangled banner writer had complex record on race. Protests against the starspangled banner are not new. Oct 03, 2016 star spangled banner as youve never heard. In the case of our national anthem, the starspangled banner, perhaps not knowing the full lyrics is a good thing. The starspangled banner wasnt written for people like kaepernick. How did the starspangled banner become the us national anthem. New book reveals dark history behind the star spangled banner. 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. 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.
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