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Editor’s Note: Watch the video below to see the new Black National Anthem. . .

(Excerpt from Breitbart. Photo Credit: Getty Images.)

What do you think about the new Black National Anthem?

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Brenda J Jenkins
December 22, 2020

This is not a new song, but rather an anthem that blacks have been singing for as long as I can remember. I am 77 years of age, and I remember singing this song, usually during Black History Month, even as a child. This anthem clearly acknowledges our struggles that lead to victory. The nation’s national anthem shows how God has brought this entire nation to victory through war. All of our victories are in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, I choose not to fixate on race, but rather on victories that are wrought each day through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Kari
December 22, 2020

Do not like it! Why change what is beautiful & sacred? Very sad!
If people don’t like our policies & traditions then they should leave our country.

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Blanca Holland
December 22, 2020

It’s ok just like a folk song but not like spirituals of the past.it would be just like the songs the 3 dog night song : the ink is black the paper is white : it’s not a we the American people become the American by standing for America and our families: America is a republic for which it stands one nation under GOD indivisible with liberty and justice for all: free and bond, and of many colors like Joseph’s coat and a melting pot of cultures and opportunities to prosper in. That’s America. For like the song of the battle hymn of the republic was sung during civil war and star spangled banner was sung during the time of England fought to take America back from the fore fathers who forged to keep us safe and secure and free from tyranny in the disquise of kingdom: these songs were not inclusive of just one piece of the fabric of America but of the republic for which it stands one nation under GOD indivisible with liberty and justice for all: all flesh no matter the color of their skin pigmentation or ethnic groups unto the most silent voice of the unborn baby in the womb. That’s the American dream of a United States a republic for which it stands one nation under GOD indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1
Lisa Eason
December 22, 2020

No no no no no

Eileen Lyle
December 21, 2020

This song is more of a dirge and is more fitting in a more prayerful setting. An anthem should ring with fanfare and inspiration and crash like an ocean wave rather than lazily sloshing against the shore. Picking up the tempo of this song, having vocalists with better intonation, better vibrato control and better enunciation would also help to present the song but not as an anthem. My grandparents were spit on when they came to this country because they were foreigners who spoke English poorly but they did not need a Lithuanian anthem to describe their plight. I agree that attempts to do things like this are causing more racial divide. I will stand for one anthem- “THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER”.

5
Sue Harman
December 21, 2020

I will never remain standing for it. The United States of America is one nation under God with one national anthem. When one is under God, the color of one’s skin should not be an issue.

14
Donna King
December 21, 2020

I’m a bit confused by everyone referring to the song as new. It was written back in the very early 1900s by the black poet James Weldon Johnson and was performed at a celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday because of his role in freeing the slaves. It has been referred to as the Negro National Anthem since at least 1919 as it was named such by the NAACP because of its powerful call for freedom. Perhaps, it’s because I’m African American that I’m aware of the song and it’s history. It is not new, it has been a staple in black churches, particularly those in the South (where my parents and grandparents grew up) and my siblings and I sang it in schools and church during Black History month celebrations. The song is intended as an expression of thanksgiving for freedom and the hardships that black people had overcome and were still working to overcome (remember, this song was written less than 50 years after Emancipation but pre Civil Rights era). It is still song by many within the Black community as a symbol of our strength, resilience and our faith in God in the face of adversity. That some have co-opted it for another agenda doesn’t take away (at least not for me) from it’s intended purpose.

16
    Molly Francis
    December 21, 2020

    Thank you for the information. The song is beautiful and the girls have terrific voices. I pray you’ll continue to get the word out. My preference would be we continue to have one national anthem- the star spangled banner with all Americans honoring that we are one nation under God; one people working to improve. Amen

    9
      Donna King
      December 21, 2020

      Thank you for your reply. I will try to get the word out. I prefer one national country anthem, too, as I’m proud to sing and stand for the Star Spangled Banner. But I was just surprised to read people’s comments about “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the song’s actual title, being a new song and that so many were not familiar with it as it’s more than 100 years old. It really is a song of hope, strength, faith, and perseverance within the Black community. The lyrics are beautiful and meant to be uplifting.

      “Lift every voice and sing
      Till earth and heaven ring,
      Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
      Let our rejoicing rise
      High as the listening skies,
      Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
      Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught 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.” James Weldon Johnson

      You can find the complete lyrics here: https://www.pbs.org/black-culture/explore/black-authors-spoken-word-poetry/lift-every-voice-and-sing/

      6
CFo
December 21, 2020

Dear Lord, I pray that YOU would fill the emptiness in the hearts of everyone who feels angry, unjustly treated and marginalized. YOU are the only thing that can make wrongs right. Reorder and forgive very sense of our human pride, no matter what race we YOU created us to be! II Corinthians 2:17 “Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

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Emil
December 21, 2020

Couldn’t understand a word of it.

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Carole D Gabrielson
December 21, 2020

It cannot and will not ever be a national anthem. Lord, deliver us.

3
Phil Millage
December 21, 2020

Not great music and not unifying and uplifting for our (all of us are Americans)country. Thank God for the one we have!!! if every ethnic group has their own….well….very sad.

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Laurie
December 21, 2020

Not a mention of one nation or unification…. just marching until victory is won…. Victory of what?

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    Donna King
    December 21, 2020

    Let me first begin by saying that I’m not advocating for the song replacing Star Spangled Banner as America’s national anthem, but contrary to how the story/headline is written it is not a new song at all. The song is more than 100 years old, in fact, written in the very early 1900s by Black poet James Weldon Johnson and performed as a song for the first time in 1905 at a celebration honoring Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (for his role in freeing the slaves). The song/poem is intended as a song of thanksgiving, celebration and hope for newly gained freedom and the adversity that blacks (particularly those in the south) had overcome and were still overcoming (pre-Civil rights era). The song has been a staple in black churches, particularly those in the south, for generations. My parents and grandparents song it in school and church as did I and my siblings, during the 70s and 80s. Even today, it is still song with the Black community It is still song by many within the Black community as a symbol of our strength, resilience and our faith in God in the face of adversity. I am really unclear as to why people think this song is new. As for the victory referred to at the end of the first refrain, keep in mind the song was written less than 50 years after the slaves’ Emancipation when many blacks around the country were still attempting to achieve their full freedom and rights as citizens.

    4
    Donna King
    December 21, 2020

    Also, the actual name of the song is “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” It’s referred to as the “Negro National Anthem” (now the “Black National Anthem”) after having been called such by the NAACP in 1935 for it’s powerful theme of freedom and liberty.

Cheryl Stalinsky
December 21, 2020

This further divides America. I pray God opens the eyes of those who are advocating more division. May God have mercy on America and heal our land, in Jesus Name!

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    Donna King
    December 21, 2020

    As I’ve commented to a few others. the song was not written to be divisive. It’s more than 100 years old, composed by black poet James Weldon Johnson in the early 1900s in celebration of all that black people had persevered through in the country at the time (less than 50 years before the song was written, slavery was still a thing). The song was first performed in 1905, in fact, at a celebration honoring Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (for the role he played in helping to free the slaves) as has been a staple in pre-dominantly black churches, schools, colleges for generations since. The actual title of the song/poem is “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” It became known as the “Negro National Anthem” and now the “Black National Anthem” when leaders of the NAACP referred to it as such in 1935. The song is intended as an expression of thanksgiving for freedom and celebration of the hardships that black people had overcome and were still working to overcome pre-Civil Rights era. It is still song by many within the Black community as a reminder of our strength, resilience, perseverance and our faith in God during what was a dire time in our history as well as our God-realized freedom. I don’t agree with those who are wanting it to replace or supplant the Star Spangled Banner, but I think it’s important for people to understand the song’s history and why it’s true meaningfulness to us in the Black community.

    2
James Donohoe
December 21, 2020

There is no Black National Anthem that should be recognized. There has been much suffering throughout the years and our nation has struggled to overcome it’s faults. If we are ever to come together as one nation we must realize that we are of one blood and there is only one race which is the human race. How much more moving to sing, “Jesus loves the little children of the world, Red and Yellow, Black and White, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world”.

34
EB
December 21, 2020

singling out one race, is in of itself Racist. The Star Spangled Banner will never be replaced by American Patriots who Love America and All (every race) who want her Freedom.

29
Alberta Snyder
December 21, 2020

And why do we need this?

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