Thinking Out Loud: Why the Black National Anthem Matters

I’m Kevin P. Henry, and this is Thinking Out Loud.

 

The Seahawks’ home opener kicked off with a bang last week, thanks to the Mwango Sisters, who delivered a powerful performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black National Anthem. 

 

As expected, the Star Spangled Banner was also performed, and as usual, a controversy erupted on social media. In 2020, the NFL announced that the Black National Anthem would be performed at all NFL season opening games. 

 

To see some responses, I checked out Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms, including those belonging to our local Seattle news stations. Sure enough, two sides were engaged in keyboard warfare. People opposed to the Black National Anthem mostly seemed to hold conservative values, identify as right-wing Christians, or work for right-wing media outlets. 

 

There were several comments such as, “I just sold my season tickets.” There was, however, considerable support for the Black National Anthem. These comments came from people of racially diverse backgrounds, including Black people and white liberals. 

 

The pro-national anthem team insists that when the Star-Spangled Banner plays, we should be filled with patriotism and pride in America.  The pro-Black National Anthem people,  myself included, say something different. 

 

America continues to oppress Black people in various ways, including distorting and even erasing historical contributions to this country.  For generations, African Americans and other people of color were expected to pledge allegiance to a country that punished and oppressed them through slavery, segregation, lynching, discrimination, and unequal treatment under the law. It was not the land of liberty, but the land of separate but equal. 

 

A Black American can honor the Star-Spangled Banner, but we also have every right to ask what that anthem has historically meant to people who were denied complete freedom in the past and the present. So “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is not about separating black people from America. 

 

You can love America and still demand that America do better.  Instead of criticizing the Black National Anthem, think about why the song has to exist in the first place. 

 

I’m Kevin P. Henry for Thinking Out Loud.