Rene Marie Stuns Denver with Black National Anthem
The national anthem was supposed to kick off Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's State of the City address on Tuesday, but jazz singer Rene Marie had other plans. Instead of belting out the well-known verses of The Star-Spangled Banner, Rene Marie chose to sing the lyrics to Lift Every Voice and Sing, also known as the Black National Anthem.According to the Denver Post, Rene Marie's decision to substitute the Black National Anthem was unknown prior to the event. The audience and dignitaries at the event were both stunned and disappointed.
Normally, the Fourth of July is considered to be a holiday that unites people of all races and creeds through the common bond of patriotism. Rene Marie's choice to cast aside the traditional national anthem in favor of the Black National Anthem may cause some to question how strong the feelings of unity really are in the Denver community.
The issue of race is already on the minds of many as African-American Barack Obama continues to lead nationwide polls in the 2008 presidential campaign. One of the central messages in Obama's campaign is the need for unity. If elected, Obama would become the nation's first African-American President.
The replacement of our nation's Star-Spangled Banner with the Black National Anthem may also be viewed as an unpatriotic gesture. As Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown said, "There is no substitute for the national anthem."
Obama's wife, Michelle Obama, has already been heavily criticized for making remarks that many considered to be unpatriotic in nature. Although the outrage stemming from those statements has tapered off quite a bit, it is likely that it will resurface if the issue of patriotism is brought up again in this campaign.
The memory of Rene Marie's rendition of the Black National Anthem is likely to remain in the forefront of Denver residents for quite some time. As Denver is scheduled to host the Democratic National Convention in late August, this could prove to be issue for the entire Democratic Party.
Original Source : http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/856065/rene_marie_stuns_denver_with_black.html?cat=9
