- Mar 5, 2004
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California chapter of the NAACP is pushing to get rid of the national anthem, calling the song racist and anti-black, CBS station KOVR-TV reports.
"This song is wrong," chapter president Alice Huffman told the station. "It should never have been there, and just like we didn't have it until 1931, it won't kill us if it goes away."
As quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick started the NFL protests during the anthem that quickly spread to bring attention to racial injustice in the country. But Huffman said Kaepernick's message was lost when it turned into a debate about the flag.
"The real intentions got overlooked, and it's become something that's dividing us, and I'm looking for a way to bring us back together," she said.
Huffman said that the protests led her to look at the lyrics of "The Star-Spangled Banner," especially the parts of the anthem Americans don't typically sing.
"It's racist," she said. "It doesn't represent our community. It's anti-black people."
Huffman is referring to the third stanza, which includes the lyric "no refuge could save the hireling and slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave."
She said some interpretations conclude that the lyrics celebrate the deaths of black American slaves fighting for freedom and the song should be replaced with something that supports all our values."https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-anthem-lyrics-california-naacp-star-spangled-banner/
Unfortunately, I think this will just polarize opposition to the NAACP in general and fuel even more racism.
"This song is wrong," chapter president Alice Huffman told the station. "It should never have been there, and just like we didn't have it until 1931, it won't kill us if it goes away."
As quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick started the NFL protests during the anthem that quickly spread to bring attention to racial injustice in the country. But Huffman said Kaepernick's message was lost when it turned into a debate about the flag.
"The real intentions got overlooked, and it's become something that's dividing us, and I'm looking for a way to bring us back together," she said.
Huffman said that the protests led her to look at the lyrics of "The Star-Spangled Banner," especially the parts of the anthem Americans don't typically sing.
"It's racist," she said. "It doesn't represent our community. It's anti-black people."
Huffman is referring to the third stanza, which includes the lyric "no refuge could save the hireling and slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave."
She said some interpretations conclude that the lyrics celebrate the deaths of black American slaves fighting for freedom and the song should be replaced with something that supports all our values."https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-anthem-lyrics-california-naacp-star-spangled-banner/
Unfortunately, I think this will just polarize opposition to the NAACP in general and fuel even more racism.
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