From Jim Crow-era poem to Black Anthem: A national hymn
House Majority Whip James Clyburn, a Democrat from
South Carolina and chairman of the House Select Subcommittee
on the Coronavirus Crisis, speaks during a hearing in
Washington, D.C., U.S., Sept. 23, 2020. Stefani Reynolds/Pool via
REUTERS
Caribbean Life, JANUARY 22-28, 2021 11
“Lift every voice and
sing…”
James
Weldon Johnson
Flag, constitution or country?
Allegiance seems blurred
after Americans witnessed the
vivid Capitol Building siege on
Jan. 6, 2021 leaving some confused,
frustrated while admitting
they had for long imagined
all three as symbols of a united
nation and most significantly,
emblematic to loyalty.
Since the first hump day of
the year, trepidation abounds
with debates among loyalists
to the credo that for 244 years
advanced the assumed inherent
principles of the United
States of America.
Conversations focused on
flag-waving, white, Republicans
who brandished the Confederate,
the Star Spangled banner
and the Trump flag in an effort
to reclaim the Republic they
believe had been “stolen.”
Professed patriots their commitment
manifested with nearrevolution.
That one flag represents
southern states that seceded
during the Civil war from 1861
to 1865, the other, named for
the anthem which was composed
by Francis Scott Key and
now the approved standard
bearer.
And the third, designed in
homage to a former television
reality show host who won the
electoral votes despite losing
the popular votes in 2016.
Perhaps these variances in
perception motivated a reasoning
by South Carolina Cong.
James Clyburn to this week
propose a resolution designating
the Black anthem as the
official national hymn.
According to Wikipedia since
1931 the Star Spangled Banner
has always symbolized “respect
for the country and the soldiers
who defend our rights.”
To many it is affirmation
of devotion of the American
ideals.
The lyrics to the first verse:
“Oh say, can you see, by the
dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at
the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and
bright stars, through the perilous
fight,
O’er the ramparts we
watched, were so gallantly
streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare,
the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thru the night
that our flag was still there.
Oh say, does that star-spangled
banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and
the home of the brave…”
Sources also record that
“America has been at war 225
years out of 244 and only at
peace for less than 20 years
total since its birth…”
Criticisms have long been
made with the anthem’s references
to slavery and perceived
glorification of war.
But that’s another story.
For those reasons, progressive
Blacks adopted the Johnson
brothers’ poetry “Lift Ev’ry
Voice and Sing…
“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.
The words seem to uplift,
inspire and provide pride to a
population who seem to identify
with the intent James Weldon
Johnson and his brother John
Rosamond Johnson composed
more than 100 years ago.
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
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