“Black National Anthem” Performed At State of the City Address

Today, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper gave his State of the City Address. While no mention is made in either the initial Rocky or the Post stories, 850 KOA’s The Ride Home show reports that after announcing the National Anthem, singer Rene Marie* proceeded to sing the “Black National Anthem.”

For those who are unaware that a “Black National Anthem” exists, this refers to a song named Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing, written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 in honor of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. The NAACP later adopted the song as its anthem.  The song in itself is not offensive (unless one finds religious songs offensive).

From the recording played on KOA, Rene Marie began singing the tune and lyrics to Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing. Then, Rene Marie sang the rest of the words to Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing to the tune of The Star Spangled Banner.

Councilman Charlie Brown succinctly stated in an interview on The Ride Home, “When you’re introduced to sing the National Anthem, you sing the National Anthem.”

Mayor John Hickenlooper called in, obviously flummoxed by the kerfuffle. Mayor Hickenlooper stated, “I can only assume that it’s some sort of misunderstanding…If I could do it over again, I would have sung [ The Star Spangled Banner ].”

Apparently, singer Rene Marie changed the lyrics on purpose. She spoke to Denver Channel 7 News on the subject.

The Broomfield singer said only three people at the State of the City speech knew she would sing the lyrics to the black national anthem -- her husband, her mentor and herself. It was not a song requested by the city, but a song she had deliberately chosen to perform. (snip)

"Art is supposed to make you think. I wanted to express how I felt, being a black woman living in this country," [ Rene Marie ] told 7NEWS.

While this was a political event, the State of the City address is mostly ceremonial. The National Anthem is part of the ceremony. Rene Marie’s immature stunt deliberately put the city officials on the spot and embarrassed the city.

It will be interesting to see how Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper handles this situation once he gets his thoughts and message together. His reaction to this controversy will provide a glimpse to Denver’s future response to activist demonstrators during the Democrat National Convention in August.

by Civil Sense

*UPDATE: KOA referred to Rene Martin instead of Rene Marie.  Her name is updated throughout the story.  850 KOA's initial reporting and the interview with Councilman Charlie Brown is here, and the interview with Mayor Hickenlooper is here.

Comments

[Mary Equi]

As we "average" white Americans, from families who have been here fighting for rights and establishing a strong and improving government, sometimes for two hundred years, (we hope), we find that once a minority has some power they don't know how to respect the rights of others. This change in the National Anthem in a state meeting, to an exclusive black song, is highly unappropriate, and you would think illegal. This shows that black people need to think before they act and to recognize that just as the American flag has to fly higher than other flags, in our country the National Anthem is suspreme, in our country. This certainly showed a lack of an education.

[Sandy S.]

I don't understand...... doesn't the National Anthem cover all of our citizens? Why is there the need for a "Black National Anthem" ? Wasn't "Separate but Equal" determined to be not equal after all ? Wasn't the fight for true integration about "integrating"? Why are we now headed back to separatist disguised as cultural pride? It is beginning to appear to me that being color blind is a goal only for the white. Democratic Candidate Barak Obama says we need to be a nation of one....... is this an example of how we get there? Do we sneak separatist agendas into public forums..........? Did the invitation extended to Rene Marie, ask her to come and express her feelings as a black woman in America, instead of singing the National Anthem, expressing, inspiring, and reflecting the pride that the majority of Americans still feel for their country?
Yes, this incident brings up many questions for me.......

[Linda Lancaster-Cox]

all her profits should go to a children's group that needs it or better yet to the Amber alert fund

[Herbert White]

This is not about "black people" as Mary Equi put it. This is about one person with her own self serving agenda. I am black and am proud of our national anthem which is the Star Spangled Banner. So please do no place all blacks in her club. I as an "average black american" do not agree with her decision. This has nothing to do with education, the singer was well aware of what she was doing and chose the wrong place and time to deliver her message. SHE WAS FLAT OUT WRONG.