[TooColdNJ]

THE US NATIONAL ANTHEM...is a patriotic song, evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, and struggles of its people, recognized by our nation's government as the official national song

No nasty comments please!
. I’m against social injustice.

National Anthem as a song that reminds us our pride in our country, thoughts of the men and women of any any race, religion, or ethnicity who fought for our freedoms... patriotism... AMERICA united ...all men created equal... ONE NATION... thankful to be a part of this great Nation.

Should the NFL also include Italian American, Irish American, Polish American, Jewish American.... etc. anthems? It’s about being American. Period. That’s what it’s all about.

We’re trying to bring AMERICAN people together, so what’s the purpose of adding the black national anthem to the beginning of football games if we are all Americans, and the National Anthem is our Nations anthem, void of any racism?

[mtdjed]

Well let's see what the Black National anthem says. A tribute to Lincoln? Originally a poem. I find it fitting for certain people of our country. But as it was called, a "Black" national anthem, it is not a National Anthem. A National Anthem would apply to all of us. Otherwise as the OP said, why not everyone having a separate anthem for their race, nationality , religion, sexual preference, etc.

Perhaps, the NFL expects that including the "Black National Anthem" in opening games will help quell the national disturbance that is prevalent, and that is fine. Hopefully, this is a one time occurrence.



Lift ev'ry voice and sing

Lift ev’ry voice and sing,
‘Til earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list’ning 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 ’til victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
‘Til now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.[

[Bay Kid]

Didn't even know there was a black national anthem, or a white national anthem. Why not, there is black everything else. Guess I should watch the BET network.

[Prpcmom]

Thanks for sharing the words of the song. I hadn’t seen them before. I don’t see anything objectionable in the song itself.

[billethkid]

I guess if the NFL wants to pay tribute to their majority participants that is their choice. To use national television time to do so is questionable.

Maybe the term "red blooded American " needs to be revived. A term meant to be inclusive of all.....all the focus titles like black this or black that do nothing except emphasize a need to be distinguished........earned or not does not matter.

[davem4616]

Originally Posted by Prpcmom

Thanks for sharing the words of the song. I hadn’t seen them before. I don’t see anything objectionable in the song itself.

First time that I saw the words to the song, and see nothing objectionable in the song itself either

The USA is a huge melting pot....so, how many more songs specific to differences need to be added so that no one feels that their uniqueness is being overlooked or minimized before kick off?

I'm Irish American... but I'm not looking for the Irish national anthem (Amhran na bhFiann) before an NFL game

My wife is 1st generation Italian... she's not looking to hear the Italian national anthem (inno di Mameli) before an NFL game

both of these nationalities had a very rough beginning upon coming to America...and the English enslaved many Irish for centuries in addition to fostering indentured servitude (which was basically a form of slavery)

were does this craziness stop? we are one country, we have a national anthem

when I want to go to a concert, I go to a concert
when I want to watch a game of foot ball I don't need a concert delaying the kickoff

The nice thing about using firestick to watch TV is that the broadcasts all come from Canada...and the game is usually 4 or 5 minutes into play by the time you can see it

[Stu from NYC]

There is a time and place for everything. If they want to play the black national anthem before one game that is ok.

If they do it before every game in place of our anthem will reevaluate the way I spend my time Sunday afternoon.

I will say if players add blm to their uniforms well that will be signal for me to stop watching and stop buying products from advertisers pandering to blm.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Prpcmom

Thanks for sharing the words of the song. I hadn’t seen them before. I don’t see anything objectionable in the song itself.

I agree. I think the issue is not the song itself, but the reference to it as the "Black National Anthem". The song has a great message, imho, and a great song for church. The problem with having a black national anthem is that it is,imo, divisive in the sense that it's label suggests it is only for black people and non-inclusive towards others. Seeing it that way is not what we in this country should be working toward.
I wonder who coined the term "black national anthem", and who thought it a good thing to give this song that label?
We, as a country, should continually strive to be inclusive and fair to one and all. Personally, I have never liked the term "African-American". To me, it doesn't sound like a complement, it sounds separatist. I prefer "American", good old all inclusive "American". The only time I feel any hyphenated term is acceptable, is when one refers to their land of origin or if they hold dual citizenship.
Just wonder about what would happen at, for example, the Olympics. Would they play both anthems? Would black athletes march in separately from the rest of the US athletes? Can you see that would be and is counter to the goal of being a nation where all are included and treated fairly and equally?

Stay well. Stay safe. Peace!

[TooColdNJ]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

There is a time and place for everything. If they want to play the black national anthem before one game that is ok.

If they do it before every game in place of our anthem will reevaluate the way I spend my time Sunday afternoon.

I will say if players add blm to their uniforms well that will be signal for me to stop watching and stop buying products from advertisers pandering to blm.

There’s nothing at all wrong with the song.
I agree that if it’s one time to demonstrate their support, I don’t see a problem. It will be sung before the national anthem. We all live in america- if we all should be treated equally, that’s the reason it would be inappropriate to do it before every game. Once again, that separates them from all Americans.

If Every song is played for every different group of people, there wouldn’t be enough time to play football.

African American, Italian American, Irish American, etc., only refers to our ROOTS, our heritage . . Black refers to a color, and color shouldn’t matter.

I didn’t notice if it was meant as a one time thing or ongoing. Anyone else know?

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

Didn't even know there was a black national anthem, or a white national anthem. Why not, there is black everything else. Guess I should watch the BET network.

Since I am part Cherokee Indian, I would like for the NFL to also play the Cherokee National Anthem right after the Black National Anthem and before the Irish National Anthem, Italian National Anthem and wrap it all up with the American National Anthem.


...

[Byte1]

I have no problem if they wish to play it during half-time. They do a lot of stupid stuff (as well as great stuff) during half-time, especially during the Super Bowl. Like others have suggested, having a song played at the beginning of the game that is dedicated to one ethnicity is divisive and not inclusive of the majority or the rest of America. The "National Anthem" is for ALL Americans. If that is not good enough, then the game is not good enough for Americans either. If I wanted to hear other anthems, I can watch world soccer matches.

[Bay Kid]

Just like BLM is prejudice, a BLACK National Anthem is prejudice. Could you imagine the trouble we would be in if there was a White National Anthem or WLM?

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

Just like BLM is prejudice, a BLACK National Anthem is prejudice. Could you imagine the trouble we would be in if there was a White National Anthem or WLM?

The 'new order' wants equality where they want it, and not where they don't, unless you are black.

Where is the equality in that kind of thinking?

The NFL is a business just like Walmart. If Walmart does something I like or don't like I can choose not to do business with them.

If I did watch football it would be nice to see the black race appreciated and respected with such a great gesture. I can't see why anyone would find it offensive but I don't know what everyone is thinking or care to know. They're entitled to their opinion as I am mine.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Prpcmom

Thanks for sharing the words of the song. I hadn’t seen them before. I don’t see anything objectionable in the song itself.

It is not about the lyrics at all for me. It is about the principle. Someone already said it......How about the Irish American Anthem, the Italian American Anthem, the Polish Anthem, etc. The NFL is wrong for even considering playing the Black Anthem before a game.