min0 lee

http://www.9news.com/news/article.as...4919&catid=339



DENVER - Mayor John Hickenlooper's annual State of the City address may get more attention for what wasn't included than what was.
At the start of the event Tuesday morning, City Council President Michael Hancock introduced singer Rene Marie to perform the national anthem.
Instead, she performed the song "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," which is also known as the "black national anthem."

When she finished, the audience responded with mild applause. The national anthem was never performed.
Governor Bill Ritter (D-Colorado) discussed the incident on The Mike Rosen Show on 850 KOA on Wednesday morning, calling it "inappropriate."
"I don't think it's fair artistic expression," said Ritter.
Ritter went on to say he felt Marie's actions were "wrong" and "outside the bounds."

"It certainly is operating as a distraction," said Ritter.
Marie told 9NEWS she kept her plans to switch songs quiet until the very last moment. She says only she, her husband and a friend knew she was going to sing something other than the "Star-Spangled Banner."
She says she wanted to express her love of her country by mixing the lyrics of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" with the melody of the "Star-Spangled Banner."

"When I decided to sing my version, what was going on in my head was: 'I want to express how I feel about living in the United States, as a black woman, as a black person,'" said Marie.

Hickenlooper's staff picked Marie to sing the national anthem. The mayor says he believes Marie did not intend to offend anyone or make a political statement.
When asked if he was offended, Hickenlooper said, "You know I was more confused and I think I was more – what I was, was disappointed and confused and that's why I wanted to talk to her."

"Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" was written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson in 1899 and set to music by his brother in 1900.
City Councilman Charlie Brown took to talk radio Tuesday afternoon to criticize the absence of the national anthem at the State of the City proceedings.
"There is no substitute for the national anthem, period," Brown said. "And that's what really bothered me. You know when we fly the flag, the American flag, it's always the highest flag, as it should be. And that didn't come across today, that didn't happen today."

In hindsight, both Brown and Hickenlooper say they should have stopped Marie or began singing themselves.
Marie says if she had the benefit of doing it over, she would sing the same song.
When asked if she would apologize for what happened she said, "No I do not."
Marie has been singing professionally for 10 years.
Brown says he doesn't have a problem with people expressing their views, but he says Marie chose the wrong venue.

min0 lee

That was wrong to pull that crap there, I would be OKay with it if she sang the National Anthem first then her song afterwards...like when we sing both the American anthems and Canadian anthem at ballparks.

I don't think Dr.Martin Luther King Jr would approve of this, he did everything he could to make black people a part of this country, instead we have the Sharptons and the Jacksons who prefer to cause friction between the races.

DOMS

Blacks try harder to keep racism alive than anyone else.

min0 lee

Blame it on the self appointed "black leaders" who are in it for political and financial gain.... and shame on those who blindly follow them.

bio-chem

i agree. nothing should replace the national anthem. that is a no no

Little Wing

seems that way at times like this.

how about just being a fucking American? what if a white woman did that but sang about their white pride? people are fucking stupid.

DaMayor

Sad but true. Why can't people enjoy/celebrate their heritage without using it as a crutch?

2truSoldier

As a black man and a military veteran I would have to disagree with most of these post. Blacks are not trying to keep racism alive, its the post that are included in this thread that's doing that. This woman done a foolish thing and you guys are condemning an entire race for one person's action.

min0 lee

Your right, we shouldn't blame a whole race.

Just those who agree with her actions.

It could have been a gay guy singing the gay anthem "Somewhere over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland and I....scratch that we would also disaprove.
Or a spanish guy singing viva zapata....you get the idea.

What she did was stupid and it accomplished the opposite.

min0 lee

Oh..and welcome aboard!

DaMayor

I think what most people want is for other people to to treat people the way they want their people treated.



Chew on that.

bio-chem

how are these posts continueing racism? i dont believe anyone has been discriminated in these posts? true, a generalization of the black populace was put forward, but it is understood to be a generalization and not intended to be a labeling of each individual. also from the perspective of those who have posted, when the racism card is being played it is in a situation that is not inherintly racist. Only after the fact is it turned into something it is not. almost like blacks are looking for racism where none is apparent or intended. again this is a generalization.

BulkMeUp

tallcall will soon be here in his singing voice

SYN

America,
Get the fuck off your high hoarse. You may be the richest country, but you're also the country with the most douche bags. The ego trip needs to stop, and you need to bring yourself down a little fuckin' bit and realize that yes, roses really do smell like shit.

DOMS

Bullshit.

Look at the Nation of Islam. Look at black only organizations like the UNSF, BET, and the Essense Awards. How about insisting that blacks be called African-Americans, though none of them were actually born in Africa. How about making up a black Christmas?

Nearly every time someone doesn't like something a black person is doing he gets called a racist even if his disagreement has nothing to do with race.

And the list goes on.

DOMS

Says the person who likely has no idea where she sits in the world.

bio-chem

care to elaborate? who do you feel is on a high horse here? and the douche bag comment? in what way? there seems to be a lot of history here on this subject that i dont feel you're really acknowleging

DaMayor

AKIRA

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brogers

The most vocal black people in America are trying to keep racism alive. It is a profitable industry for people like Jackson and Sharpton. Take a look at "rev." Jeremiah Wright, who had his congregation yelling and screaming about injustices of white people, how we put drugs into their communities, created AIDS, holding them down, etc, meanwhile he moves into a $10 million mansion.

There are certainly other culprits one sticks out: Liberal politicians. Take a look at the mess with Katrina and how that was exploited. Ray "chocolate city" Nagin and Co. claiming the disaster was because New Orleans was predominantely black in the region hardest hit. Farrakhan claimed that the US Govt might have blew up the levies...

Blacks were voting for Obama over Hillary 9-1, do you think their policy differences justified that or do you think that it was purely based on race? Do you think if Obama's skin was white that he would have gone anywhere?

I don't like the term "African-American" I don't like "Black History Month" I don't like "Black National Anthem" things like that do nothing but isolate blacks from the rest of America. Be an American, celebrate American history, sing the National Anthem. This is not directed at you at all, but just expressing my personal feelings on the whole situation.

brogers

maniclion

Wow just drive a wedge deeper why don't you! I mean to sing a song written by a black man during times of segregation. What's next singing old negro slave spirituals how far would she like us to revert back to? Chanting and having seizures around a campfire? Equality doesn't start by drawing dividing lines lady!

Little Wing

exactly. i wrote two paragraphs trying to make that point but yea what you said. i'm American not rooted in "some country i never set foot in"-American

AKIRA

I am just in awe that she says roses smell like shit.

6' 209lbs (8/16)
Bench 360 (11/29)
Weighted Pullups 80lbs 3x3 (3/19)
Squat 370
Deadlift after herniation 385lbs 3x3 (3/17)
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AKIRA

Not deliberately trying to be devil's advocate, but couldnt a reason to having this sort of pride stem from america endorsing slavery? Also, werent they paid as much as white soldiers in the civil war? I am talking about ancient times though, however, there may be other incidents where I could predict an argument that states that America doesnt appreciate blacks. (just for example)

6' 209lbs (8/16)
Bench 360 (11/29)
Weighted Pullup