This world is just insane.
I'll bite.
What the hell is a "black" national anthem?
So now this ignorant identity, race politics just keeps going further and further off the rails. How you were born continues to be the most important quality of anyone's life. To hell with the concept that we are one nation and although we have different backgrounds we are all unified as one people, one nation. We strive to focus on the things we have in common and what unifies us. The national anthem brings us all together as one country.
Nope... that isn't good enough for race-baiters. How you were born is the only thing that matters and differences must endless be pointed out and emphasized. Everyone comes together to watch a sport? Let's make sure we point out all of our differences and divisive issues at the game. Let's invent some new national anthem... only for blacks. Does that mean an "Asian anthem" is right around the corner, a "Latino" national anthem, a "female" national anthem, a "LGBT" national anthem... etc.
As I said at the beginning what is a "black" national anthem? Did they make up a completely new song?
People are just insane now. This stuff is just so old.
There's a black nation in the United States? Where is it?
Lol where do you live? This nation is all black
Wakanda forever
Well then, I must be a black albino! Anybody got any fried chicken and watermelon?
Sports should not be involved with politics. I really hate that everything that is supposed to be entertainment now is now political stunts. Why not just play China's national anthem right after? And heck, let's throw in all socialist countries anthems right after.. Sports is supposed to be a distraction from all the crap going on in the world, now we can't even have that. Since the NFL support communist groups like BLM, can they all get taxed like 80% because that's what they're supporting? The rich getting taxed into oblivion...
I've never heard the anthem, please tell me it's not a rap
By the hoodly light
Opinion
70Opinion
It's bullshit in every possible way. These decisions are never about justice, it's about Wokism and Woke Culture which is looking forward to divide people by race even further, to categorize people. To create angry black victims and woke guilty whites towards one common enemy: America. The same people who sing the motto of caring about black lives are the ones who are in majority control of cities like Chicago, Baltimore and Detroit, where black on black crimes are high and poverty sky-rocket but they do nothing about it. Only when a white person slaps a black person in the face; New York Times, USA Today, MSNBC, ABC, CNN, Coca Cola and other woke companies like NFL jump to action to pretend to care while dividing the country even further for their own common goal.
These are the people who benefit from racism and it's idea and stress, so they keep it on life support and keeping it relevant.
None of these decisions are independent. They all are on the same table. Period.
I feel sorry for my some of my fellow Americans for being such simple-minded fools.
"Commitment to social justice"? Okay, I suppose people can have good-faith disagreements about how best to resolve the problems plaguing the country, but how is singing another song going to help anything? I question why fixing massive social problems is really the purview of a sports league anyway, but you spend a quarter of a billion dollars to improve conditions for the race that makes up the majority of your playerbase, and what you come up with is... singing?
Not "setting up programs to enhance community or familial cohesion". Not "funding trade schools and other education programs to provide job training and combat the school-to-prison pipeline". Heck, not "overlooking minor criminal histories to help people get a second chance". No. Singing. That's what's missing here.
And you do this in the name of "antiracism". You want to get rid of racism by being more racist. Way to challenge stereotypes about intellectual inferiority there, NFL.
I think we should stop with the nonsensical tradition of playing national anthems at sporting events, with the exception of international tournaments or the Olympics where the team playing is like “Team USA” or whatever. It’s simply not the appropriate venue for it, and that goes for any country. We don’t do it at concerts, often at the very same stadiums with the same huge crowds... what’s the difference? We don’t do it at smaller entertainment events like the movies or the theater. Sports, music, cinema, and plays all have one thing in common: they all have absolutely nothing to do with government, politics, the military, patriotism, America or whatever country you’re in, nor should they... so why the anthem? It’s not meant to be disrespectful, it’s just genuinely not related and it isn’t the time or place for it. If you play it at a parade on the 4th of July, totally appropriate. National Team/Olympic competitions, I get it. I mean, there’ll be an NHL game in Tampa, they play the US anthem but everyone on the ice is Canadian, Russian, Swedish, Finnish, Czech, etc... so it’s not for the players, it must be for the fans then. Did the fans request this? I just don’t understand how this all became a thing, it’s kinda wild. I’m not offended by it or anything, I’m just saying it’s completely unnecessary to the point of the entire event we’re attending, and if it’s going to be a point of friction we might as well skip the whole thing. As far as the Black National Anthem... all due respect, but I gotta be consistent and say it’s not the correct venue for anthems. Within the context of “there will continue to be anthems at sporting events despite what WhiteSteve thinks about it”, I’m happy for anyone who’s happy about it, but I know the NFL too well to think that was done with any sincerity, I know Roger Goodell just wet a finger and stuck it in the air to see which way the public opinion wind was blowing.
We have a black national anthem? For what nation, Wakanda? Are African Americans not Americans or what? I know everyone used to sing that in church and all, but I didn't know it became "the black national anthem."
No, I don't agree with this social justice propaganda BS to push more demoralization onto the masses and cause more division among people. It's stupid and no one who watches football cares about this horsesh*t. I don't even care if we have the real national anthem or not; just keep politics out of things!
Since the majority of the NFL is black, I understand why they’re including it. However, the bigger question is…why is the national anthem necessary in the first place? What has a show of patriotism got to do with professional sports or any sports? It’s a tradition that never made much sense to me.
@rcljr You got that little dick energy in full effect, huh?
How is the original one racist? Which line or word in the Star Spangled Banner is so filled with inequality and hate that the ENTIRE song needs to be replaced? And how is the replacement song "Widely Recognized?" The first I've heard of it. Can players "take a knee" during it? This just sounds like the NFL trying to get a ratings boost for their drug taking, spouse abusing narcissistic players. Any way they try and sell it I am still not watching overpaid children play for criminal corporate companies after already selling their "talents" to said companies.
Their new business strategy seems to be making as many extra efforts to alienate (turn away) millions of fans, best solution at this moment would be not to play anything at all, and just focus on their job, to be a football organization, not morality police, justice warriors, or anything else... people turn on football to be entertained, watch football, not be lectured, whether directly, or indirectly.
Part of a $250,000,000 "investment" towards social justice? That's probably the worst investment in the history of investments- that money is going straight into buying some grifter a bigass mansion, and the rest into some PAC. Pats on the back all around- they just cured perceived inequality by paying off con artists and dividing the nation!
I'm Hungarian, why don't they play the Hungarian Waltz before every game too?
This is what we call first world problems. We're debating stupid bullshit that doesn't matter while our infrastructure in this country descends into 3rd world conditions.
People are just mad because black people are getting literally anything. They don't want politics unless it's their politics and they don't want democracy unless it favors them.
@Hypnos0929 I'm all for black people gaining equality. What BLM needs to understand is that most white people in america have no genealogy related them to the slave owners of the past. My grandparents immigrated here from Hungary in the 30's - fleeing the uprising of fascism from you-know-who. Nobody in my line has ever owned a slave. However, people in my line have been slaves centuries ago. How do we right all the wrongs?
Most americans are 2nd and 3rd generation immigrant.
Black americans deserve equality.
It's that simple.
See that's your problem. You listen to a very few number of people who blame white people directly. You listen to people who talk about people you've never even bothered to interact with.
Most Americans may be recent emigrants but that doesn't change the fact that America's general attitude towards black Americans isn't positive. There is even an outright dismissal of our problems at times, and some of these problems are recognized in fads of sorts.
We blame the abstract, the bystander that resides within human nature if you will. Let's step back from race for a second. We've all seen videos of women who get stabbed as onlookers pass but we have also seen videos of someone jumping into action and saving someone. You may not have a dog in the fight but so what? Can you help people? Do you see the right vs the wrong? We dislike the lack of mobility, at one point it seemed as though America was accepting black people. It seemed as though America would help end slums and repair our schools and recognize our contributions. Then in a flash it disappeared in the wind and Americans just went on, forgetting about black problems and worst of all black fears. You talked about America's infrastructure well what about the American's infrastructure
Lol what a waste of money. The people who tune in for the sport itself won't care, and the people who DO care about the 'social justice messaging' will say it's "not going far enough". When you try to get in bed with the woke mob, you end up making endless concessions with nothing to show for it.
Blacks already got their Juneteenth, now we need this too? Whatever. The NFL is a private organization, so they can do whatever they want. Why does the NFL need to even play the National anthem anyway? It’s not a government event. I quit watching sports years ago. Too many tattoos, long dreadlocks, spitting, and showboating to suit me.
African Americans just want reparations for the years of systematic oppression and slavery that this country has profit off of.
SMH. We don't have 2 national anthems -- one for black people and one for white people. We have ONE national anthem for ALL PEOPLE of all races!!
Why are the SJWs always trying to divide everyone? It's really sickening. I don't think ALL of these people have malicious intentions, but I'm kind of starting to believe that SOME of them do! There are some evil folks that just want to intentionally cause conflict and destroy America.
by the way, I didn't have a problem with them playing the "Black National Anthem" last year. I thought it was kind of cool. But division is not something you want to institutionalize.
We have s national anthem for everyone. Playing one that’s for one race is exclusionary and panders to racists. The NFL is also pushing false political and social narratives when most fans simply want to watch games rather than indoctrination.
I would have an issue with it if it was a National team, but to my knowledge the NFL is just a private "football" confederation so they could play baby shark at the beginning of a game and I would not give a shit as they do not represent the nation
Note: I'm not American just a euro giving my opinion
I remember when sports brought us together.
I enjoyed being at sports bars to watch your team. When your team would score you would all be jumping up in celebration with people of all races that you didn't even k ow personally. But that didn't matter. Once the game started every one was your buddy.
Watching sports was an escape from the chaos of the world.
Once politics were brought into sports those good times are gone.
I am for it. Who cares? Only stupid people get angry angry about stuff like this. If you don't want to hear the song, come late to the game or stuff napkins in your ears. :)
@rcljr LOL! Nobody cares what you support, though. You are cognitively challenged and basically irrelevant. You offer nothing to society except for perhaps the plant community, which needs the carbon dioxide that you exhale for their survival. But it's not like we have a shortage of that so really I'm not sure what you offer planet Earth.
Supercutebutt you have the same value you give rcljr or lack thereof. So you also are meaningless and a waste of oxygen.
@LazarusTheRisen I respectfully disagree. I am an earner and a taxpayer and
I lighten everyone's mood here on g@g with my sweet poll questions. I am truly awesome. :) I am also a proud Yoda.
Well, you irritate me and give off hussy vibes. So you are wrong and being a Yoda means nothing. You are a random human on a random website with zero value other than some egotistical responses. Your opinion of yourself doesn't determine how others see you. Most people on here are as fake as you are if not more. Your presence here is as important as the shit that hangs on a horse's ass hair.
@LazarusTheRisen Yeah well I have hundreds upon hundreds of devoted followers while you only have a handful. Also, I have a hot butt. I've actually heard your butt described as "grotesque."
Hundreds of devoted followers? Seriously nobody even knows who you are. You are a hidden person behind a screen. For all anybody knows, you are a 50 yr old man who sits in his underwear getting off by the attention you never got as a kid. If you value yourself by what you think your butt looks like, you need a lot more help than I could have even imagined.
@LazarusTheRisen Your words are hurtful. Please apologize to me.
Are you having flashbacks of 40 years ago when the bully threw you in the locker and you had to walk home with piss pants? I don't typically condone bullying but people like you are the reason why I think it should exist. You make me sick.
I take back the 40 yr old part, not because I feel bad but because I feel like you are probably the current-day bully who leaves helpless others considering ending it all. You are probably the person who made the bruised and battered come to school with the gun and kill everyone. In their suicide letter, you are cited specificly.
@LazarusTheRisen Aww. You are sympathizing with school shooters now? I just hope I haven't pushed you over the edge today. You sound rather fragile.
Oh no, I would be a regular shooter. I've been dreaming about the purge for years. I openly want to massacre thousands. I'm crazy enough to do it, but not crazy enough to do it illegally.
All I said was you are a shitty enough person to cause people to do it illegally
@LazarusTheRisen Who are you planning to massacre? And how will you do it legally?
@rcljr lol. I think your buddy just got banned for threating to murder people. Oh well. Maybe another mentally ill person will come and defend you.
It actually does the opposite of what they want. It promotes making everyone seeing Black people as "different" instead of equal. The act actually perpetuates racial division instead of promoting racial equality.
America Love it or leave it. The very thought of a black American anthem is racist within itself. The US anthem happens to be For every race color and creed. I’ve never heard of anything so selfish and ego centric in my life. Hi say boycott the NFL and put them out of business. Ever since they’ve been pulling this crap I have not watched a single game. Will never again as long as this is the way they want to be.
As an African American I want to clarify some misconceptions based on ignorance I have seen. 1. I do not think having the Black national anthem played is going to do anything to improve race relations but it’s nice to have that representation. 2. The United States national anthem “The Star Spangled Banner” brings up slavery which is why African Americans don’t really feel patriotic singing it. 3. That’s why we took up the song “Lift Every voice” as our national anthem.
Show me which lyric brings up slavery? Im genuinely curious. Cause as posted below there is no mention of slavery
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, yeah, streaming?
And the rockets' red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave
Crap never mind, I never looked the full lyrics up before.. It mentions slaves in the Third stanza.. which is never sung. man i feel like an idiot.
@rcljr O say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream, 'Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! And where is that band who so vauntingly swore, That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a Country should leave us no more? Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution. "No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave, And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave" O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation! Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto - "In God is our trust," And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
@rcljr A little research will save you from looking stupid. Third stanza in the original one
amhistory.si.edu/.../ssb_lyrics.pdf
@worldscolide it was written after the 1812 war with the lyrics from English writer based on a poem. The line is “hireling and slave” which is very debatable who it refers to. But this was inspired by the battle of Fort McHenrry which was in Maryland.
Anyway I admit I need to do more research. But everything I’ve read so far is that this lyric about slaves was very ambiguous on whether or not it referred to southern chattel slavery (African Americans).
At the end of the day people can make a DECISION to consider it racist or not. But we could officially remove that lyric, still play it at major league sports games or just not play any fucking anthem at all. This “black” national anthem is asinine, divisive and counter productive.
Besides the fact this is obviously a ploy for some stupid points boost on a corporate graph. This is sad, they are replacing the American Anthem with one that represents only a Race. I see this as no different than playing a song representing White pride in place of the American Anthem.
Why not? 70% of players are black... if that’s what they want then cool with me. I doubt they voted on it though... in reality no anthem should be played because it’s America vs America so... for what reason are they playing the national anthem? It’s pretty useless and stupid.
I certainly don't speak for all Black folk but I'm pretty indifferent to it. If that's what the players really want then so be it.
Although I disagree with other commenters, competitive sports in general are often viewed as symbolically representative of at least a region of the nation if not reflective of the nation as a whole. Thereforen it certainly isn't meaningless to have anthems.
More and more fans are abandoning the NFL (and its associated marketing and merchandise), and this move will only lead to more of that. The owners have Got Woke, and they will soon Get Broke.
Sure they are pal, that's why the NFL split $9.5 BILLION in national revenue last year, a new record high. It's only going to continually increase, as it has continued to do so year after year. The majority of the population is now "woke" as you put it. Sorry if it rubs you the wrong way boomer.
Do I get to kneel during it? Lol
But in all seriousness you said "black national anthem". This is an American nation. Not a white, black, red, yellow, brown or whatever color you want to give me Nation. Push to have the anthem changed if it truly bothers you. But to play more than one only furthers divides us. Otherwise I'd have no problem with it being played.
And, after you've changed the lyrics to that, tell Robert Plant and Jimmy Page to fuck off when they ask why you're changing the lyrics to, "Stairway To Heaven".
The poem/song lyrics don't appear racist to me, if taken in context. The third verse is about those American traitors who crossed over to fight for the British... specifically, the hirelings and slaves... regardless of the reasons. It's not about the color of their skin but rather the infidelity of their patriotic character that he impunes.
That's how I read it.
With the possible exception of watching Lefty shoot a few rounds, I've given up on "professional" sports. I "disagree" with sports being used as a political venue, regardless of viewpoint. If someone wants to get political, run for office.
They really don't care. It's financially beneficial for them to support whatever is currently the "big issue" every large business is doing this.
It’s a poem titled "Lift Every Voice and Sing", and adopted by the NAACP in 1900. I think if we’re to watch black men play a sport for our amusement, we can also listen to a song with significant meaning.
So what are they going to play for the White National Anthem?
Yes, and blacks should enjoy it while the can, because this is what's next...
https://www.youtube.com/embed/BX7up2NNXd0 @MCheetah
My point wasn't really about blacks enjoying this victory, but rather whoever is behind it. They're working for China, and this will come back to haunt them.
I dont really care. They can do what they want. Thats called freedom.
Its too bad neither side believes in freedom anymore. Can't stand y'all.
I don't water sports so this is news to me. I don't have a big debate in me tonight so I'm not going to post a opinion that calls both both A and B.
Its whatever, but I don't understand why it's needed. All lives matter no matter the color so it's not good to make one race on a high pedestal. It unfortunately will cause blacks to receive increases of dislike.
it's funny because... Trump was right again. They are literally attacking sports in attempts to divide us, because historically, sports are a great unifier for nations. Rush Limbaugh and Trump both said this was coming before it even got started.
What's wrong with the old one?
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ls1YVhcLD2c
People will call BS but when I see a person I don’t see a white person or a black person I just see a person
Please God in heaven let a white dude have the balls to take a knee... but wait that would make him a racist I bet 🤔
They can play anything they want as long as the national anthem is in there some place.
It's literally their choice, and it's a song.
Not sure why people care so damn much when they can literally mute the TV or just change the channel if they want.
The NFL can do whatever the hell it wants. It's called being a private entity.
And you can watch whatever the hell you want on television. It's called freedom.
Case closed.
Dividing the nation just as planned. The black supremacist just cannot stand not having segregation
It’s kinda funny because back then it was about white america but today it’s black America lol
I couldn’t care less because sports are something I only support when it involves children. What’s the point of watching grown men tackle each other?
But, OBVIOUSLY, they ARE children!!!
I disagree with it, just as much as I do them
Having the pledge or star spangled banner or military jet flyovers. Regardless of your opinion on the US, it’s a G A M E
If we can agree to remove ALL politics then fine I’m on board with you
I’d prefer that we did remove politics from most if not all things, yes
Alright fair enough.
I say fine whatever who cares it’s a song. But it shouldn’t be played directly before the national anthem with people expected to stand for it and then kneel for the national anthem.
I quit watching the National Felons League the first time colon keffirdick took a knee.
You’re an idiot.
😂 well at least you are honest about being a racist ass
I don't care because I don't watch it... I gamble on it of course
I will never watch or support them again. They don't even care about America, except to kill America
I’m just quit watching the NFL period. I know I’m not the only one who no longer supports major WOKE sports.
The NFL is gonna lose a shit load of fans over this. I know people who boycotted the league last year, so its just gonna get worse.
What’s the name of this Nation they speak of? Is it worth invading?
I had to sing it everyday at school when I was a kid. No one gave a shit. I actually don't think any national anthem is necessary for sporting events. It's not a government function.
I think they should play "America, Fuck yeah" next year.
We don't need a black national them we have a bigger issues than a white people song.
No. Its just pandering that will backfire for the league and socially..
There is no black national anthem.
There is no white natinal anthem.
Just play the national anthem.
Problem solved.
Why don't they just play the African national anthem, that's a mostly black nation!
@FunkyMonkee Africa isn't a country dingus
@ball_so_hard Are you sure? LOL!!!
One would hope people understand the difference between a country and a continent, but I'm not too sure. Especially for Americans. Our lack of knowledge about Africa is pretty sad. I mean it's the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent with over 50 countries and thousands of languages.
@ball_so_hard No shit, Sherlock!!
I won't be watching. Nor will my wife. Get the fucking politics out of my sports and I will watch again.
Sounds like a great tool for a little more division of Americans
This if the land of the free. Slaves were freed so the black anthem makes sense.
only if you, as the qa, equate the American national anthem, to being the "white" anthem. since, then it would be "inclusive", right?
Oh look, it's the latest dumb culture war bullshit trumptards are getting their panties in a bunch over.
@MudRucker shut up.
GOOD comeback!! THAT told him!!
@FunkyMonkee lol, please.
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