Woman Sings 'Black Nat'l Anthem' at Denver State of the City

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Posted: 8:29 PM Jul 2, 2008
Last Updated: 8:29 PM Jul 2, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press

40 comments

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A performer caused a stir in Denver Tuesday by singing the words to a tune known as the black national anthem when she was expected to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Denver jazz singer Rene Marie sang the lyrics of "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" to the tune of the national anthem. It happened Tuesday before hundreds of people gathered to hear Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's annual State of the City speech.

The lyrics include, "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."

Hickenlooper says he didn't know of Marie's plans in advance.

Marie says artists don't have to ask for permission to express themselves.

City Councilman Charlie Brown says Marie should have stuck to the original words.

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Posted by: Maria Location: Colorado Springs on Jul 9, 2008 at 01:38 PM
I know there are alot of hispanics who do not feel they need to learn English, and I don't agree with them. I'm not saying anyone should be shot, but to respect the country you are in. Those who refuse to learn the language of the country they choose to live in should not expect people to tip-toe around them.

Posted by: Sharon Location: CS on Jul 7, 2008 at 08:25 PM
Maria, Many Hispanics do impose their heritage on others by speaking Spanish instead of English. Some don't even attempt to learn the language. I recently had someone come to me and try to tell me what they needed and was irate that I did not speak Spanish. So should all the Hispanics who do this be shot??

Posted by: Maria Location: Colorado Springs on Jul 7, 2008 at 06:43 AM
When I first heard this story, I was shocked. So what if theres a "Black National Anthem?" If she's an American, she should be proud to be an American, not try to cause conflict with something like this. She knew what she was doing and she knew the reaction she would get. I'm hispanic, and proud of my heritage, but theres a difference between being proud of your heritage and imposing it on others. If you pulled something like this in any other country you would get shot! If she is American, she needs to be proud to be an American. Even if you are not a citizen of the country you are in, you need to respect the people who are. You need to respect the country and the men and women who are fighting for freedom!

Posted by: Ben Location: C/S on Jul 7, 2008 at 05:46 AM
Haleia, BET = BLACK entertainment which caters to an ethnic society. I could personally care less about CMT or GAC though I know there are BLACK singers on there.

Posted by: nick Location: c/s on Jul 6, 2008 at 06:48 AM
wow I couldnt agree with shalika more!

Posted by: Shalika Location: Cos on Jul 4, 2008 at 10:09 PM
As a proud black African Anericam women I am very shamed by this divisive and travesty of a "song." We A.A.'s need to get together and demand better of ourselves. We need to walk that talk and put away the race card.

Posted by: Nora Location: CS on Jul 4, 2008 at 09:26 PM
This town has a whole slew of problems, Bill. No doubts you do not know that living in Boston. Spend some time here nowadays and there's all kinds of discrimination. God forbid you aren't Christian, republican and all that goes with it.

Posted by: Bill Location: CS on Jul 4, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Rob, learn to spell, you make us other whites look bad.

Posted by: Popeye Location: Colorado Springs on Jul 4, 2008 at 04:17 PM
I agree she was wrong to do this. Just likes it's wrong for Hispanics to speak Spanish on the job, unless the job requires it. Tired of going in to US companies and having to listen to the Spanish, learn English in the US!!

Posted by: Can We All Get Along 4 Once Location: CS on Jul 4, 2008 at 04:08 PM
Shame on the person that said this was no surprise given the ethnicity. Being a white person I would not like generalizations made about my race. The singer violated her contract, they should take her to court like they would anyone else who failed to fulfill a contract. Her purpose was to get attention and she did. She has all of the racial slurs going back and forth on this site (and others), she won. You would think with Colorado Springs being a military town and racially diverse, the people in this city wouldn't be so prejudiced and hurtful with their comments.

Posted by: Sheeka Location: colorado on Jul 4, 2008 at 03:09 PM
people are so stupid, the gazette should not even print the stuff people write or say no matter what people are always offended

Posted by: Haleia Location: CS on Jul 4, 2008 at 02:23 PM
NAACP was created to combat racism at the time. It's evolved into something that has lost respect within it's own demographics it's trying to help. BET, Jet and like media caters to a certain group -- no different then the GAC, CMT and military channel and how one gets racism from those forms is reaching into no brain land

Posted by: Rob Location: Springs on Jul 4, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Maybe I should come up with White version of the antional anthem. Oh Wait a minute, that sounds racist

Posted by: James Location: Woodland Park on Jul 4, 2008 at 08:42 AM
she was hired to sing a particular song and didn't sing it. she's apparently not capabale. don't hire her next time...pretty simple.

Posted by: Bill from Boston Location: El Paso County on Jul 4, 2008 at 08:34 AM
Here we go!! 1st of all, this farce was of course racist. It really made the audience look pretty stupid...one councilman even kept his hand over his heart the whole time...DUH! Typical of leftist liberals unfortunately! No one had the guts to pull the plug on a black person even tho she was really out of place doing this. I believe they were intimidated due to the possibility of riots in the streets of Denver when the Dems have their convention...eh? For "kerry"... how can you make such statements if "i'm not even aware of the story"...??? You turn this around and say that C/S is racist?? Your comments seem disconnected and rambling and really don't help the situation at all. The bottom line is that it was racist, anti-American, dishonest, and in my opinion, she undermined the relationships between whites and blacks...same as you. Non-whites may feel that because of her color she was given too much leniency and I think they're right!! SHE WAS IN THE WRONG!!

Posted by: Glenn Location: cos on Jul 4, 2008 at 07:59 AM
I wonder what would happen if someone sang the words of "Dixie" to the tune of the black national anthem.

Posted by: Dan M Location: C/S on Jul 4, 2008 at 06:44 AM
Kerry, so you're telling me/us that BET, JET magazine, the Essence Awards, Grambling University, The NAACP, etc. aren't forms of racism? Shame on who?

Posted by: Bill Location: colorado springs, CO on Jul 4, 2008 at 01:36 AM
Someone should have grabbed this bimbo by the nose & dragged her out.

Posted by: Haleia Location: CS on Jul 3, 2008 at 10:32 PM
holding someone accountable suddenly becomes racist? That woman broke her contract. She was contracted to sing a certain song and then sang another. Those who turned this into it's a race issue because people disliked the song change, shame on you for devaluing true racism

Posted by: Lee Location: Woodland Park on Jul 3, 2008 at 06:14 PM
"Marie says artists don't have to ask for permission to express themselves." Some consider urine in a mason jar with a cross art as well.. as a white Anglo Saxon male,, if i had said something similar, I would have been labeled a racist and removed from the premises. the Mayor of Denver,,as a representative of our State,and the USA, should have stopped this travesty before it began I am disappointed that you,,KKTV, have not made a more positive statement here concerning our country,,and by absence, are supporting racism..shame on you. Considering that we are on the threshold of having the first black contender for president, this is a major affront to him as well,, assuming he is in fact believing our country stands for Freedom for All,,not just minorities of any sort.

Posted by: kerry Location: colorado springs on Jul 3, 2008 at 04:58 PM
i'm not even aware of the story but I've lived in the Springs most of my life & my husband is a 4th gen. native. We were unaware of how racist c/s is. Shame on all of you commenters who are so prejuduce. No wonder blacks feel so disliked. We have all races in our family & wouldn't want it any other way.

Posted by: Fernando Location: Pueblo on Jul 3, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Typical savage!

Posted by: John Location: Texas on Jul 3, 2008 at 03:46 PM
It is one thing to be an artist and express your self but what this so called artist did was unjustifiably wrong. This so called artist can go on any talent show at any time and express their talent but when asked to do a performance at an official function it is only right to stick to protocol. And yes the so called artist does have to be up front about the choice of lyrics as it is a tax payer funded function and not a local talent show. Anything but the Star Spangled Banner is blasphemy/treason. I would not have held my hand over my heart during that debacle, I only hold my hand over my heart for the Star Spangled Banner and stand silently for the national anthems from recognized countries. The appropriate time for the Black National Anthem is during Kwanzaa of which Kwanzaa has no affiliation or relation to Christmas and the Black National Anthem should be sung to a tune other than the Star Spangled Banner (copy cat). No tune should copy the Star Spangled Banner.

Posted by: Bill Location: Crestview, FL on Jul 3, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Weak sister in charge of audio should have pulled the plug. She snubbed the hosts and folks clapped after she was done. Disgraceful conduct. Music was OK, but wrong place and wrong time.

Posted by: joe Location: vacaville, ca on Jul 3, 2008 at 03:25 PM
I'm glad to know that California isn't the only state with selfish kooks! Thanks Colorado! You made my day. (Please keep her though. Or send her east!)

Posted by: Steve Location: Dallas on Jul 3, 2008 at 01:24 PM
This what your going to get a lot more of when or if Obama becomes president. Disrespect and embarrassment in the white house.

Posted by: Susan Location: Texas on Jul 3, 2008 at 01:03 PM
I am SO tired of the "race card"...I protest this and AM HIGHLY OFFENDED. That was RACIST..since it was a "black" version of the "traditional" Star Spangled Banner!!! Shows EXTREME IGNORANCE!!!!

Posted by: Paul Location: C/S on Jul 3, 2008 at 12:31 PM
"Black" national anthem??? I thought it was "African American" Can someone please clear this up for me. Is it Black, or African American, just want to be correct. However...feel free to contunue to call me white boy, cracker, redneck, or some of the other terms. Besides, everyone knows that if she "got in trouble" for singing her anthem, she would have someone tied up in a lawsuit fast quick and in a hurry!

Posted by: Chris Location: CS on Jul 3, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Maybe she's just trying to get a contract for the DNC.

Posted by: nick on Jul 3, 2008 at 11:50 AM
I agree she should lose any chances of getting to do any other performances. they should have cut her mic and booed her!!!

Posted by: mary dronkers Location: jacksonville, fl on Jul 3, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Our country has ONE National Anthem, not two. It just amazses me more and more everyday that people do what ever they want anymore. I think it was very offensive. Turn the tables around, if a other than Black person was asked to sing a specific song at an african american event and a predominantly White song was sung, the NCAAP would have been there immediatley and would have thrown out the "Black and Lawyer" card. I also don't know why there is AFrican American, instead of a "Black" or "white" American, or whay can't we just be called Americans?

Posted by: Dusty Location: Southern Colorado on Jul 3, 2008 at 11:25 AM
So Marie stated that artists do not have to ask permission to express themselves. How about the rest of the State of Colorado expressing themselves in demanding people boycott her club appearances and recordings ? Would she think it was so wonderful then? She was apparently contracted to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" and substituted some kind of protest song. She is in violation of her contract, if she in fact had one. This appearance appears to be nothing more than the politics of hate.

Posted by: Why on Jul 3, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Why do people feel they can take it upon themselves to just do as they feel? She was asked to do something and felt she had the right to do something totally different. SHe should be ashamed of herself.

Posted by: Jeff Location: Colorado Springs on Jul 3, 2008 at 10:38 AM
I am sick and tired of all the minorities tryinging to make us non minorities look like a fool. If I was to have sung a song like the one this lady sung chances are I would have ended up in jail. Come on minorities quit pushing your ethnicity on us

Posted by: Jones Location: C/S on Jul 3, 2008 at 09:55 AM
Completely and totally inappropriate but not surprising considering the ethnic background.

Posted by: James Location: C/S on Jul 3, 2008 at 08:07 AM
Underhanded, sneaky and more. With any luck her music career and public appearances are over.

Posted by: lee on Jul 3, 2008 at 07:48 AM
Talk about dividing people.

Posted by: Bob Location: Colorado Springs on Jul 3, 2008 at 07:36 AM
SHAME SHAME SHAME on YOU!!! If you dont like the USA MOVE!

Posted by: john Location: c.s. on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:27 PM
so what

Posted by: Jaime Location: Black Forest on Jul 2, 2008 at 10:47 PM
"artists don't have to ask for permission to express themselves"? I believe some respect should be shown toward the national anthem and not some artist interpretation of it. Men and women are willing to put their lives on the line so we can be free. It's just common sense. A political statement shouldn't be made with our national anthem. It doesn't matter if your a Republican or Democrat, white/black/polka dotted, male/female....it our anthem. It represents ALL of us not just a few. Don't mess with something that is just as "American as Apple Pie".

Posted by: Ryan Location: La Junta on Jul 2, 2008 at 09:41 PM
I just want to say if someone is supposed to sing a certain song for an event especially one of our countries greatest songs that person should act professional and sing that song. The Person should not just say I'm going to sing this song and I can because it's my right well it's not your right the people at that event exdpected you to sing one of our counties greatest songs and you didn't so I hope you can find other events to sing at because I think that was your last. you should be very much ashamed of yourself and I hope you think about other people feelings and plans before you do something stupid like that again. thank you: Ryan C. P

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