Since the decision by Colin Kaepernick to stop standing during the national anthem has sparked a big debate over his actions. It has also re-opened the debate whether the national anthem is actually racist. Now there are other things about the Kaepernick situation that I would like to talk about but this article will be mainly about the national anthem and it's meaning. How was it created? What is it’s true meaning? I have read many articles about the history of the national anthem and I will now give you the truth and facts about the National Anthem.
Francis Scott Key wrote his poem “The Defence of Fort McHenry” after the failure of the British assault on the fort, which was Baltimore during the War of 1812. Key had written four verses but the argument of racism falls in the third stanza where it reads:
“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 washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave, From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave.”
Key’s writing is very obsolete and can be hard to figure out without knowing the context and history of the national anthem so let’s take a look back into time.
So we know that Key and America is going up against the British during the war of 1812 but why might Key have such strong words in his song for slaves. Well during the time the British wanted an edge over America so Admiral Alexander Chochran issued a proclamation for slaves freedom if they fought for the British. So what do you think men who are not only forced to do free labor and beaten or killed if they object, but also have been taken away from their families, humiliated and raped in front of their own children and just violated in so many ways? Yes, they are going to fight for freedom and do anything to get that pride back but most importantly to be free from torture that was put on them. Thousands of black slaves joined the British Army and were now called the Colonial Mariners (a battalion of runaway slaves who joined the British Royal Army in exchange for their freedom).
Now during the battle of Bladensburg, where Key was serving as lieutenant, he ran into the Colonial Mariners and his troops were captured by the black folks who he so desperately disdained. The British now had the edge over Key and had also marched into Washington D.C burning the Library of Congress, the Capitol Building,and the White House. It’s only right to consider that Key was furious and very emotional seeing black soldiers trampling over the city he loved so much. Key a few weeks later was now on a British boat begging for the freedom of his friend Doctor William Beanes. While Key waited to see if his friend would be released he observed the bloody battle of Fort Mchenry in Baltimore September 13, 1815. Now although America had lost this battle they managed to inflict heavy casualties on the British.
Key was then encouraged to write the “The Star-Spangled Banner” at that very moment but the most important part is the third stanza where he criticizes the former slaves who were now part of the British Army. Key said:
“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 washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave, From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave.”
When Key wrote “No refuge could save the hireling and slave / From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,” he was taking great satisfaction in the death of slaves who’d freed themselves. Key’s perspective of Black’s was highly affected that he owned many slaves himself, “The Star-Spangled Banner” is just as patriotic just as much as it is a deride to the black people who had the fortitude to fight for their freedom. Maybe there’s a reason it took 100 years for the song to become the national anthem and that we only sing the first stanza. So you have the background information and the info that leads to the making of this song. Looking at the facts and the time this song was written is all the evidence needed to show that this song is offensive towards black people. So think about this next time you stand up for the national anthem and think about what the song represents because it is not what you think.
Look I’m not saying that America isn't great and I know it will never be perfect or that we shouldn’t respect the people that serve this country but we can’t just ignore blatant disrespect and racism. For people who say that this song doesn't make a mockery of slaves or that racism doesn’t exist still in America then maybe you should pick up a book and educate yourself. Look at some of the traditions America has and look at its history and where it came from. We can’t continue to let things that symbolize racism continue to be idolized in America because it’s wrong and should not be tolerated. We must take a stand and not allow racism to be part of American traditions. Whether you stand or sit for the National Anthem at least you know what you're representing. If you don't believe anything you just read then, by all means, do your own research and you will then discover the truth.
