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Is the Star Spangled Banner racist?!
Debate Information
'How can the Star Spangled Banner be racist?', you might wonder. It is about patriotic pride that the American flag stood after battle, right?! Most of us are blissfully unaware the poem from which the Star Spangled Banner (SSB) comes from has four verses - it is the third verse where controversy arises:
And where is that band who so vauntingly sworeThat 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 slaveFrom 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.
There can be little argument Francis Scott Key (FSK), the author of the poem which later became the national anthem, was racist. He was a slave owner and anti-abolitionist. He believed Africans in America were "a distinct and inferior race of people, which all experience proves to be the greatest evil that afflicts a community.” He petitioned for free blacks to return to Africa. A few weeks before writing the poem he likely would have seen Colonial Marines (a unit of freed slaves) fighting with the British in the demoralizing loss at Bladensburg. This defeat allowed the occupation of Washington and the burning of the Capitol.
In this context, it can hardly be argued FSK, when referring to 'freeman' or 'the free', would have included Black people of any status. On that alone, the argument for a racist SSB can be made. Beyond this, the third verse specifically mentions 'hirelings and slaves' as unable to hide from fearful fleeing or death. "Hirelings" might be considered a bit ambiguous referring to mercenaries, working men, etc., but "slaves" is without ambiguity along with the threat of retribution to them. For these reasons, I contend our national anthem should be retired for something more representative of all Americans.
Persuade me otherwise. I look forward to your arguments.
Persuade me otherwise. I look forward to your arguments.
- Live Poll
Is the Star Spangled Banner racist?
6 votes- Yes.16.67%
- No.83.33%
- Live Poll
Should the Star Spangled Banner be retired?
6 votes- Yes16.67%
- No83.33%
A supreme being is just like a normal being...but with sour cream and black olives.
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