by Stephen Dietrich, Managing Editor
It’s the latest nonsense circling social media. An Intercept article titled, “Colin Kaepernick Is Righter Than You Know: The National Anthem Is a Celebration of Slavery.”
Yes, people are now calling the Star-Spangled Banner a racist song, and are demanding a new national anthem.
Is there any end to this insanity?
Anyone who suggests the Star-Spangled Banner is a racist song is a poor student of history at best, and a liar at worst.
This article is latching on to some key facts but missing the grand picture.
- Yes, the British did recruit runaway slaves into a detachment called the Colonial Marines.
- Yes, Francis Scott Key would be considered extremely racist today – he did think that blacks were morally and intellectually inferior to whites (by the way, so did President Abraham Lincoln).
Historically, Key – like America — had a very complicated history on race relations.
“On the one hand, Key widely is believed to have helped spark the Snow race riot of 1835 by his overly aggressive prosecution of a young black man who was accused of trying to kill his mistress,” The Baltimore Sun wrote in an article in July 2014. “On the other hand, it was Key who stood in front of a jail door and faced down the white lynch mob that wanted to skip the trial and hang the suspect, Arthur Bowen, from the nearest tree.”
Key was noted at the time as an effective lawyer, but not as a poet. Only one of his works, the “Defence of Fort M’Henry”, would ever be widely published.
That would later be put to music, and become the Star-Spangled Banner.
Now, liberal wanna-be historians are attempting to re-write history.
This poorly researched article is picking at one line in a poem about the bombardment of Fort McHenry, from the third stanza (traditionally, only the first stanza is sung in the anthem).
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
The author is using it as an indictment on race relations in all of America, claiming this proves Key’s poem was celebrating victory at Ft. McHenry as whites victory over escaped slaves.
The article, though, is being dishonest; it using a gross oversimplification of the very complex history of slavery in America to make dangerous assumptions.
And the author is completely wrong.
To understand meaning of our national anthem, we must know the real history of the Battle of Baltimore.
Critics point out that, starting in April, 1814, an estimated 300 runaway slaves escaped plantations throughout the Chesapeake and joined the British forces over the next year. This detachment was called the Colonial Marines, and it was used against American forces.
However, the unit — one of two made up of escaped slaves that served under British during the war — acted primarily in a support role to the British forces. Remember, the British at the time were their own international slave empire. They used slaves to support their own military and economy. When the British freed their enemies slaves, these “freed” black men were used almost exclusively for demeaning manual labor.
These U.S.-based Colonial Marines never fought in the Battle of Baltimore.
They were not in the Battle of North Point, where British marines marched on the city and were successfully delayed by American forces while the ground defenses around Baltimore were completed.
They were not involved in the bombardment of Fort McHenry, a naval attack the British launched when their ground units were deterred by the American defenses around the city.
How could Key be referencing them in a poem about a battle they were not involved in?
The fact is, we don’t know what Key was referencing in the controversial third stanza.
Some historians think it is a reference to the imprisonment of American naval forces by the British. Leading up to the war, powerful British warships would regularly capture free American sailors (both white AND black) and force them to serve as slaves of the British navy. This aggressive practice was a large reason behind the declaration of war in 1812.
Others think the third stanza could be talking about Colonial Marines, which Key and other Americans likely loathed, and their involvement in the destruction of Washington, D.C.
Still others have wondered if it’s a reference to the treatment of American forces throughout the Revolutionary War.
None are sure.
We do know that history is far more complicated than two lines in a poem about a battle. Consider, for example, that runaway slaves and freed blacks eagerly fought on the American side throughout the war as well — including at the Battle of Baltimore.
So, turn about is fair play. Imagine if we wrote an article that said,
“A rarely-sung fourth stanza of the Star Spangled Banner PROVES it’s about freed African-Americans defeating the slave-owning British empire at Baltimore!”
O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation.
Play along with me.
If we act as intellectually dishonest as the people calling the Star-Spangled Banner a racist song, we could argue this point is true.
The British in 1814 had slave owning colonies in the West Indies, and they feared slave revolt as much as slave owning Americans. And the British Empire did not outlaw slavery in their colonies until 1833, after all.
The British were enlisting anyone they could — including foreign mercenaries — as a part of their campaign of destruction against America.
As a result of the destruction the British invasion brought, we know that both freed blacks and slaves alike rushed to the American side at the Battle of Baltimore.
For example, there was William Williams, a runaway slave that escaped bondage in Prince George’s County in 1814. Williams escaped and immediately enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army to defend his country during the British invasion. He joined the 38th U.S. Infantry at Fort McHenry, and was one of the four Americans to die during the British bombardment.
Williams escaped slavery — so he could volunteer to give his life for his country.
George Roberts was an African-American privateer that was celebrated in Baltimore throughout his life for his role in the Battle of Baltimore. “Old George was among those who took up arms in defense of the city of Baltimore in 1814, and throughout his long life was always highly thought of by the citizen soldiery,” The Baltimore Sun wrote in his obituary in January, 1861.
Michael Buzzard joined him in the battle, an African-American that served bravely in the bombardment of Fort McHenry in the U.S. Corps of Artillery.
Charles Ball was an African-American that served in the U.S. Navy in the Chesapeake campaign as Seaman aboard Commodore Joshua Barney’s U.S. Chesapeake Flotilla, and passionately recruited fellow free blacks and runaway slaves to join him against the hated British.
Caesar Wentworth was an African-American that also served in the U.S. Chesapeake Flotilla as the naval forces cook. Gabriel Roulson served as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the U.S. Sloop of War Ontario at Baltimore. Many other skilled free blacks like John Allines and James Ambly and “Fiddler” Jack Murray served as naval mechanics and ship builders in the Baltimore naval yards, building naval ships and privateers.
These black Americans, and countless others whose names have been lost to history, helped build and man the defenses in the city of Baltimore.
A Baltimore merchant noted during the construction of the vital defenses in Baltimore, “They are throwing up trenches all around the city, white and blacks are working together. You’ll see a master and his slave working side-by-side. There is no distinction whatsoever,” according to “The Slaves’ Gamble: Choosing Sides in the War of 1812.”
O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation.
So, is that what the lines are about? Free blacks defending their homes against an invading, international slave empire?
No. No, of course not.
To claim so would be as intellectually dishonest as claiming The Star-Spangled Banner is racist.
Here’s the fact: America is not a perfect nation.
Our history is not perfect, either. Yes, there are sad and shameful moments – one of the worst was the tragic and unjust slave trade.
But there are many, many proud moments, too.
One of those proud moments was the heroic defense of Baltimore against an invading foreign slave empire by patriotic Americans, both white and black.
Saying otherwise is lying, and to argue that is to misuse history to score cheap political points.
— Stephen Dietrich is the Managing Editor of The Horn News
https://maryland1812.wordpress.com/category/african-americans/
http://www.eighteentwelve.ca/?q=eng/Topic/57
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bs-ae-key-legacy-20140726-story.html
They sell English muffins and fly the British flag in the U.S..Is that’s offensive to Irish or Indian folks? They sell German cars. Is that offensive to Jewish or Polish people? They sell Japanese cars. Is that offensive to the Chinese? I could go on and on. Why is it that one group thinks that it has a monopoly on being wronged?
The answer is in the definition of the word “ProgreSSive”. What are they “progreSSing” towards? Are they ever satisfied? Or does one agenda morph into another? Gay “Rights” into Tranny Liberation for example. Next will be polygamy to satisfy Moosie demands. There is only One “Freedom” for these Progs and that is their view and speech is All that is acceptable, very similar to Sharia “law” which Progs will eventually accept then champion.
Our national anthem is pretty hard to sing but it’s OUR national anthem. The crack heads that are complaining about it were not even born when it was adapted so if they don’t like it sign up below and I’ll get a “go fund me” page together and we will have no problems getting enough cash together and kicking them out the back of an airplane in Iran will be no problem at all..
Oh boy, are you ever right!
And yet these grippers were not part of that history of which they complained .
If they don’t like it then move back to africa or wherever and let my foot get stuck in your _____
The Liberals are true Muslim Communists who WANT to destroy AMERICA AS A FREE NATION .
It’s on the news this morning that Hillary is going to speak at the American Legion Convention. Benghazi, her husband’s hardest work was in ducking the draft 48 years back. Why do they invite her? Then a few weeks back we read about a VFW leader criticizing Trump. A large percent of our homeless are vets. Do the American Legion and VFW care more about cheaper beer at their posts or helping vets? Just asking.
I don’t know where that shit is coming from, my friend, but at our VFW we all have Veterans for Trump Stickers. (And a few “Hillery for Prison” Stickers too)
Are you per chance a veteran or just someone who read something in the mainstream leftest paper. If you are a combat vet stop in at you local VFW and see for your self. If you don’t have a combat ribbon try the Legion or Am-vets post. Either way, you are going to get a completely different view of the situation then you stated. .
No matter what the cackling Witch must be crazy to go to the Legion Convention. If everybody et up and walk out on her she couls very easily wind up in the dumpster covered with catsup. (Or maybe molasses and feathers)
Att: Matthew Molk: The VFW’s Brian Duffy strongly criticized Trump at the National Convention . All news stations and major newspapers reported it. Close to half of homeless Americans are veterans. Common knowledge that most VFW’s are places to get cheaper beer. Caring about vets is a distant second to that. That’s why many vets don’t join them. Yes, I’m a veteran. That and $2.50 will get me a ride on the subway.
Amen, Main Street. In my hometown, the VFW is just a glorified beer joint. Notwithstanding, they do provide military burials for Veterans. The only thing I belong to is the DAV and my wife is an officer in the Axillary. No alcohol is allowed (at least in our chapter, I don’t know about Nationally) and we spend hundreds of dollars to help Veterans and their families. We even paid one Veterans light bill last winter. I am proud to say that our DAV chapter is a productive asset to our County. Also, our commander is a Pastor of a local Church. Please, all you Veterans get in touch with your local DAV. Don’t let the name “Disabled American Veterans” throw you. You can get a lot of veteran problems solved for yourself and if you become a member, you will be helping your County in a great way. The more members, the greater the outreach.
MONEY?
That is it , you nailed it .
if you talk to Jewish people you will find many of them have issues with German companies like BMW. so your rant would be wrong.
All you liberal left wing nut jobs are idiots. As YOU hate America soooooo much do us all a favor and renounce your American citizenship and leave the country. We’ll even help you pack.
AMEN and AMEN!!!!!!!
I will Amen that as well, but I don’t think we will be that fortunate.
I can NOT see anyone doing a better job of describing the left wing IDIOTS.
I agree fully. Go back to where your ANCESTORS SOLD YOU TO THE WHITE MAN. Read history and find the truth. The tribes’ chiefs sold the men, women and children to highest bettor. There no “lemonade” stand selling blacks to white people. Get your SH_T together and honor our flag.
your ignorance knows no bounds . the Waring nations in the continent of Africa opted not to kill their fellow man if they could help it. the options was take no prisoners kill everyone or send them away. number 2 most of the blacks came from Africa but were not of African decent. number 3 the bulk of people were captured by the white man. you need to pick up some books and read….. if you can.
Where can I sign up for packing detail?
All of you hating on liberals and stating they’re nut jobs, stupid, idiots, etc., are the type of people (there are liberals, conservatives, libertarians, or basically anyone within a group of labeled people that are on the far side of the spectrum) that are helping to perpetuate the hate and ignorance that is plaguing America!!! There are extremists amongst all different groups. There is no need to stereotype a whole group, when in fact it is not true for the whole, but only of the few within. Labels are tool used to separate and highlight differences between people, and is in turn responsible for hate, period. You may consider yourself a conservative, but I’d be willing to bet you don’t agree 100% with the platform that the Republican Party touts currently! Maybe you do however, and if so, this alone doesn’t make you an extremist. What sets those people apart from the rest of us, is their willingness and desire to not only get upset when hearing an opinion different than their own, but to take it further and then begin insulting others and/or taking some sort of negative, destructive, and/or physical action – which could be and often is violent or filled with hate in nature – towards those that oppose them. I sincerely hope you’re not one of those, and that you look at the blanket statement, or stereotype you made here, and realize that you sound like an uneducated and extreme right-winger who actually believes that ALL people that consider themselves left-wing and liberal, are idiots whom hate America!!! It’s laughable and like I stated before, at best ignorant and hateful.
I am concerned for Colin’s mental condition – living in Northern NV we followed his college career at UNR and he never expressed his current positions in fact I never heard about the incident with the Reno PD entering the house he shared with other teammates with guns drawn because they were the only minority in the neighborhood. All issues regarding the team or individual players were always featured in the Reno Gazette Journal and I neither saw anything in print or heard about this while he was a student athlete here in Reno. Maybe it happened maybe it didn’t – don’t know for certain. I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but with his current antics I have to question his past and it’s a shame as he always comported himself and the University in a positive light.
You can’t fix stupid. But I am an RN and could sedate them! Liberals are so stupid!
Just a few suggestions. Don’t buy any advertised commercial products of the 49ers, don’t watch any of their games on tv for awhile and express your disapproval to his teammates. Maybe they can set him straight.
*30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the “common man.”
31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the “big picture.”
These are just 2 of the 45 goals for communism from “The Naked Communist”, by Cleon Skousen, 1963.
The left embraces every divisive goal of the communists. Destroy the National Anthem? Karl Marx is smiling.
The Left always perpetuates some kind of narrative of discrimination and victimhood.
Here’s a revelation: If history had not played out the way it did, none of us would be here today to BTCH about it!!
Liberals have been lying, distorting and ignoring American history for so long, they wouldn’t know the truth if it jumped up and bit the on the buttocks!
The ignorance of liberals is incomprehensible! If hillary gets in, I suppose we will soon have no National Anthem. Wouldn’t surprise me. They hate anything traditional or patriotic!!
How about we make rap music our national anthem, curse words and everything else included?
Idea of the Day! How about we make rap music our national anthem? It has everything, curse words, degrading women, racial overtones, against law and order etc.
If you went beyond the headlines, this is a way a famous athlete can make a viable statement. Since the implementation of laws in the US have been unequally enforced, there is a huge class of minorities with criminal records. Of course some folks earned the record, while others enter the criminal justice system for smoking pot. When a black man get caught smoking dope, he is a felon. When a white person is caught smoking dope, he is ignored, warned, slapped on the wrist. The laws are not equally implemented. The shooting of black people for little or no crime is a problem in the US. Phone’s with camera’s has allowed this to be documented. We have to face the truth and do something to correct the problem. Stop blaming people for not being patriotic enough. A true patriot will speak up to injustice!
Anyone who would call our national anthem racist is anti American and makes rocks look smarter then they themselves are.
They wanted to make “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” the national anthem, but decided on “The Star Spangled Banner”, boy would liberals really complain about that one. “He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored, He has loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword”, it is talking about God’s judgment, and let me tell you, it is a coming, and the evil elite will be the first to feel it, that is for sure!
This comes as no surprise. The recent efforts to remove all signs of the Confederacy from modern America served as an encouragement to launch into a historic cleansing of America’s past. That revisionism has so far resulted in the relocation of public statues, renaming of buildings and the characterization of classic TV shows as being racist because of a flag painted on top of a car.
I have never owned a confederate flag and don’t intend to purchase one, but once this sort of mob mentality ever begins it usually goes much further and is more severe than rational people would have ever imagined. I see no problem with leaving relics of the Confederacy visible. It helps future generations learn about our nation’s past and understand that societal standards change over time. Yes our country has made mistakes, but we still have it better than anyplace else on the planet.
I personally always liked “God Bless America” and wanted it for our anthem. The one we have is beautiful but difficult for a lot of people to sing. I don’t see it as racist either. People that do, need to read some history about the battles back then to understand what the song was all about. Blacks and whites fought together to protect this nation. Stop trying to bring up racial problems from almost 200 years ago.
Just another in the constant deluge of proofs the Left gives us proving that Liberalism is INDEED a disease of the mind and spirit.
OF COURSE IT’S NOT RACIST! THE ‘RACIST’ THINKING HAS BEEN REIGNITED BY THE LEFT/LIBERALS AND IT’S PATHETIC. IF YOU DON’T LIKE THIS COUNTRY, LEAVE AND DO US ALL A FAVOR! IF YOU COME TO OUR COUNTRY AND WANT TO ASSIMILATE INTO OUR SOCIETY L E G A L L Y, THEN WELCOME. IF YOU COME HERE TO CHANGE ‘WE THE PEOPLE’, GO THE HELL BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM. AMERICANS ARE THE MOST KIND AND GENEROUS PEOPLE ON THE PLANET BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN WE ARE HERE TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OR TO BE INVADED. BEFORE THIS PRESIDENT, WE WERE A NATION OF LAWS, AND HOPEFULLY, WE WILL GET BACK TO THAT WHERE THERE IS ORDER, RESPECT AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HE HAS ROBBED US OF.
GOD BLESS AMERICA. GOD BLESS DONALD TRUMP.
I am aware of the past of Francis Scott Key and the song. I do not find anything racist in connection with the National Anthem. I am also aware that liberal label anything upon which they disagree a racist, sexist, bigotry or some other slur just as a matter of the lack of a sensible defense of their opinion. That ist heir defense mechanism and it is a poor one.
It is impossible for anyone to believe that police target blacks if they read the or hear the details of the truth. All of this BLM junk is communist indoctrination rhetoric. They take a group of people who are already angry, and then lie to them about why they’re angry. It’s all designed to create a mob (collective) mentality and steer them in the direction of chaos. The BLM and their followers don’t even know they’re just test-dummies of the left.
If you go back to the Romans and Greek Etc. times there were slaves in way more family’s then just blacks. It was the worlds thing back then.
If you go back to the Romans and Greek Etc. times there were slaves in way more family’s then just blacks. It was the worlds thing back then.
In full uniform representing NFL who does not take political stance other than God Bless America & has strict policy against displaying any symbolism of any and all external groups, gangs, affiliations..just the NFL team you exclusively represent while acting as a member of a NFL. team. Wrong Venue! Wrong everything! Totally in violation and disrespect of his “job” contract and NLF rules. And moreover a public broadcast of an alarming personal message “I, Colin Kaepernick, have no loyalty or respect for the United States of America.” … Hey, Leave, go! No ones going to stop you exiting our border. There’s plenty standing in line eager to proudly pledge allegiance and be apart of patriot movements, hold our flag up high… and yes plenty ready, willing and able to proudly wear a NFL uniform.
I do not begrudge Kaepernick his right to exercise the First Amendment – freedom of speech. After all it is a right that has been paid for in blood by so many throughout the history of this nation. But, what has he done to try and correct this, other than sitting through the National Anthem like a spoiled brat having a tantrum. So many other black athletes have done so many good things, e.g., work with indigent kids in summer camps, providing them with love, care and guidance. No, he probably goes home to his posh abode, to mull over the injustice of America, and fill himself with hatred. So much wasted time. Even his own mother has chastised him!
Colin, if you feel so much for the African-Americans, go do something good! Get some of your colleagues to help you set up youth clubs in inner cities such as Chicago, Detroit, or Baltimore, and act as good examples for these kids, so they have something to look forward to. Be a true superhero.and take them out of the streets,
It’s funny to see these comments. Some say send us back too Africa well when you do make sure you pay the way and pay interest for wages not paid too the African Americans that where stolen from there country and brought here in the worst conditions too make the country what it is today. Others such as the author of this blog try to defend something that is obviously racist why? The true problem is not Kalin Kaepernick or him not taking part in the star spangled banner the real problem is those who have a problem with it. It is America not the home of the oppressed not the home of the muted but the home of the free. The home of the free think about that for a moment…….. That means he is free to speak free to choose and free to express is that not the meaning of America. Or should all African Americans be back in slavery every other nationality oppressed if you are not English or British because that’s what most of you sound like you would love to happen except we are forgetting most of you are not from England. Do you see the irony in that.
ROBERT BENNETT,
I FIND IT EXTREMELY INTERESTING THAT ANY ONE COULD FIND IT TO BE INTELLIGENT FOR ANYONE WITH HALF A BRAIN TO MAKE STATEMENTS OR ACTIONS THAT WOULD DISRESPECT THE UNITED STATES.
I AM A VETERAN AND MY TWO SONS ARE ALSO ARMY VETERANS
AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED YOU SHOULD FIND A COUNTY THAT WOULD ACCEPT YOU, POSSIBLY SYRIA, IRAN OR SOME OTHER COUNTRY WITHOUT VALUES OR DOES NOT BELIEVE IN GOD.
YOU SHOULD BE RELEASED FROM THE NFL.
The whole article is a joke OK we have a national anthem written by a man who thought black people were inferior ? This country is hypocritical
yep a damn liberal drip
It is common for these idiots to form an opinion with a negative objection, if I was in a different country regardless of my beliefs when the national anthem is sang or played at a certain event, I will stand, out of respect for the citizens of such country, since when a national anthem is discriminatory to anyone, and specially here in the good US of A sure being a new country we had to live and learn to the point where most highly paid athletes are black, one who is president not because he is to my satisfaction, but, he is there anyway, and now a woman who is the worst thing that could happen to this country, I admire many women around the world for being good leaders, yet, they are not in the news daily, but Hillary do not come close for being one, and as in previous comments if you are insecure about this country do not let the door hit you in your rear, bye bye and good riddance.
The national anthem is not racist nor does it discriminate against anyone! (Unless it is the British.) Some people apparently choose to see racism in everything and anything that they don’t happen to like. There are those that see the anthem as a celebration of endurance and courage in a struggle for freedom and independence.
I feel this summarizes the American situation today…
Matthew 24:10-12King James Version (KJV)
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Lmao are u kidding this article is a complete hack job we know for a fact this song was drafTed by a racist who backed racism so pleased stfu
another liberal hack
I’m a 62 year old black man who spent 30 years in the USAF. As a young kid growing up in the south I saw signs over bathrooms that said colored and white. As a 13 year old I ventured off into one of the white neighborhoods in town, got stopped by the police and was told to “get my black ass back across town as fast as you can boy”. When the town first hired black police officers they could neither arrest or apprehend anyone who was white. My father forbid us from going into stores because he did not want us to get accused of stealing or otherwise getting in trouble. Black folks lived in fear and avoided all contact with whites unless absolutely necessary. As a young black male this was the America I grew up in so don’t try to tell me what and how to think or protest! Many times I swore to protect and defend the constitution so don’t tell me how to express myself unless I’m breaking the law! I would like to know if whites who grew up in the same era as me still have the same sentiments and values now as they had then? That’s my question???
I am 52 years old and white. I never had that sentiment at all. All people are equal to me. Thank you for your service in the AF.