Segregating because we choose to isn’t the same as segregating because we have to-and let’s never forget that we didn’t start the segregation business. All “Segregation” is Not the SameĪnother important point that Maher seems to miss is that all “segregation” is not the same. We’re merely showing reverence for the one written in 1900. As Maher insists that the Black National Anthem is somehow a step backward into re-segregation, it’s important to acknowledge that no one is proposing the creation of a Black National Anthem today. While some may argue that the Black National Anthem is anachronistic since there’s been significant racial progress since its penning, the truth is that that hymn sung for more than a century has become a beloved and revered part of African American culture much like jumping the broom during an African-American wedding, and challenging that cultural tradition is unnecessary and offensive. DEI practitioner and activist Chevara Orrin insists, “The ideas Maher espouses of ‘forced patriotism,’ ‘national unity,’ and a post-racial America that we have yet to realize are indicative of his limited lens of privilege as a white man in our world.” ![]() No refuge could save the hireling and slaveįrom the terror of flight or the gloom of the graveįurthermore, suggesting that there’s something wrong with singing the Black National Anthem lyrics, Lift every voice and sing, til earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty today while Black people continue to be subjected to navigating monuments, street signs and building names celebrating the confederacy seems hypocritical at best. The lyrics include this triggering, and distressingly truthful couplet…” ![]() “Although the third verse of the US national anthem is rarely sung, most descendants of enslaved Americans are aware of its existence. “Bill Maher’s Dunning-Krugeresque protestations notwithstanding, the US national anthem was not written with Black Americans in mind,” insists anti-racism writer and The Introverted Sisters podcast co-host Lisa Hurley. Were there a Black person on the program (there wasn’t), viewers could have benefited from a culturally-informed perspective. That said, suggesting that the country ditch the “Star-Spangled Banner” (ostensibly to be replaced by the Black National Anthem) feels utterly disingenuous-more likely a politically correct attempt to avoid proposing the much more obvious preferred solution (albeit not specifically articulated), eliminating the Black National Anthem. To be clear, Maher did not specifically call for eliminating the Black National Anthem instead, he’s casually mentioned, “maybe we should get rid of our national anthem” (while offering no specific critique of it). Why Celebrating the Black National Anthem is a Step Forward, Not Backward While the post-George Floyd racial reckoning spurred many companies to commit to racial equity like never before, the truth is that many of those commitments have been performative at best with organizations taking a few very visible steps to check the boxes without any sustained, serious action focused on rooting out racism and creating a culture of equity. Part of the danger of this “let’s just recognize one anthem,” color-blind mentality is that it oversimplifies the problem and tempts us to settle for performative “solutions” that don’t address root causes or satisfy the true need for repair and reconciliation. ![]() While for some leaders it may be disconcerting to be approached about the creation of a new racially focused affinity group -as they might interpret the request as “unnecessary segregation,”-a leader with increased levels of racial literacy and humility would push against that impulse and instead consider questions like “Why do they feel a need to create such a group?” “How are they not being supported?” “How could this affinity group become a vehicle to signal our support of all staff and possibly help enrich our broader community?”
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