White conservatives and other people are outraged that Vanessa Williams performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” widely known as the Black National Anthem, during the Capitol Fourth celebration.
Williams’ performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” alongside “The Star-Spangled Banner” at PBS’s annual “A Capitol Fourth” celebration has rubbed many on social media the wrong way.
According to the New York Post, critics fuming at PBS’s holiday broadcast event called it divisive and un-American.
Williams, the first Black woman to be crowned Miss America, said this year the organizers planned to recognize Juneteenth along with the traditional Independence Day celebration, she told the Associated Press.
“It’s in celebration of the wonderful opportunity that we now have to celebrate Juneteenth. So we are reflective of the times,” she said.
Juneteenth celebrated on June 19 became a federal holiday in 2021. It recognizes the end of slavery in the United States. Some people refer to it as Black Independence Day.
As news of the pre-recorded performance hit Twitter on Saturday, people began to blast the upcoming special as “racist” and promoting “segregationism.”
In The Hill’s coverage of the event, they used the phrase “Black national anthem,” and some people took it as the 4th of July will no longer support all Americans.
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In response to The Hill’s tweet, Newsmax host Steve Cortes simply wrote, “We have one national anthem…”
We have one national anthem… pic.twitter.com/pLFbB28OIJ
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) July 3, 2021
Here are some other Twitter user reactions:
THIS IS BAD. Different Races will have their own holidays? Their own Anthems? The new SEGREGATION. Vanessa Williams to sing ‘Black national anthem’ for Capitol Fourth celebration https://t.co/XBHuGwiFH6
— Greg Kelly (@gregkellyusa) July 3, 2021
Vanessa honey, a BLACK national anthem is something a Black African Country would have, not a country like America that exists for everyone 🇺🇸🤦🏾♀️ https://t.co/ZLt8kZLRSU
— Lavern Spicer (@lavern_spicer) July 3, 2021
“Black National Anthem” the white Democrat that was responsible for slavery & segregation has never wanted blacks to integrate themselves into American society & see themselves as part of the American fabric b/c their political model is based on keeping blacks segregated & angry
— Melissa Tate (@TheRightMelissa) July 3, 2021
I 100% refuse to recognize the black national anthem. We are one nation, under God and indivisible. There are no separate national anthems.
— Texas Cow Puncher (@texan40) July 3, 2021
There is only one national anthem. This is segregationism pure and simple. Shame on @JoeBiden if he doesn’t demand an end to this racist activity. https://t.co/Knm8ngj7Gs
— 🇺🇸Col. Rob Maness ret. (@RobManess) July 3, 2021
Vanessa Williams to sing “Black national anthem” for Capitol Fourth celebration https://t.co/HomcPXv3ah pic.twitter.com/58PorgHM2N
— The Hill (@thehill) July 3, 2021
What are your thoughts?
