Lift Ev'ry Voice and The Star Spangled Banner Controversy.

Growing up, I understood the significance of The Star-Spangled Banner. It was the sound of morning, played at the break of dawn when television stations signed on for the day. It was a constant presence at sporting events, military ceremonies, and public assemblies. Even in school, where we recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang our alma mater, The Star-Spangled Banner was an unquestioned ritual of American identity. It was not forced upon us, yet it was ingrained into the fabric of our daily lives, much like a TV show’s theme song signals the start of a familiar narrative.

However, my experience with Lift Every Voice and Sing—the so-called "Black National Anthem"—was just as formative. From as early as pre-kindergarten, we sang it at assemblies with the same reverence given to The Star-Spangled Banner. Our teachers and principals presented it not as an alternative but as an essential part of our cultural identity, an anthem of resilience and unity. To us, it made perfect sense—Black people in America had been given little choice but to create their own institutions, traditions, and yes, even songs of belonging.

The Myth of One National Anthem

Many assume that The Star-Spangled Banner is the only national anthem of the United States, but historically, this is not the case. America is a nation of nations, and throughout its history, various groups have used anthems to express their unique identities and struggles.

Three National Anthems of the United States:

1. The Star-Spangled Banner – Written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, officially adopted as the U.S. national anthem in 1931.
2. My Country, ‘Tis of Thee – Written in 1831 by Samuel Francis Smith, often sung as a patriotic hymn.
3. God Bless America – Written by Irving Berlin in 1918 (revised in 1938), a unifying anthem that transcends politics.

Beyond these, different communities have cultural anthems that carry just as much emotional and historical weight:

Black American Cultural Anthems:

• "Lift Every Voice and Sing" – Written in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson and set to music by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson in 1905, it became a song of hope and perseverance, later adopted by the NAACP.
• "A Change Is Gonna Come" – Sam Cooke’s 1964 song, deeply tied to the Civil Rights Movement.
• "Fight the Power" – Public Enemy’s 1989 anthem of resistance against systemic oppression.

Latino & Mexican American Cultural Anthems:

• "La Bamba" – A traditional Mexican folk song that became a symbol of Chicano pride, popularized by Ritchie Valens in 1958.
• "Somos Más Americanos" – A song by Los Tigres del Norte challenging anti-immigrant rhetoric and reclaiming Mexican heritage in the U.S.

White American Cultural Anthem:

• "Born in the U.S.A." – Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 hit, often misunderstood as a patriotic anthem but actually a critique of America’s treatment of its veterans.

Native American Anthems:

• Various Native American tribes have their own national anthems, recognizing their status as sovereign nations with distinct cultures and histories.

Other Cultural Anthems in America:

• Irish American Anthem: "God Save Ireland" – A song of Irish pride and resistance embraced by Irish immigrants.
• Jewish American Anthem: "Hava Nagila" – A celebration of Jewish resilience and unity.
• Puerto Rico’s National Anthem: "La Borinqueña" – Recognizing Puerto Rico as a distinct cultural and political entity.
• U.S. State Anthems: Every state has its own anthem, reinforcing regional identity within the larger nation.

The Reality of a Nation of Nations

When people say, "There is only one national anthem," they ignore the diverse voices that make up America. The very foundation of this country is built on different peoples coming together—sometimes by force, sometimes by choice—each carrying their own histories, struggles, and songs.

If Black Americans have Lift Every Voice and Sing as an anthem of perseverance, it is because history demanded it. If Mexican Americans embrace Somos Más Americanos, it is because they have been made to feel like foreigners in their own land. Every community, from Native American nations to Irish immigrants, has had to sing its own truth at some point in history.

So, when critics argue against Lift Every Voice and Sing being played at national events, what are they really saying? That only one voice should matter? That unity can only exist under a single song? That’s not how culture works, and that’s certainly not how America works.

The truth is, anthems are not just about countries—they are about people. And as long as people exist, they will sing the songs that tell their story.