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Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey attending the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards in Hollywood, Ca.

Source: Vinnie Zuffante / Getty

There’s been lots of controversy surrounding the National Anthem over the years. Some sing along when it’s performed at games. Others sit in their seats, scrolling on their phone while the rockets red glare burst in the air. Then there are folks who strictly only sing the Black National Anthem at anytime, in any place.

But before we all became woke and appreciative of the James Weldon Johnson hymn, we were forced to learn Star Spangled Banner. But the blatantly racist lyrics in America’s National Anthem has always made the song a big red, blue and white elephant in the room. Hence the reason why Colin Kaepernick is still out of a job and why Jay-Z caught some much flack for his work with the NFL.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. – Kaepernick

 

The third verse of the anthem, which no one knows, is the most racist line in the entire song.

The third stanza of the anthem, which is rarely sung and few know, contains the words, “No refuge could save the hireling and slave, From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:”, which some interpret as racist. – Wikipedia 

However, just like most things in life, Black folks have found a way to turn lemons into lemonade. Because nobody — and I mean nobody, can sing the national anthem like our Black artists. Black female singers to be exact. Take a look at some of the women who bodied tat classic song.

Watch: These Iconic Black Women Slaying The National Anthem Will Give You Chills  was originally published on globalgrind.com

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