Common Good Radio

The Blog: ministry, music, media

The Fourth of July posted on July 4, 2009

I have been reading my American history over the past several months and paying attention to what went on in the complicated world of people who lived on this American continent before the Europeans got here, the Europeans, the settlers and the Africans that were brought here as slaves.  It is a gritty picture and deserves our prayer and contemplation.  Where are the songs that tell stories from all voices?

About one year ago jazz singer, Renee Marie,  used her beautiful voice to sing at the gathering of officials at the Denver State of the City address.  Ms. Marie was invited to sing the national anthem as traditional for the event.  The Star-Spangled Banner was written by Frances Scott Key, who was born into a family of slave owners.  Ms. Marie did not feel that these song lyrics spoke to her life experience and what she considered to be representative of freedom and patriotism.  So, she did not sing the song that folks were expecting to hear.

She sang the words of the song, Lift Every Voice and Sing, written in 1899 by James Weldon Johnson, also known as the Black National Anthem, with the familiar melody of Star Spangled Banner. Listen to Renee Marie, here.

There was controversy in the event on a national media scale. I was wondering what you think of the idea that music brings us closer to our feelings, expresses our patriotism, faith and social justice concern?  Would you have used an opportunity like this, as Ms. Marie did, to express social justice through music?
with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin

+ Add your comment below “The Fourth of July” was posted by Pastor Robin

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