Jill Scott’s new national anthem sparks social media backlash.
Singer Jill Scott Faces Backlash for Changing National Anthem Lyrics
Singer Jill Scott received fierce pushback for her rendition of the national anthem, where she made changes to the lyrics. The performance took place on July 1 at the Essence Festival, a celebration of the magazine’s anniversary, which prides itself on being “100% black-owned.”
Instead of singing the jill-scotts-new-national-anthem/” title=”Jill Scott’s new national anthem sparks social media backlash.”>traditional anthem, Scott chose to share her own anthem that she had written at the age of 19. The lyrics she sang were powerful and thought-provoking:
“Oh say can you see by the blood in the streets
That this place doesn’t smile on you colored child
Whose blood built this land with sweat and their hands
But we’ll die in this place and your memory erased
Oh say, does this truth hold any weight
This is not the land of the free, but the home of the slaves!”
Essence Magazine tweeted, “Everyone please rise for the only National Anthem we will be recognizing from this day forward,” a few days after the performance. The tweet received a mixed response.
Some criticized the new anthem, with one YouTuber stating, “To call this a ‘National Anthem’ and ask people to ‘rise’ for it is really disgraceful. National anthems uplift — country they don’t put them down. Anyone rising or showing respect for this perversion of our national anthem is free to leave if it’s so horrible here.”
Others showed their support for Scott, praising her talent and courage. One user wrote, “Thank you, Jill, the national anthem was amazing. You understood the assignment. I am here for it always. I have always loved you as an artist. You have always stood for what is right, and I truly respect and admire you for it.”
In response to the feedback, Scott tweeted, “1st – Thank you sincerely for your respect and appreciation. I’m on path. 2ndly, with love, I am me in entirely; beautifully human, if some will OR won’t. I see so I write. I feel so I write. I write cuz I gotsto. I write life in multi spectrum-Highs, Lows & All.”
Scott, who recently launched her “Who Is Jill Scott” tour to celebrate her 23rd anniversary in the music business, continues to make her mark as an artist unafraid to challenge the status quo.
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