The Dream of a United Country with One National Anthem

This is the best time of the year to be an NFL football fan. The draft signals the beginning of a new season where anything is possible, and even fans of bad teams dream about winning the Super Bowl. So, I watched the draft because my team actually had a first-round pick this year.

But I digress…

As part of the draft festivities, the performance of our national anthem was preceded by a song called, Lift Every Voice and Sing, which I understand is the black national anthem. Apparently, many African-Americans don’t identify with the recognized national anthem, and they feel they need their own song, which reflects their unique struggles, hardships and triumphs.

For some, I know the black anthem sparks outrage, but as I listened, I felt a completely different emotion.

Hearing the song just made me sad.

Personally, I don’t begrudge African-Americans the right to their own cultural institutions. Having different holidays or songs doesn’t impact my life in any appreciable way, but it does serve as a potent reminder that we have failed as a country. It’s been over 160 years since President Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation, but the separate black national anthem serves as an ugly reminder that our African-American brothers and sisters still believe they exist within a society that does not accept them as equals.

Eight generations have come and gone since the abolishment of slavery, and we still haven’t figured this out. That is the ugly, unvarnished truth.

Ironically, the attitude of the vast majority of Americans is exactly opposite of the perception held by many African-Americans. It is a tragedy that the fear, suspicion and divisiveness peddled by woke leftists prevails over truth, brotherhood and love.

It is difficult to understand why the invitation to join us as one people and one country is so misunderstood. Perhaps it’s because our desire for unity is so powerful, we come off as nervous and pandering, as though we must be hiding our true intentions. Even savvy conservative talk show hosts often struggle with sounding genuine. They choose their words so carefully they come off as hollow and inauthentic.

The Constitution Embraces Everyone

If there is a resolution to the impasse, it will come from a deeper understanding of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the protections they provide for everyone.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Can we consider the possibility that these perfect words from the Declaration of Independence originated from a divine source and were delivered to us by imperfect men? Can we entertain the possibility that the Creator intended the words to apply to every person, but they were slightly misinterpreted when filtered through the lens of human frailty?

Certainly, black Americans should understand how powerful words can be delivered by someone with personal shortcomings.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

We all agree there is perfection in those words. That they were delivered by a man with significant personal failings does not make them any less powerful. If we can accept the faults of Dr. King and embrace his words, can we not extend the same consideration to the founding fathers?

One Country and One Anthem

We must work tirelessly to break down false barriers erected by those who profit from fear and divisiveness. When the African-American community realizes the overwhelming majority of America First patriots yearn for a colorblind society where the measure of success and standing is objective and fair, race baiters and profiteers will scurry away like rats in a bright light.

It’s heartening that people of great courage, like Larry Elder, Thomas Sowell and Candice Owens, have all rejected the politics of race and joined with other patriots to reclaim our country. They recognize the wisdom that emanates from the Constitution, and they have joined with America First to restore our freedoms and constitutional protections.

For the left to survive, they must continue to purposely divide us into groups separated by appearance, religious beliefs and sexuality. It’s a despicable strategy, but in their thirst for authoritarian control, there is no level of collateral damage or violence that’s unacceptable. 

I will continue to hope that one day, African-Americans will no longer feel the need for a separate anthem, and instead, they will stand proudly next to us as we all raise our voices in unity to celebrate the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the greatness of the United States of America.