Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Capital Concerts
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Vanessa Williams sparks outrage for closing PBS ‘Capitol Fourth’ concert with ‘black national anthem’
July 05, 2021
Vanessa Williams and PBS both sparked major backlash after Williams helped to close the network's "Capitol Fourth" concert with the "black national anthem" — widely known as "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
The network aired its 41st annual special Sunday night.
What are the details?
Williams, who also hosted the long-running event, told the Associated Press on Friday that her decision to sing the song was in "celebration of the wonderful opportunity that we now have to celebrate Juneteenth."
"So we are reflective of the times," she said. "We are reflective of the times and I'm happy to be a part of a tremendous show that the producers are aware and willing to make the changes that have happened within the past year and a half."
Before launching into the song, Williams dedicated the performance to her ancestors.
"I dedicate this to our ancestors, to our new federal holiday Juneteenth, and to all who celebrate freedom," she said.
Earlier during the program, she also performed "God Bless America," and said that she was filled with "the spirit of freedom and the perseverance that is required to achieve that most precious right."
A Capitol Fourth 2021 | PBSyoutu.be
What was the response?
Lavern Spicer, Florida Republican House candidate, tweeted, "Vanessa honey, a BLACK national anthem is something a Black African Country would have, not a country like America that exists for everyone."
Vanessa honey, a BLACK national anthem is something a Black African Country would have, not a country like America that exists for everyone https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1411315062954921993\u00a0\u2026— Lavern Spicer (@Lavern Spicer) 1625330346
Newsmax host Steve Cortes added, "We have one national anthem..."
We have one national anthem\u2026pic.twitter.com/pLFbB28OIJ— Steve Cortes (@Steve Cortes) 1625340551
Author Tim Young wrote, "This isn't unity... it's division."
This isn't unity... it's division.pic.twitter.com/EwLuZdoxeq— Tim Young (@Tim Young) 1625410363
Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Rob Maness wrote, "There is only one national anthem. This is segregationism pure and simple. Shame on @JoeBiden if he doesn't demand an end to this racist activity."
There is only one national anthem. This is segregationism pure and simple. Shame on @JoeBiden if he doesn\u2019t demand an end to this racist activity.https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1411315062954921993\u00a0\u2026— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8Col. Rob Maness ret. (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8Col. Rob Maness ret.) 1625344009
Former CIA ops officer Brian Dean Wright responded, "We're witnessing the unraveling of E pluribus unum in real time. The consequences will be dire."
We\u2019re witnessing the unraveling of E pluribus unum in real time. \n\nThe consequences will be dire.https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1411315062954921993\u00a0\u2026— BDW (@BDW) 1625353752
Another wrote, "I 100% refuse to recognize the black national anthem. We are one nation, under God and indivisible. There are no separate national anthems."
"Who's singing the Asian and Latino ones? " quipped another.
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Sarah Taylor
Sarah is a former staff writer for TheBlaze, and a former managing editor and producer at TMZ. She resides in Delaware with her family. You can reach her via Twitter at @thesarahdtaylor.
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