![]() At a time when the nation had just entered the Persian Gulf War, the Grammy award winner gave one of the most beloved performances of the National Anthem in American history. In these moments, issues that divide melt into ties that bind as spectators find themselves united in the words “O Say can you see!” However, on July 4 th, 2021, as the nation celebrated its 245 th birthday, the headline performance of PBS’ Capitol 4 th Celebration instead ended with a racially divisive snub to the nation’s national anthem as it was replaced by Vanessa Williams’ rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” colloquially known as The Black National Anthem.Īfter a year of racially charged rioting from the death of George Floyd, the ongoing fight in our education system over Critical Race Theory, the federal government recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday, and the athlete Gwen Berry snubbing the national anthem at the Olympic Trials in Oregon last week, Williams’ performance concludes one of the most racially divisive years in the nation’s recent history.Ĭonsider Whitney Houston’s rendition at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 for a stark comparison. Some of the most iconic moments in entertainment history include various renditions of the Star-Spangled Banner. A screenshot from Whitney Houston’s iconic rendition of the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXV in 1991 in Tampa, Fla. ![]()
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