When reading the article, one part that stood out to me was Rene Marie’s response to the backlash that followed her performance. “But that sentiment was not a reality for black folks living in a town with Jim Crow laws, where the flag often hung from buildings they could not enter.” At a young age, many of us are taught to stand for the national anthem when it is performed without truly understanding the meaning of it. Most people often associate the anthem and the flag of our country with having pride for our nation. What Rene Marie did when she performed “Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing” in place of the “Star-Spangled Banner” was highlight the fact that African Americans have continuously been excluded from the narrative of American history. There would be no American history without black history. What really caught my attention about this particular performance and the comments made about it was that even though it is considered the “black national anthem,” I found that it was more inclusive than the “Star-Spangled Banner.” There is acknowledgement of the suffering of African Americans and the continuing fight for equality, as well as a hope to create unity.

Music is interesting in the way that it exists as entertainment but at the same time exists as a way to document history. It also allows for artists to share stories and issues on a global scale. Black music, in particular, can often be seen as a reflection of what is happening in the world. Take into consideration the events of the summer with the Black Lives Matter movement and the amount of hip-hop music that came out during that time in connection with those events. For years, there has been a lack of acknowledgement of the issues that continue to plague African Americans of this country. Through music, black artists create counter-narratives that can reach beyond the limitations of the black community. While these counter-narratives empower their communities to create conversations about important topics and things that need to be changed within themselves, it also allows for these topics to be heard by others. The more that these issues are discussed, the more it allows for improvement not only in the black community but in America as a whole.