California NAACP Says National Anthem is Racist

By Todd Starnes
United States Flag
A US flag flies outside the U.S. Department of Justice headquarters building in Washington, July 14, 2009.  Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

The NAACP of California may be able to do what the British were not -- destroy the Star-Spangled Banner. 

State NAACP leaders are calling for Congress to change the national anthem - calling the Star Spangled Banner one of the most racist, pro-slavery, anti-black songs in the American lexicon.

Click here to listen to Todd discuss the issue in his free daily podcast! 

Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner -- he was a slave owner -- and he also opposed giving slaves freedom.

The NAACP says they just want a song that does not disenfranchise part of the American population.

"It's racist; it doesn't represent our community, it's anti-black," state NAACP leader Alice Huffman told the CBS television station in Sacramento. 

She was specifically referring to the song's third verse:

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

"This song is wrong; it shouldn't have been there, we didn't have it 'til 1931, so it won't kill us if it goes away," she told the television station.

The folks who are waging war on American traditions and history won't be content until they've bulldozed over every symbol of our great nation. 

"Our flag and national anthem unite us as Americans," Republican lawmaker Travis Allen told the Sacramento Bee. "Protesting our flag and national anthem sows division and disrespects the diverse Americans who have proudly fought and died for our country. Real social change can only happen if we work together as Americans first."

If the NAACP is successful the question becomes who will be tasked with writing a new national anthem? Beyonce? Fifty Cent? Colin Kaepernick?

If it was up to me -- I'd go with Charlie Daniels or maybe Lee Greenwood -- or Reba. 

  • [Exclusive Interview] A revelation within the brink of life and death — Meg Leung’s mission in Christian art

    Meg Leung (梁麗橋), an artist with a lifelong love for watercolor painting, sees her art as more than a means of expressing her inner world; it is a bridge connecting her to God. Her artistic journey has revealed God’s perfect plan and inspired her to communicate the power of faith through her wor

  • Transgenderism a fundamental human right? Hong Kong public disagrees, survey finds

    A 2024 survey from the Society for Truth and Light (明光社)'s Center for Life and Ethics Research reveals that respondents from various backgrounds prioritize personal safety and fairness when it comes to transgender issues. When laws involve moral judgments, most respondents believe courts should not make the decisions. The study also indicates that religious believers share similar views with non-religious respondents, reflecting that many churches may rarely address gender topics in depth.

  • Discipleship and Evangelism: Walking the Path of the Great Commission

    Like an ever-flowing spring, the gospel refreshes dry, parched lands and needs our unwavering passion and steadfast faith to transform lives and bring renewal. The "flame in our hearts" calls Christians to keep their faith and love for the Lord ablaze, representing the work and power of the Holy Spirit, driving us to proclaim God's glory boldly.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo