Shaun King speaks 'whole truth' about 'ugly' National Anthem — but did he leave something out?

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/770310996812500992

Yesterday afternoon, the New York Daily News posted an op-ed by Shaun King in which he explained why he’ll “never stand again for the Star Spangled Banner”:

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/770311666940665856

Here’s a taste:

While San Francisco 49ers quarter back Colin Kaepernick has refused to stand for the national anthem because of the overflowing abundance of modern day injustice in America, he has helped bring to light the fact that this song and its author are deeply rooted in violent white supremacy.

…

Like Kaepernick, I’ve had enough of injustice in America and I’ve had enough of anthems written by bigots. Colin Kaepernick has provided a spark.

…

Of course, removing the culture of white supremacy does not necessarily remove its effects, but we must simultaneously and passionately address both. I’m joining Colin Kaepernick, who joined in with the spirit of Rosa Parks, by standing up for our rights by sitting down. I hope you join us.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. Rosa — sorry, Shaun has a lot more to say on the subject:

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/770326031920144385

Buckle up, buttercups, and prepare to be schooled by the top authoritah on America’s awfulness:

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/770331681366634496

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/770332257223602176

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/770332498723241984

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/770332673483169792

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https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/770336654309658625

https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/770336990613078016

And the “fearless, adversarial” Intercept is standing with Shaun:

There's a reason we don't sing the third verse of "The Star-Spangled Banner." https://t.co/nHl5QCcQsz pic.twitter.com/9xB1w3BTSL

— The Intercept (@theintercept) August 29, 2016

Not to mention singer John Legend:

My vote is for America the Beautiful. Star spangled banner is a weak song anyway. And then you read this… https://t.co/iAE62FAbxj

— John Legend (@johnlegend) August 30, 2016

Isn’t that nice? Here’s the thing, though: That third stanza that Shaun and co. are so upset about? Well, as it turns out, it may not be about African slaves at all:

Fact check often? "I do not think it means what you think it means."

— Jay Pritcher (@jbam11) August 30, 2016

Say what, now?

You may wanna hire a historian to fact check your shit. "Hireling & slave" referred to impressed Brit soldiers https://t.co/BN4UrnZajg

— Angry Staff Officer (@pptsapper) August 30, 2016

@theintercept This "article" is supposition piled on top of ignorance & shoddy research based on 1 fact, that Early Republic ppl were racist

— Angry Staff Officer (@pptsapper) August 30, 2016

British soldiers & sailors were commonly thought to have been conscripted or impressed, not volunteer military. Thus, verbiage

— Angry Staff Officer (@pptsapper) August 30, 2016

Was Key a racist? Probably, he was in the greater MD area. Was the Star Spangled Banner about killing slaves? No.

— Angry Staff Officer (@pptsapper) August 30, 2016

In the next few tweets I said I agreed he was a racist. But this article levied zero proof that SSB was abt killing US slaves

— Angry Staff Officer (@pptsapper) August 30, 2016

The verbiage matches with that of Revolution & Early Repub when speaking of Brit military. Esp their mercs & impressed sailors

— Angry Staff Officer (@pptsapper) August 30, 2016

Good grief.The "hireling slave" mentioned in 3rd verse of our Anthem is not about slaves at all but British fighters pic.twitter.com/1QkX82Mfdw

— Kathleen McKinley (@KatMcKinley) August 30, 2016

Point of Star-Spangled Banner's 3d stanza is to celebrate (temporary) victory over the British invaders. Really gotta work to not grasp that

— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) August 30, 2016

So maybe it’s time to take a deep breath.

At the end of the day, the lyrics of the national anthem are a smoke screen; the complaint is with the USA, period. https://t.co/8M692yxE7b

— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) August 30, 2016

That seems likely.

Well, anyway, we’ll leave you with this, which might be of some interest to Shaun King and his liberal friends:

https://twitter.com/Bommer1179/status/770335428385775616

Whaddaya know?

***

Update:

You can read more about the story behind the Star-Spangled Banner’s third verse here.