Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-09-29
No Need For Two Anthems

IiS ISAI tIIIlt anyone announces
1.-THE National Negro Anthem Tor
Hymn, I'll be a-headel for the
nearest exit.
With my one-track personality,
| can serve but one God, one coun-
try, one national flag, and for the
life of me, | cannot see why some
people would designate a National
Anthem for me. AS beautiful as is
Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" the
late James Weldon Johnson, it's
illustrious author, would not,
honestly feel, want it sung as The
National Negro Anthem, or ever as
a National Negro Hymn, in 1851
America.
True, the song carries a depth
of expressive meaning for the
struggles of a people yet striving
towards "the rising sun of new
day begun" But so designated as
a national anthem of the Negro, to
me it becomes an affront. This per-
sonal resentment implies no per-
sonal disrespect for the late DR..
Johnson, for whom this writer de-
veloped deep admiration while
yet a college student. A former
secretary of the NAACP, DR.. John
son was a champion of social JUS
tice.
In writing Lift Ev'ry Voice and
Sing, he was likely as deeply
moved in his desire for social JUS
tice for the Negro as was Francis
Scott Key for the security of our
Nation, as he wrote "The Star
Spangled Banner" inspired by re-
sistant Fort McHenry.
1t would be hoped that unborn
generations will continue to lift
their voices in the "song full Of
the faith that the dark past has
taught US" and in full cognizance
"of the hope the present has
brought us" = and | shall stand
and sing it in reverence. too.
This column has sounded-off on
this subject at least once before
you may remember. Then | had
carried Danish visitor to visit the
Northwest Washington elementary
school, where my young lads were
AS you may recall, the program
for my friend was one
of the finest | had ever witnessed,
for when the Charles Young
faculty and students, puts
on a show, you are in for a won
derful treat. On this day. | had my
too.
Three reactions of my Danish
visitor come back to me now-his
and respect registered
during the singing of our National
Anthem; his deep and sincere rev.
erence and almost fearful appre-
citation for the playing of his An
them; and his big question-mark-
ed expression on the announce
nent of the National Negro An
hem.
The resentment upon resentment
to me is the fact that all over
his nation in Negro schools, our
boys and girls are still singing
Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" upon
the announcement, eve will now
stand and sing the National Negro
Anthem" Sing it, yes, but drop the
designation!
This repeat attack is prompted
by what | prefer to call a Sad
Climax. | have been here with the
National Urban Leagues annual
- IAN assemblage of
people who believe in the democrat
tic principle and who, in their own
communities, are working con-
scientiously to produce harmony
instead of racial hostility"
But the Sad Climax came to-
night. | heard two distinguished
Americans-the youthful Governor
Of Arkansas, Sid McMath, and the
elder political statesman, Mime
sofas Governor Luther w. Young
1al = speak with utter sincerity
on the theme, which | wish to
term, harmony instead of racial
hostility"
The National Urban League had
climaxed its most, successful con-
ference of forty-two year period.
Some six hundred persons from all
sections of the country had put
their heads together in planning
community programs best design
ed to the official conference theme:
Matching Manpower to National
Needs"
Nearly hundred top leader
ship persons and experts in human
and cooperative ac-
ton had spent five full days in
these Twin Cities engaged in dis
cussions which gave emphasis to
oneness of objective - the USA
first. Yet there we stood singing
'The National Negro Hymn!
This, again, is not a criticism
of Lester Changers fine movement
nor of those grand Americans who
planned and promoted the st. Paul
conference, but they might all re-
member-"May we forever stand,
true to God, true to our Native
Land"