Olivia and Raven share their views on criticisms of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the problems with celebrating Frances Scott Key, and the way Americans tend to worship the US flag.

Discussion Summary:

00:34: Episode outtake.

00:48: Episode begins, and thoughts on the repeated usage of the word “freedom” in “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

04:23: Claims that the song is racist because it mentions slaves and sending slaves to their graves.

07:53: Addressing the fact that the 3 latter verses of the song were excluded when it became the national anthem.

11:52: History behind why “The Star-Spangled Banner” became such a special song.

15:19: The fixation on worshiping the flag in the US.

20:26: Contention over which song to choose for our national anthem prior to deciding on “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

23:10: History of Frances Scott Key and what he stood for.

32:33: What’s problematic about representing the US as a country of war.

35:02: The cognitive dissonance of thinking it’s un-American to criticize the national anthem and the flag’s meaning.

38:09: Outro.

References:

The Star-Spangled Banner

https://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/the-lyrics.aspx

A Short Analysis of Francis Scott Key’s ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’

https://interestingliterature.com/2019/09/a-short-analysis-of-francis-scott-keys-the-star-spangled-banner/

The ugly reason ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ didn’t become our national anthem for a century

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/10/18/star-spangled-banner-racist-national-anthem/

BRITISH CORPS OF COLONIAL MARINES

https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/british-corps-colonial-marines-1808-1810-1814-1816/

Francis Scott Key, the Reluctant Patriot

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/francis-scott-key-the-reluctant-patriot-180937178/

War of 1812

https://www.britannica.com/event/War-of-1812

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Music credits: Opening: Goestories - Noir Et Blanc Vie

Closing: First Class - DJ Williams