-
'God Bless America' Is A Better Song Anyway
-
Francis Scott Key, a new biography says, was, of course, the composer of our National Anthem, and the U.S. Attorney for D.C., but also a terrible amateur poet -- the anthem was his sole success-- and, more interestingly, a racist who helped spark Washington's very first race riot. Some say that in context, you have to cut him a break -- most white people of the era thought the slaves were their inferiors -- and he also opposed slave trafficking and donated legal services to some African-Americans challenging the right of slave owners to bring their slaves into Maryland. But he also represented slave owners trying to get their slaves back, and his aggressive prosecution of a black defendant is blamed for the Snow Riot of 1835. So, which was it, racist or hero? Historians are leaning towards racist. Does that make you want to change the anthem? (Baltimore Sun)
Have an opinion? Add your comment below.