Regarding the piece on the demise of black radio. As a radio fan, I appreciate these men and their passion for the power of the medium. But I feel that maybe they are living in the past a little. Have they ever heard of something called the internet? The mainstream media is dying in general, for blacks and whites and everyone else, but the web and blogosphere is alive and thriving. The barriers to entry are next to nothing and there are plenty of voices, African-American and otherwise, not only bringing up important issues but pushing them into the spotlight. Remember the Jena Six? That movement was mostly fueled by grass-roots internet involvement. I think these men need to look forward, not backward.

Sent by Jeremy Hietpas | 7:02 PM ET | 07-07-2008

I am torn on this subject: I believe that our nation's anthem should be sung en masse in its original arrangement, but I believe that our nation's denial of equal rights to its citizens of African descent must continue to be addressed and steps taken to see that it never happens again. I love "Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing" and I love to sing it.

Having said that, I believe that Ms. Rene Marie did the proper and respectful thing. I applaud her courage.

Sent by D.S. Payne | 10:37 PM ET | 07-07-2008

I've admired Rene Marie ever since she burst on the scene, a mid-life "ordinary woman" who did something amazing with her extraordinary voice, but I must say I have mixed feelings about this news. Her version was stunning, but she should have been upfront with Denver folks about what she planned to do, courageous from the start, even if they said "no."

Sent by Terri Ring | 10:41 PM ET | 07-07-2008

Thanks to Rene Marie thousands of non-Black Americans just learned that there IS [emphasis] a Black National Anthem, and it's about perseverance and hope. The "Star Spangled Banner" is a war song. I wonder how many of those who sent hate mail or are spewing outrage are among the 2 out of 3 Americans, (according to a 2004 Harris Poll), who don't know any of the lyrics to the National Anthem. I applaud Rene Marie for addressing the racial divide through her art, and doing so with class.

Sent by S. Pearl Sharp | 11:06 PM ET | 07-07-2008

Michel, I just want you to know I love your show, I try to listen everyday. When I can't, I catch it on the web.
Thanks for a wonderful job.
By the way Rene Marie is my sister-n-law. Desiree Cooper is my cousin (she has a show on NPR also, do you know her?
How has religion gotten to be sooo political? Don't judge me by my religion, that's between me and my god!!

Sent by laura stevens | 11:11 PM ET | 07-07-2008

I play jazz, but I've never heard of Rene Marie until this story broke. Then again, I'm not from Denver, so that might be why I never heard of her, either.

In any event, no publicity is bad publicity, and maybe she might get some people to download her music.

Sent by Matthew C. Scallon | 12:19 PM ET | 07-08-2008

I just had to find Rene's email address to personally express to her my support and admiration. What creativity and courage! Don't let all this negativity get you down.

Sent by Theresa | 1:31 PM ET | 07-08-2008

About Rene Marie?

I have mixed feelings about this story. On one hand, I'm all for freedom of expression. Also, the way I see it, we're talking about "Lift Ev'ry Voice" beyond the designated Black History Month in February - that's a good thing.

On the other hand, I thought it was the wrong venue for Rene Marie's freedom of expression and she should have done what she was contracted to do; sing the National (and not the Negro) anthem. And if she wanted to modify the terms of the contract, let the people who invited you to the city event know in advance.

About Rev. Caldwell?

I first heard about him during Jena Bush's wedding and he's got a new level of respect from me by going against what Rev. Dobson said about Sen. Obama's 2006 speech.

Just like Rev. Caldwell, I don't care for folks who wear their faith on their sleeves, such as quote a Bible verse after few sentences in conversation - that drive me nuts!

Role of Religion in the Public Sphere?

Personally, I don't understand how in the past eight years, religion took such a center stage in the public sphere. I was very disappointed that during the 2004 election, the election was reduced to two issues - abortion and gay rights.

I had a few spirited debates with some folks of the faith four years ago who thought because I chose not to vote for George W. Bush, I was committing some kind of sin.

I'm really not interested in harping on two issues of one's religion to get my vote. What I really care for in my candidate of choice is having a moral compass to govern wisely. And if the candidate meets such criteria, he fulfills the spirit of my faith as far as I'm concerned.

Sent by Moji | 2:19 PM ET | 07-08-2008

Historicially, we have never wanted for creativity in our community. Hearing Renee's "remix" brought an image of Obama's Presidential Seal to mind. Truth be told, I prefer hearing "America the Beautiful' at events anyway.

Sent by Carlos | 3:16 PM ET | 07-08-2008

I wholeheartedly agree with Rene's sentiment for her version of the anthem; however, she was free to put the version on any of her albums. She was asked to sing a specific version and while I can't understand the animosity, I do understand the criticisms about her duplicity.

Sent by Howard Owens | 5:10 PM ET | 07-08-2008

While I haven't heard Rene Marie's - ummm - rendition, I will like place it in the category of singing the correct words, but adding a couple dozen extra notes to the authentic melody.

There is a time and place for improvisation, and otherwise it is best to stick to the chart.

Sent by True_Liberal | 6:31 PM ET | 07-08-2008

michel clarifies above that rene marie wasn't "contracted" to sing the national anthem (no fee for service exchanged hands), she was asked. she was asked precisely because she is a talented ARTIST, and i would wager a guess that no one went out her/his way to specify that only a particular arrangement be sung. so there was no breach of contract or duplicity that i can see. those who requested her participation just got more (not other) than they bargained for.

many have recited the words of the anthem as a poem without music--and called it the us national anthem. at the olympics the music of the anthem is played without words--and we call it the us national anthem. marvin gaye once crooned the words of the anthem to a r&b groove at a nba game (others from different genres have done some variation of the same)--and folks called it the us national anthem. now someone has dared to complete the artistic set. where's the problem? we can't champion freedom of speech as a national virtue, and then crucify someone for exercising it in honor of our nation--even if her expression of honor would not be our own.

Sent by melvin bray | 9:58 AM ET | 07-09-2008

@Moji: "I'm really not interested in harping on two issues of one's religion to get my vote. What I really care for in my candidate of choice is having a moral compass to govern wisely. And if the candidate meets such criteria, he fulfills the spirit of my faith as far as I'm concerned."

Well, since you brought up the topic -- and I didn't -- opposition to the right to life and support for the abortion industry is the magnet underneath that compass magnet, throwing off any direction that moral compass may direct.

For someone who doesn't like the campaign narrowed down to two topics, you sure bring up those topics enough times. Guilty conscience, perhaps?

Sent by Matthew C. Scallon | 1:51 PM ET | 07-09-2008

Melvin:

I would like to "clarify" my post since I was the only one who used the word "contracted" to sing for Rene Marie's anthem flap. Let me go back to a few law classes for a moment:

The word "contract" doesn't have anything to do with money exchanging hands (unless implied in a sales transaction). It's an agreement between two parties. And if the folks at the city event asked Rene Marie to sing the national anthem and she agreed, it was obviously implied in the agreement what she was going to be singing was supposed to be the Star-Spangled Banner.

The fact she chose to keep her plan to sing the Negro anthem in place of the Star-Spangled Banners lyrics a secret only between her pianist and herself for a month shows she knew she was to uphold her end of the bargain; thus the contract.

I'm NOT questioning her artistry - which I thought was excellent with the arrangement of the song nor am I questioning her patriotism, she has the right to speak (or sing) whatever she wants.

However, I believe there is a responsibility that goes with such freedom - you just don't go around saying anything and not expect someone to check you (ok, for NPR audience, I mean call you to task for such speech).

If Rene Marie stands by her decision to sing the Negro anthem when she knew that wasn't what the city event really asked of her, I have the same right to stand by my previous post to say "wrong venue" and question her word for not upholding the terms of the agreement.

Sent by Moji | 1:54 PM ET | 07-09-2008

Ok Matthew Scallon:

I've ignored four to five of your posts directed at me and thanks for the cyber-stalking. The way I saw them was I won't stoop to your level and your mind-games whether complimentary or derogatory. But since you brought up here, I'm ready to say my piece.

You came at me over a month ago because I said I love Gov. David Paterson and his work in New York amidst all the hoopla he came into the office. But you called him a "hypocrite" because he was trying to make gay marriage legal in the state of New York, which goes against his Catholic faith.

Of course, I had a problem with you labeling Gov. Paterson as such and have made my point known to you and won't rehash it here. So you need to check yourself for bringing the subject up. I was responding to questions on this blog.

So in the words of Michel, you SPARE ME the guilty conscience rap. I sleep like a baby thank you very much. And I don't feel it is my duty to go around condemning folks for the way they lead their lives.

But since I make my faith such a personal issue, let me be PUBLIC for one minute. I support the right to life but it goes far beyond conception. I believe those who are born, deserves the moral right for their Government not to let them live in poverty, to provide them decent education and healthcare regardless of their parents' class in society and when there is a war, not to lie and put those lives at risk.

I don't agree with the act of abortion but I believe it's a woman's God-given right to have a free will and it is not my place to sanction what she does to her body.

That's my moral compass - maybe you should find yours and stop trying to be my judge.

Sent by Moji | 3:49 PM ET | 07-09-2008

I can express enough how excited I was to hear that Rene Marie had the courage to sang the national anthem this way! I only wish more African-Americans would break out of their "assimilation" boxes and go against the grain no matter the cost! Personally I never acknowledge the star spangled banner at any event because it does not represent me. As far as I am concerned the star spangled banner is as racist as the southern anthem "dixie"!!! Way to go Rene Marie!!

Sent by Vern | 4:49 PM ET | 07-09-2008

@Moji: "I've ignored four to five of your posts directed at me and thanks for the cyber-stalking." Stalking? SPARE ME. I have exchanges of ideas with far more people on NPR blog sites than you, so please take yourself a little bit less seriously.

"I support the right to life but it goes far beyond conception. I believe those who are born, deserves the moral right for their Government not to let them live in poverty, to provide them decent education and healthcare regardless of their parents' class in society and when there is a war, not to lie and put those lives at risk." Get your lotto numbers ready to play, because I agree with everything you just said. Fortunately, I have my pressure suit on, because I already know what you're next statement is going to be.

"I don't agree with the act of abortion but I believe it's a woman's God-given right to have a free will and it is not my place to sanction what she does to her body." And you didn't disappoint. You, as predicted, went 180 degrees from your earlier statement. It's the old, "I'm personally opposed to abortion, but I'm support the right to choose" argument. SPARE ME. If you are so "personally" opposed to abortion, why not explain why you're "personally" opposed? If you are so "personally" opposed to abortion, what are you "personally" doing to stop abortions, other than haranging real pro-lifers --now, that's real productive.

"That's my moral compass - maybe you should find yours and stop trying to be my judge." No, no, nothing judgmental about that statement.

Sent by Matthew C. Scallon | 8:11 PM ET | 07-09-2008

moji, if we were in a court of law, you're appeal to the denotation of "contract" would probably carry the day. i'll concede your point, but also hope you would acknowledge that you are taking issue with rene's artistry when you take exception to her art. creating and sharing one's art is not like manufacturing and selling a widget. if you speak ill of my widget, it isn't likely to affect me. speak ill of my art, and it is like you've criticized my child. my art is a part of me, and my artistry produces that (particular) art. its all interrelated.

i would still argue that this was less an 'exchange' and more a 'contribution,' and thus should be considered in a different light. rene marie was asked to offer her talents as a, albeit public, gift. there is no reasonable grounds for consternation concerning gifts. our parents taught us this every birthday (hopefully ;-). when we are given a gift, the appropriate response is always, "thank you." even if we spent time beforehand coming to terms about what the gift were to be and how it were to be presented, if we got on stage and i made a significant contribution to you, a politician or charitable organization, it would be considered bad form for you to belittle it afterwards on the grounds that it was somehow different than you expected. i know a couple folks who lost certain christmas gifts for a while for similar ingratitude.

one of the challenges of living in a society that is so fiercely market driven is that we begin to think of every interaction as a 'transaction'. and we begin to believe that the appropriate response to interactions that fall short of our expectations is to appeal to the laws and legal reasoning we've set in place to protect our transactions. that is one way of going about it, sure. but i don't see society so much the better for having reduced social interactions (i.e. with spouses, friends, teachers, colleagues, etc, and yes, even with our political representatives) to economic/legal transactions. divorce is higher than ever, students certainly aren't learning more just because we now consider school a business, and now we have a mayor acting like a spoiled ingrate and we don't have the collective good sense to chasten him.

even if i didn't like or agree with what she did, rene marie did it in honor of our nation. intent matters. again, we can't champion freedom of speech as a national virtue, and then crucify someone for exercising it in honor of our nation--even if her specific expression of honor would not have been our own.

Sent by melvin bray | 10:39 AM ET | 07-10-2008