what does the star spangled banner song mean

It quickly became popular, and remained so throughout the nineteenth century the Navy adopted it in 1899. When the poem was written, published, and set to the tune of an existing song, it was just another patriotic song about the glory of the American flag and the country it stands for. Many statues and monuments associated with slavery or racism have been torn down or defaced, calls to defund police departments have led to reform proposals and budget cuts, and companies whose brands have racially insensitive names or imagery have apologized and shifted course, to name just a few examples of recent change.Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner” after the bombing of Fort McHenry by the British, during the War of 1812. In the weeks following the death of George Floyd, an anti-racism movement has swept across the country calling for the continued influence of America’s history of racism and slavery to be addressed. In addition to Key’s personal life, arguments that the anthem is racist center around a little known third stanza of the poem which has been interpreted by some historians to endorse bloodshed and violence against slaves. Key freed four of the seven slaves he inherited in 1842 and was a member of the American Colonization Society which purchased slaves and offered them passage to Africa. However, Key’s legacy is complicated as while he was not an abolitionist, he was not an ardent supporter of slavery either.

Though most Americans recognize Key as the anthem’s composer, he was also a lawyer and slaveholder who once described African Americans as an “inferior race of people.” During his time as the district attorney for the city of Washington-from 1833 to 1840-he notoriously prosecuted the abolitionist Reuben Crandall in the aftermath of the 1835 race riot in Washington. The poem, which is four stanzas long, celebrated the resilience and triumph of the United States and was later set to the music of the British song “Anacreon in Heaven” to form the national anthem.

“The Star-Spangled Banner” is based on a poem, “The Defence of Fort McHenry,” written by Francis Scott Key after he saw an American flag flying at the Battle of Fort McHenry following a victory over the British in the War of 1812.

What does the star spangled banner song mean