A
few weeks ago we
shared our thoughts about one of the cultural gems of the African American
historical experience, the inspirational treasure formally called “Lift Every
Voice and Sing” but known for generations as the Negro National Anthem.
The
post generated a few comments, most of them offline, and generally concurring
with our discomfort at how the song is rendered in such dreadfully dole fashion
by performers who seem to have no appreciation for the classic.
Today,
we were pleased to see a public
comment from our most prolific correspondent, Anonymous. He seems to say
that he loves hearing the song so much that he doesn’t mind when it is rendered
in funereal fashion.
One
reader called our attention to a rendition of the anthem that is much to our
liking, not only for its robustness but also because the performing artist,
Cleveland’s own William Clarence Marshall III, has an appreciation for the
work.
You
can hear Marshall’s efforts here,
from a 2011 Black History Month event at Cleveland City Hall. While few of us
can match the voice of a trained professional, can we all take note of his
tempo and his appreciation of the lyric?
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