Singer-songwriter Jill Scott had said that if she was asked to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at sporting events, a completely different anthem would leave her lips. We got to hear that recently on July 2, Day 2 of the 2023 Essence Fest in New Orleans at a packed Caesars Superdome. (Yes, that Superdome where some tens of thousands of Black people were crammed into the most horrendous living conditions after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.) Scott wrote her version of the U.S. national anthem more than 30 years ago when she was 19-years-old living in north Philadelphia. And she has been performing it while touring this year.

Essence tweeted out: “Everyone please rise for the only National Anthem we will be recognizing from this day forward. Jill Scott, we thank you!”

Scott began with the familiar tune and words, “Oh, say can you see…” But then came her biting rendition: “… By the blood in the streets." Slowing the cadence way down, Scott delivered each word with deep articulation that conveyed hundreds of years of oppression. Each note, each word, each sharply edged indictment reverberated across the arena: "That this place doesn’t smile on you, colored child."

The ending then replaced the words of the original anthem’s composer (and slave owner), Francis Scott Key, "O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave," with "This is not the land of the free but the home of the slaves."

Jill Scott delivered each word slowly and deliberately—her voice full of pain. Her face imprinted with not only anger but determined resistance in the struggle against the oppression of Black people.

With the ending crescendo, the audience erupted. As one writer put it, “The electricity of frustrated Blackness coursing stronger than ever throughout the entire venue.”

Scott’s performance immediately went viral, sparking both welcome, condemnation, and controversy.

Right-wing reactionaries expressed outrage at Scott’s new rendition of the national anthem. Especially, in these times where gross patriotism is expressed in militant words and actions, such criticism of the US of A is seen by these people as treason that must be taken on with a vengeance. Republi-fascist Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado tweeted: “No one should use the National Anthem to express their hatred for America…. Shameful.” And there has been a slew of reactionary tweets like: “This is nauseating. Not only is the singing awful; the hateful message is even more repulsive,” and “This abomination against the National Anthem should result in immediate revoking of citizenship!! If you don’t love this country…. LEAVE!!!”

On July 7, Jill Scott tweeted in response to the controversy: “Dear angry people, you too are slaves, yup- slave to inauthenticity. You say u believe in freedom/rights but u lie. We Americans R slave to $, race, patriarchy,  gossip, stereotyping, homophobia, filibustering- the chains CAN be broken if you choose to open ur 👀s & see them.”