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Actress and singer Vanessa Williams hosted "A Capitol Fourth" on PBS where she ended the event singing what is called the Black National Anthem.
The song "Lift Every Voice and Sing," was a hymn written by former NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson in 1900 along with his brother, John Rosamond Johnson. Today, it's known to be the Black National Anthem as it rose to popularity during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
You can see her performance here:
Vanessa Williams dedicated the song by saying:
"As I prepare to sing this next song, I am filled with the spirit of freedom and the perseverance that is required to achieve that most precious right."
"I dedicate this to my ancestors, to our new federal holiday, Juneteenth, and to all who celebrate freedom."
It was no secret the Black National Anthem would be sung during the event.
Last Thursday, Williams told Associated Press:
"It's in celebration of the wonderful opportunity that we now have to celebrate Juneteenth. So we are reflective of the times."
"And I'm happy to be apart of a tremendous show where the producers are aware and willing to make the changes that have happen within the last year and a half."
Williams reflected on her history with the PBS event over the years. Just last year she sang the song "Not While I'm Around," from the musical Sweeney Todd.
She chose that song to represent the feelings held by Black mothers after the murder of George Floyd.
"[The song] talked about just the connection that you have with your child and wanting to protect them, which was definitely reflective of George Floyd and how everybody felt that pain."
But conservatives seem to be upset over the choice to sing the Black National Anthem.
THIS IS BAD. Different Races will have their own holidays? Their own Anthems? The new SEGREGATION. Vanessa William… https://t.co/OgcdXF2wZh— Greg Kelly (@Greg Kelly) 1625352160.0
"Black National Anthem" the white Democrat that was responsible for slavery & segregation has never wanted blacks t… https://t.co/ncM9BJIGK2— Melissa Tate (@Melissa Tate) 1625338393.0
We have one national anthem… https://t.co/pLFbB28OIJ— Steve Cortes (@Steve Cortes) 1625340551.0
The public backlash started controversy on Twitter.
@lavern_spicer How'd you get to your BIG age and not know about "Lift Every Voice and Sing?" Did you never go to ch… https://t.co/b3NDkBUBNr— SPN Drama never ends, it goes on and on my friends (@SPN Drama never ends, it goes on and on my friends) 1625344248.0
@lavern_spicer What if somebody told you the song was first a poem in celebration of President Lincoln, and was fir… https://t.co/cf4vS7RImG— BlackPhysicists (@BlackPhysicists) 1625344212.0
@lavern_spicer Your definitions of 'Black' and 'Black African country' seem fascinating. Tell us more.— BlackPhysicists (@BlackPhysicists) 1625344716.0
@lavern_spicer 🤔 It's been called that and sung in America for over 100 yrs and NOW you have a problem with it 🤨— geddaqueen (@geddaqueen) 1625339653.0
Bigots out here mad because their mayonnaise dripping, melanin deficient, culturally incompetent behinds just found… https://t.co/LcnqnxNeuD— Bishop Talbert Swan (@Bishop Talbert Swan) 1625371880.0
It’s just one of the delicious ironies of life that the Star Spangled Banner, which became the National Anthem beca… https://t.co/zpSj9rUKbg— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷) 1625355835.0
Here’s a good history of the National Anthem (which has only been that since Congress ok’d it in 1931, affirming Wo… https://t.co/ylxxopRemm— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷) 1625355836.0
Luckily she didn’t have to sing the third stanza… not sure even Whitney could have fixed that… https://t.co/w4rWz7O6z2— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷) 1625355838.0
@JoyAnnReid I've read this stanza before, but I never put together that the "free" people referenced in the song ar… https://t.co/udcNewgQKm— Donald Dagenais (@Donald Dagenais) 1625356850.0
Vanessa Williams has not yet commented on the controversy over the inclusion of the song in this year's event.