oh say can you see by the dawn’s early light what so proudly we hailed at the
light what so proudly we hailed at the
light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming whose broad
twilight’s last gleaming whose broad
twilight’s last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the
stripes and bright stars through the
stripes and bright stars through the perilous heart what we watched were so
perilous heart what we watched were so
perilous heart what we watched were so gallantly streaming
the bombs bursting in
the bombs bursting in gave proof through the night that our
gave proof through the night that our
gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that
the first time I sang the national
the first time I sang the national anthem I was 14 years old and since then
anthem I was 14 years old and since then
anthem I was 14 years old and since then I’ve performed the anthem in countless
I’ve performed the anthem in countless
I’ve performed the anthem in countless venues and so many times the proudest
venues and so many times the proudest
venues and so many times the proudest moment I’ve had singing the anthem was
moment I’ve had singing the anthem was
moment I’ve had singing the anthem was at my college graduation sitting in
at my college graduation sitting in
at my college graduation sitting in front of me was my parents my
front of me was my parents my
front of me was my parents my grandparents and extended family and
grandparents and extended family and
grandparents and extended family and sitting behind me was the commencement
sitting behind me was the commencement
sitting behind me was the commencement speaker who happened to be the 41st
speaker who happened to be the 41st
speaker who happened to be the 41st president of the United States never
president of the United States never
president of the United States never could I have imagined that I’d be
could I have imagined that I’d be
could I have imagined that I’d be singing for a former president and never
singing for a former president and never
singing for a former president and never could I have imagined that he when I
could I have imagined that he when I
could I have imagined that he when I finished he would grab my hand
finished he would grab my hand
finished he would grab my hand congratulate me on a great performance
congratulate me on a great performance
congratulate me on a great performance and congratulate me on receiving my
and congratulate me on receiving my
and congratulate me on receiving my degree as I look back over all the
degree as I look back over all the
degree as I look back over all the performances of the anthem over the
performances of the anthem over the
performances of the anthem over the years I realized I never really quite
years I realized I never really quite
years I realized I never really quite considered what singing the anthem
considered what singing the anthem
considered what singing the anthem actually meant to me as the grandson of
actually meant to me as the grandson of
actually meant to me as the grandson of a World War two veteran with a host of
a World War two veteran with a host of
a World War two veteran with a host of family members who have served in the
family members who have served in the
family members who have served in the military and served in Foreign Wars
military and served in Foreign Wars
military and served in Foreign Wars reverence for country was never
reverence for country was never
reverence for country was never questioned America as the country that
questioned America as the country that
questioned America as the country that wasn’t perfect but was always striving
wasn’t perfect but was always striving
wasn’t perfect but was always striving was the country that I lived in the
was the country that I lived in the
was the country that I lived in the country that I was taught to love and
country that I was taught to love and
country that I was taught to love and the country that I was taught was a
the country that I was taught was a
the country that I was taught was a force for good in the world every singer
force for good in the world every singer
force for good in the world every singer will tell you that singing the national
will tell you that singing the national
will tell you that singing the national anthem is one of the most difficult
anthem is one of the most difficult
anthem is one of the most difficult things to sing and I have to be honest
things to sing and I have to be honest
things to sing and I have to be honest after well over a hundred performances
after well over a hundred performances
after well over a hundred performances of the anthem in my life and in some
of the anthem in my life and in some
of the anthem in my life and in some instances for more than 10,000 people at
instances for more than 10,000 people at
instances for more than 10,000 people at a time performing the anthem has never
a time performing the anthem has never
a time performing the anthem has never gotten easier I’ve performed all over
gotten easier I’ve performed all over
gotten easier I’ve performed all over the world in different languages in
the world in different languages in
the world in different languages in different styles and somehow singing the
different styles and somehow singing the
different styles and somehow singing the national anthem is still really really
national anthem is still really really
national anthem is still really really difficult in many ways I like in singing
difficult in many ways I like in singing
difficult in many ways I like in singing the national anthem and its difficulty
the national anthem and its difficulty
the national anthem and its difficulty so the difficult
so the difficult
so the difficult see as I see it of true American
see as I see it of true American
see as I see it of true American citizenship when I sing the anthem I’m
citizenship when I sing the anthem I’m
citizenship when I sing the anthem I’m not just singing a song I sing with the
not just singing a song I sing with the
not just singing a song I sing with the weight of the text of the Declaration of
weight of the text of the Declaration of
weight of the text of the Declaration of Independence where it says we hold these
Independence where it says we hold these
Independence where it says we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men
truths to be self-evident that all men
truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and are endowed by
are created equal and are endowed by
are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable
their creator with certain inalienable
their creator with certain inalienable rights among them life liberty and the
rights among them life liberty and the
rights among them life liberty and the pursuit of happiness at the same time I
pursuit of happiness at the same time I
pursuit of happiness at the same time I realized that just 11 years later when
realized that just 11 years later when
realized that just 11 years later when the Constitution was penned I wouldn’t
the Constitution was penned I wouldn’t
the Constitution was penned I wouldn’t have been among the men who were
have been among the men who were
have been among the men who were afforded those unalienable rights when I
afforded those unalienable rights when I
afforded those unalienable rights when I sing the anthem I sing with the strength
sing the anthem I sing with the strength
sing the anthem I sing with the strength of the First Amendment freedoms freedom
of the First Amendment freedoms freedom
of the First Amendment freedoms freedom of religion freedom of the press freedom
of religion freedom of the press freedom
of religion freedom of the press freedom of speech freedom of assembly but I also
of speech freedom of assembly but I also
of speech freedom of assembly but I also have to acknowledge the ways in which
have to acknowledge the ways in which
have to acknowledge the ways in which religion has been co-opted to control to
religion has been co-opted to control to
religion has been co-opted to control to enslave and to oppress the ways in which
enslave and to oppress the ways in which
enslave and to oppress the ways in which free speech and a free press has been
free speech and a free press has been
free speech and a free press has been used to make us afraid and the times
used to make us afraid and the times
used to make us afraid and the times where free assembly have been met by
where free assembly have been met by
where free assembly have been met by dogs water hoses and even bullets when I
dogs water hoses and even bullets when I
dogs water hoses and even bullets when I sing the anthem I sing with the triumph
sing the anthem I sing with the triumph
sing the anthem I sing with the triumph of the 13th amendment that freed the
of the 13th amendment that freed the
of the 13th amendment that freed the slaves but I lament a clause in the
slaves but I lament a clause in the
slaves but I lament a clause in the phrase in the in the amendment that
phrase in the in the amendment that
phrase in the in the amendment that gives legal cover to the government to
gives legal cover to the government to
gives legal cover to the government to enslave those who have been committed of
enslave those who have been committed of
enslave those who have been committed of a crime when I sing the anthem I sing
a crime when I sing the anthem I sing
a crime when I sing the anthem I sing with the hope of Reconstruction but I
with the hope of Reconstruction but I
with the hope of Reconstruction but I lament the scourge of Jim Crow and those
lament the scourge of Jim Crow and those
lament the scourge of Jim Crow and those who thought separate could ever be equal
who thought separate could ever be equal
who thought separate could ever be equal in our country when I sing the anthem I
in our country when I sing the anthem I
in our country when I sing the anthem I celebrate America’s triumph in World War
celebrate America’s triumph in World War
celebrate America’s triumph in World War one in World War two but I’m enraged at
one in World War two but I’m enraged at
one in World War two but I’m enraged at the death of innocence because grown men
the death of innocence because grown men
the death of innocence because grown men couldn’t come together and reason but
couldn’t come together and reason but
couldn’t come together and reason but chose bomb bombs and guns to settle
chose bomb bombs and guns to settle
chose bomb bombs and guns to settle their differences
their differences
their differences I mourn my grandfather who was good
I mourn my grandfather who was good
I mourn my grandfather who was good enough to fight and risk his life for
enough to fight and risk his life for
enough to fight and risk his life for country but wasn’t good enough for equal
country but wasn’t good enough for equal
country but wasn’t good enough for equal protection under the law when he
protection under the law when he
protection under the law when he returned from war I had mourned my
returned from war I had mourned my
returned from war I had mourned my grandfather who had to come from war to
grandfather who had to come from war to
grandfather who had to come from war to fight a war for dignity and respect in
fight a war for dignity and respect in
fight a war for dignity and respect in an internal war for his own sanity when
an internal war for his own sanity when
an internal war for his own sanity when I sing the anthem I sing with the wonder
I sing the anthem I sing with the wonder
I sing the anthem I sing with the wonder of space exploration the spirit of
of space exploration the spirit of
of space exploration the spirit of discovery inherent in our education
discovery inherent in our education
discovery inherent in our education system and the fleeting hope that if you
system and the fleeting hope that if you
system and the fleeting hope that if you come here work hard you too can make
come here work hard you too can make
come here work hard you too can make something of your life but I also have
something of your life but I also have
something of your life but I also have to acknowledge the inconvenient truth
to acknowledge the inconvenient truth
to acknowledge the inconvenient truth that we as a country have often put
that we as a country have often put
that we as a country have often put profits ahead of people and markets
profits ahead of people and markets
profits ahead of people and markets ahead of mercy and law and order against
ahead of mercy and law and order against
ahead of mercy and law and order against compassion and rehabilitation
compassion and rehabilitation
compassion and rehabilitation we’ve marginalized the stranger within
we’ve marginalized the stranger within
we’ve marginalized the stranger within our midst used him for personal profit
our midst used him for personal profit
our midst used him for personal profit and when it no longer served the bottom
and when it no longer served the bottom
and when it no longer served the bottom line discarded them and treated them as
line discarded them and treated them as
line discarded them and treated them as if they caused our problems when I sing
if they caused our problems when I sing
if they caused our problems when I sing the anthem I am reminded that 45 times
the anthem I am reminded that 45 times
the anthem I am reminded that 45 times we’ve elected a leader and transitioned
we’ve elected a leader and transitioned
we’ve elected a leader and transitioned power peacefully but I’m also given
power peacefully but I’m also given
power peacefully but I’m also given pause that a system designed to protect
pause that a system designed to protect
pause that a system designed to protect defend and perpetuate the power of
defend and perpetuate the power of
defend and perpetuate the power of slaveholders is responsible for electing
slaveholders is responsible for electing
slaveholders is responsible for electing our 45th president I find myself at a
our 45th president I find myself at a
our 45th president I find myself at a crossroads I think we’re all at a
crossroads I think we’re all at a
crossroads I think we’re all at a crossroads do we seek individual success
crossroads do we seek individual success
crossroads do we seek individual success and personal gain at the expense of
and personal gain at the expense of
and personal gain at the expense of those we deem beneath us or do we work
those we deem beneath us or do we work
those we deem beneath us or do we work toward a type of prosperity that
toward a type of prosperity that
toward a type of prosperity that equitably gives us all a chance to rise
equitably gives us all a chance to rise
equitably gives us all a chance to rise you see we often talk about the rights
you see we often talk about the rights
you see we often talk about the rights that we have as citizens but rarely do
that we have as citizens but rarely do
that we have as citizens but rarely do we talk about the response
we talk about the response
we talk about the response ability of citizenship true citizenship
ability of citizenship true citizenship
ability of citizenship true citizenship has a responsibility to hold the nation
has a responsibility to hold the nation
has a responsibility to hold the nation accountable to the spirit of its
accountable to the spirit of its
accountable to the spirit of its founding documents even when it’s
founding documents even when it’s
founding documents even when it’s inconvenient uncomfortable or may it go
inconvenient uncomfortable or may it go
inconvenient uncomfortable or may it go against personal belief and personal
against personal belief and personal
against personal belief and personal interests we have to reject a cheap and
interests we have to reject a cheap and
interests we have to reject a cheap and convenient patriotism that merely waves
convenient patriotism that merely waves
convenient patriotism that merely waves a flag but perpetuates war commodifies
a flag but perpetuates war commodifies
a flag but perpetuates war commodifies fear and capitalizes on our differences
fear and capitalizes on our differences
fear and capitalizes on our differences to usurp the reins of power we must
to usurp the reins of power we must
to usurp the reins of power we must embrace our responsibility as citizens
embrace our responsibility as citizens
embrace our responsibility as citizens to demand that our country that the
to demand that our country that the
to demand that our country that the actions that our country takes continue
actions that our country takes continue
actions that our country takes continue to live up to our brightest and best
to live up to our brightest and best
to live up to our brightest and best hope I talked earlier about singing all
hope I talked earlier about singing all
hope I talked earlier about singing all around the world and several years ago I
around the world and several years ago I
around the world and several years ago I had an opportunity to perform in Russia
had an opportunity to perform in Russia
had an opportunity to perform in Russia and while walking down the street with a
and while walking down the street with a
and while walking down the street with a colleague after a performance I came
colleague after a performance I came
colleague after a performance I came into contact with some young men and the
into contact with some young men and the
into contact with some young men and the young men started yelling at us and they
young men started yelling at us and they
young men started yelling at us and they were yelling white power we quickly
were yelling white power we quickly
were yelling white power we quickly retreated to the safety of our hotel
retreated to the safety of our hotel
retreated to the safety of our hotel room and I had this thought immediately
room and I had this thought immediately
room and I had this thought immediately I can’t wait to get home where I don’t
I can’t wait to get home where I don’t
I can’t wait to get home where I don’t have to worry about racist crazies
have to worry about racist crazies
have to worry about racist crazies chasing me down the street and fear for
chasing me down the street and fear for
chasing me down the street and fear for my life because of because of the color
my life because of because of the color
my life because of because of the color of my skin
of my skin
of my skin and in this moment standing here today I
and in this moment standing here today I
and in this moment standing here today I can’t help to think that my thought was
can’t help to think that my thought was
can’t help to think that my thought was naive just this past summer while
naive just this past summer while
naive just this past summer while touring Europe and came to a small town
touring Europe and came to a small town
touring Europe and came to a small town outside of Innsbruck Austria I had been
outside of Innsbruck Austria I had been
outside of Innsbruck Austria I had been to the town before I speak a little
to the town before I speak a little
to the town before I speak a little German I was excited to get out and
German I was excited to get out and
German I was excited to get out and explore while walking down the street
explore while walking down the street
explore while walking down the street doing a little window shopping a
doing a little window shopping a
doing a little window shopping a gentleman approached to me called me a
gentleman approached to me called me a
gentleman approached to me called me a nigger and told me to get out of town
there were people walking by no one
there were people walking by no one came to my aid I tell these stories
came to my aid I tell these stories
came to my aid I tell these stories because they bring up a few questions
because they bring up a few questions
because they bring up a few questions for me how has America consistently
for me how has America consistently
for me how has America consistently demonstrated that it’s better than
demonstrated that it’s better than
demonstrated that it’s better than Russia even though they’ve been our
Russia even though they’ve been our
Russia even though they’ve been our sworn enemies for the better part of a
sworn enemies for the better part of a
sworn enemies for the better part of a century and what ways have we protected
century and what ways have we protected
century and what ways have we protected all of our citizens and our immigrants
all of our citizens and our immigrants
all of our citizens and our immigrants and even our visitors in any way better
and even our visitors in any way better
and even our visitors in any way better than Austria protected me even though we
than Austria protected me even though we
than Austria protected me even though we always say how much better we are than
always say how much better we are than
always say how much better we are than than Europe have we completely embraced
than Europe have we completely embraced
than Europe have we completely embraced the responsibilities of citizenship I
the responsibilities of citizenship I
the responsibilities of citizenship I don’t ask these questions to shame
don’t ask these questions to shame
don’t ask these questions to shame America I asked them to challenge her to
America I asked them to challenge her to
America I asked them to challenge her to live up to her brightest and best there
live up to her brightest and best there
live up to her brightest and best there are people among us who will criticize
are people among us who will criticize
are people among us who will criticize my words there are others who will even
my words there are others who will even
my words there are others who will even criticize me singing the national anthem
criticize me singing the national anthem
criticize me singing the national anthem at this juncture of our nation’s history
at this juncture of our nation’s history
at this juncture of our nation’s history but I choose to sing it anyway in the
but I choose to sing it anyway in the
but I choose to sing it anyway in the words of poet Langston Hughes I too sing
words of poet Langston Hughes I too sing
words of poet Langston Hughes I too sing America
America
America I am the darker brother
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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