Like so many famous songs of yore, "The Star-Spangled Banner" started as a poem, called “The Defence of Fort McHenry.” It was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812.

As such, it is appropriate to consider what the transition means for Black America, and how its musicians have interpreted the “Star Spangled Banner” during times of stress in our racial politics.

Then he started to play “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Many guitar heroes have played the national anthem. Famously, Jimi Hendrix performed the song at Woodstock, delivering an iconic rendition ...

Re “Remove ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ as national anthem, California NAACP urges” (sacbee.com, Nov. 7): The NAACP wants the Star Spangled Banner removed as our National Anthem because the ...