Olympic Athlete Insists That the National Anthem is disrespectful to African Americans
Gwen Berry continues to justify her actions that many Americans feel were an insult to our flag, our troops, and our country.
The Olympian, who her back on the American flag during the national anthem, doubled down on her controversial protest, insisting that the Star-Spangled Banner is “disrespectful” to black Americans.
“If you know your history, you know the full song of the national anthem. The third paragraph speaks to slaves in America — our blood being slain … all over the floor,” Berry, 31, said on Black News Channel.
“It’s disrespectful, and it does not speak for black Americans. It’s obvious,” she added. “There’s no question.”
The third stanza of the anthem contains the lyrics, “Their blood has washed out their foul footstep’s pollution,” and, “No refuge could save the hireling and slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.”
The two-time Olympic qualifying hammer thrower also reiterated earlier comments she made on Twitter in response to the backlash, insisting she does not hate her country.
“I never said that I didn’t want to go to the Olympic games. I never said that I hated the country. I never said that” Berry told the outlet.
“All I said was I respect my people enough to not stand or acknowledge something that disrespects them.”
The athlete’s comments come after she claimed that the incident at the Olympic trials in Oregon was a “setup.”
“I feel like it was a setup, and they did it on purpose,” Berry said Saturday after “The Star-Spangled Banner” played while she stood on the podium with her bronze medal.
She insisted that the national anthem playing while she stood there was deliberate after her previous anthem protest during the 2019 Pan-American Games in Peru.
“I was pissed, to be honest,” she said.
The demonstration sparked fiery criticism and some vicious attacks flung at the Olympian, including from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who said Berry should be yanked off the United States’ roster.
“If Ms. Berry is so embarrassed by America, then there’s no reason she needs to compete for our country,” the Arkansas senator said Monday on Fox News. “She should be removed from the Olympic team.” Agreed!
Not surprisingly, White House press secretary Jen Psaki came to Berry’s defense.
“I haven’t spoken to the president specifically about this, but I know he’s incredibly proud to be an American and has great respect for the anthem and all that it represents, especially for our men and women serving in uniform all around the world,” she told reporters at her daily briefing.
“He would also say, of course, that part of that pride in our country means recognizing there are moments where we are — as a country, haven’t lived up to our highest ideals,” Psaki added.
“And it means respecting the rights of people granted to them in the Constitution to peacefully protest.”
What do you think should Gwen Berry be kicked off the Olympic team for disrespecting the flag? Please reply using the comments below!
Gwen Berry should not be representing the United States. She should go to
Africa and stand up for thier anthem. NO ONE IN SPORTS OF ANY KIND WHO MAKE A PROFIT AND USUALLY A HUGE PROFIT SHOULD bE ALLOWED TO DISRESPECT MY FLAG AND MY COUNTRY AND MY ANTHEM. tELL THEM TO GO BACK TO ANY COUNTRY THEY WANT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THEIR SPORTS INCOME. SHAME ON THEM AND SHAME ON HER. WHERE DOES SHE THINK THAT ALL THAT TRAINAING AND ALL THE SPONSORSHIP COMES FROM?
AFRICA????????????????
Yes absolutely yes she should be banned for life
All she has to do is quit the team or wear ear plugs, I hope she quits the team. Finishing 3rd place was just a trigger for her to gain notoriety but as usual the press is dragging along a story not worth publishing !!
She is full of shit! Send her to the chinks!
The Anthem is for all Americans!!!
What does she want an anthem for
Whites, Black, Hispanics and Asians???
THAT IS AS DUNMB as AOC claiming it
is Racial to punish illegal Marijuana use!!!!
THAT SPRINTER KNEW THE RULES!!!!
She may be full of shi– but she is not a bigot like yourself. ‘Chinks’? You a Korean war vet that harbor a grudge or just a plain bigot?
The way she reads the third verse seems to be warped and she must be looking for a reason to protest. I think she should be kicked off the team.
She is just plain uneducated and can’t read. The “Slaves” he is referring to are not Black people it was in reference to the salors being conscripted into the British Navy when captured. Stupid girl
It doesn’t matter what the composer intended. She is black, she has been trained to be a victim by the current communist education indoctrination she received so she is looking for something, anything to blame for her victim status. Pull her from the team. In Russia or China she would be in some readjustment camp.
Sorry there was a typo it should have read “SAILORS” She’s still stupid
1
She is not reading the whole stanza. It has nothing to do with slaves. Anybody can take something out of context and claim racism.
she should be pulled and not allowed to participate in any other games.
She is free to leave for Africa any day she wants! Just keep in mind those people hate your kind. If she doesn’t leave, she should never represent the USA again! PERIOD!!’
How is it disrespectable?
Kick that anti American off from the team
Sorry but the way things are done for everyone else don’t change because you want to be a racist
How did she just happen to have a Tee shirt ready for this ? Not spontaneous -planned protest — she does not want to represent the USA she wants to represent Berry –out she goes !
LISTEN UP…ANYONE Who SHOWS DISRESPECT to the AMERICAN FLAG is DISHONERING the AMERICANS Who Gave Their BLOOD…SWEAT and TEARS to MAKE AMERICA GREAT. From SamuraiQueen. ???
That was darn good Elizabeth. Anyone that has the disrespect she has for the greatest country on earth needs to leave and never aloud to enter again.
What does the flag have to do with my blood, sweat and teas…. Just because it gives me goosebumps to see and hear related songs; doesn’t mean it has to do the same for others…but, I’m VERY confused here, with this article- and if there is ANY truth to it; seems like a farce…
She is just trying to get public opinion back in her favor.
As an American I believe in free speech as it is stated in the Constitution.
However, with the new things that came out when she was younger I think it could be justified to remove her from the Olympic Team
I thought the Lyrics of what became the National Anthem later, had to do with the war of 1812 – US fighting the Brits, so WHAT on earth has any of it to do with African Americans…???? Don’t see any connection here…????
The full lyrics refer to slaves , but it’s not talking about blacks. Plus whites were slaves too in this country and still are through human trafficking. She need to learn true history.
The A.A. also didn’t see any connection; that is why she had to make one up to start controversy. She is nothing more than a user. If she says America is downing the blacks, then she would have to also say that John Philip Sousa is a racist, because he, along with other musicians, approved The Star-Spangled Banner for America’s national anthem!!! I don’t want this traitor on an American team. It is not the place for preaching politics. If she can’t separate them, then she should stick to one and leave the other for another time and place…..like the Mark Levin Show on WABC radio. Now THAT would be more interesting than any hammer throw!
I think Jen Psaki’s reply displays the sensitivity and understanding that’s most likely to pull us together…we need one another…tolerance can help.
the AMERICA HATING GWEN BERRY should be kicked off of the AMERICAN TEAM IN THE OLYMPICS AND TAKE AWAY THE TROPHY SHE DOESNT DESERVE IT SHES UNGRATEFUL SELFISH ANTI AMERICAN THE NATIONAL ANTHEM HAS NOTHING NOTHING TO DO WITH AFRICAN AMERICANS
time to decide– you are either african or american-can’t be both unless you have dual citizenship to an
african nation –
Send her sorry ass back to Africa. Let those tinhorn dictators deal with her.
If Gwen Berry is so full of hatred of this country and our flag why would she want to represent this nation in the Olympics?… Oh, I get it, It’s all about her. What she failed to recognize is that the playing of our National Anthem was not for 3rd place it was played for the winner. In 3rd place, she will never get on any cereal box or earn endorsement income…she should cover her head with her T-shirt as she is too shameful to show her face!
That’s right if she’s allowed to compete and places second or third to another country, they will play their anthem.
I think the ungrateful selfish anti american cry baby snowflake should get a ONE WAY TICKET TO CHINA AND SEE JUST WHAT THAT GETS HER OH BOO HOO CRY BABY THE ANTHEM IS OUR AMERICAN STORY IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AFRICAN AMERICANS
THE ARCHIVES ALONGSIDE THIS ARTICLE ARE TOTALLY WRONG-NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THINK THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS DISREPECTFUL TO AFRICAN AMERICANS
Steve does not think the national anthem is disrespectful to african americans
no such creature as an african america
Steve, your going ‘microscopic’ so I am presuming you are a professional educator in the English language and grammar. I think everyone acknowledges ‘misspelled words but knows what is intended. Don’t be a head…
whom ever is editing this for the archives is a poopyhead
read the actual comments
read
The problem is with the blacks. They refuse to live a happy life. They only want to complain about issues that happened 100’s of years ago. They should be trying to leave the past. It can’t be changed. Start living a better happier life. This generation was never a slave nor are the whites slave owners. So, if you want a happy life stop acting like whites owe you. They don’t.
She should not only be kicked off the team, she should be stripped of all medals that was won competing for the Olympic.
If you turn your back to the flag you are disrespectful to America if you don’t like it here nothing is stopping you to go to another country.
What happened to my comments, I didn’t say anything wrong
Look up the third verse of the National Anthem and its meaning- slaves did not just mean blacks- there were many who were forced on those ships to fight against the UNITED STATES- those were the slaves meant- . I find it odd that she was at the podium and had a activist Tee shirt at the ready–sounds more like a planned protest ! Boot her from the USA team-
Kick her off the cream and take the fourth place competitor instead. This disrespectful creature has no place representing this country which no doubt has been supportive in her sporting life.
Yes. Her interpretation of the Athem is bogus. She is full of hate for a country that has promoted her Ungrateful anti American
A question for the writer of this article. Did you look at the entire original version of the Star- Spangled Banner and research the circumstances under which it was written to understand exactly who he was referring to? I would venture to say you didn’t because if you did you would know the “slaves” he was talking about were not American slaves , but those forced to serve on British Warships. Your piece is misleading and only serves to support an incorrect view held by Gwen Berry.
‘That band who vauntingly swore’ were the British, and they are the ones whose ‘blood has washed out their foul footsteps pollution’. “No refuge can save the hireling or slave” – not clear if they are talking about British conscripts or colonial servants and slaves innocently caught up in the widespread conflict, but the time period certainly had colonial slaves, many of which were African-Americans, though there is no specific reference or disrespect expressed against African-Americans.
Who ever disrespects this great country and it’s national anthem, should get out and never come back.
There is very little doubt as to the many positive qualifications in the sport world which is and has always been on a very strong scale among the people of : Afro-antecedence. It might be also rewarding if some of these fine athletes would read on the basis of their contribution to the country where they reside and progress rather than regress. If we all thought in such manner including myself (Italian Born – U.S. citizen who swore allegiance to the USA and to the stars and stripes – which has no bearing on the mentality of yesteryear other than learn how to live in this era rather than the days of ignorance . As per the young athlete , I personally feel that she has indeed made a name for herself. What name & what price retrogressing in history rather than progressing in the light of the current century. Long live the stars & stripes.
Yes!! If you are representing any country, then you respect that country’s National Anthem. I’m not understanding where she’s stating that it’s disrespecting black Americans.
If they would just kick all of these disrespectful people out of these events this would stop! No one should be allowed in any sport that disrespects the flag or our National Anthem!
The and she needs to take her and all the Africans that it disrespects and get out of America I’m sure that North Korea and China would be having open arms for all of the anti-American Africans and white people also that hate our national anthem if you hate the national anthem do America a favor and get the h*** out
If she is so anti American and loathes The Star Spangled Banner, she might consider entering for an African country. Also, she might consider relocating to a country in Africa. I think she would be more happy.
Time to get over it. There are things in it reference to god that we don’t sing. Let’s be United. No one is picking on anyone
There are those who say that the reference to “the hireling and slave” is a reference to the fact that the British offered freedom to any Black American who joined their troops and fought on their side. There were some enslaved people who did escape and join the British army. However, that raises the question of whether Francis Scott Key knew of Blacks in the British Army.
The full stanza is:
“And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
Key’s reference is clearly to the British Army, conceived of being a collection of “hirelings and slaves” because they were subjects of the King, not citizens of a nation that valued liberty and sought to extend it to all its citizens.
The Founding Fathers all knew, and said, that slavery was wrong, that it should be gotten rid of, but that they did not know HOW to do so in a way that would be just and fair to all, since in a highly labor-intensive society, enslaved people were everywhere involved in the production of goods and services, and the American leaders did not know how to transform the economy in such a way that work got done without costing far more money than they or anyone had.
If Eli Whitney had not invented the cotton gin in the 1790’s, slavery would probably have died out on its own. As it was, the slave trade from Africa was outlawed in 1808, which was a positive step that the white leaders of the US took, in full accord with their earlier expressed belief that slavery should not exist
Remove her from anything representing USA
Gwen Berry..You are so ‘mis’ directed! Why do you hate our flag! You hate our country..get the hell out! We have tried to to not be rascist and to be fair with all blacks but you want to accuse whites for your hate! It’s not fair or right..whites are just as civil as any of the black culture! You need to get out and go to Africa..where you can bellyache about mistreatment
She should absolutely not represent our country..she is the racist and doesn’t know what she’s talking about…off the team..PERIOD
The comment by Berry shows just how ignorant she really is. The 3rd. stanza of our anthem speaks of hierlings (England hired Hessian soldiers – called hierlings) andd it speak os slaves (which refers to England kidnapping ordinary citizens off the streets to fight in the war – therefore calling them slaves) This does NOT refer to African American slaves. She is truly an idiot. Look up your history, fool.
Throw her off the team.
Did somebody force her to compete for the United States? Maybe she should pick another country.
She is so wrong in her interpretation, but who am I to judge who should be in the Olympic Games.
When my ancestors came to America in 1636 many were indentured servants, white slaves, and white slaves were taken from Ireland, England, and America none of us ever turn our backs to our FLAG!
She is outright RACISTS and needs to be BANNED from the Olympics
She should be removed and go to another country and not be allowed to come back ,let someone else compete who is proud to be an American
She is there merely to represent America in the Olympic Games if she disrespects America that much why is she even in the games… I know I myself do not want somebody like that to represent in America for me…
RACIST, UNGRATEFUL, BRAT TAKE HER OUT OF THE OLYMPICS, IF SHE WAS WHITE SHE’D BE GONE..