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.

Thousands of Canadian sports fans protested American trade policies at NBA and NHL games in their country over the weekend.

Oh, say, can you hear that? Canadian NHL fans booed the Star Spangled Banner at an Ottawa Senators game Saturday, hours after President Donald Trump’s tariff on the country became official.

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.