The mayor of Baltimore says she has no plans to remove the city’s monument to Francis Scott Key, after the words “racist anthem” were sprayed this week on a statue of him. Key wrote what would become the national anthem 205 years ago today while he was held captive on a British ship during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.
Loyola University professor Karsonya Wise Whitehead (@kayewhitehead) joins Here & Now‘s Robin Young to explain why some people think the anthem’s rarely sung third verse is racist.
Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.![](https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Vandalism+Of+Francis+Scott+Key+Statue+Raises+Questions+About+%27The+Star-Spangled+Banner%27&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxODcyMTgzMDEyMTgxMTY5NjYxN2I4OQ004))
![](https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Vandalism+Of+Francis+Scott+Key+Statue+Raises+Questions+About+%27The+Star-Spangled+Banner%27&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxODcyMTgzMDEyMTgxMTY5NjYxN2I4OQ004))
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad