'This is what I’m getting as a BORN and raised Canadian': Jully Black shares racist email in response to 'O Canada' lyric change
#HateRunsDeep: More than a week after Jully Black's celebrated anthem change, audiences are sending her outraged reactions
More than a week after Jully Black changed one word while performing 'O Canada' at an All Stars Game in Utah, the Canadian musician is sharing the harmful feedback she’s still receiving.
Black changed the words from “Our home and native land” to “Our home on native land” while singing Canada’s national anthem at an NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 19th.
She took to Twitter on Monday to post a racist, expletive-laden email sent to her. The message accuses her of not being originally from Canada and goes on to make outlandish, ignorant and blatantly racist remarks.
The postscript of the message bizarrely clarifies that the author of the email isn’t white or born in Canada, while continuing on with appalling racist language.
Warning: The language and contents of this email may be triggering and disturbing for readers.
This is what I’m getting as a BORN and raised Canadian #HateRunsDeep pic.twitter.com/PFxmwQIynH
— Jully Black (@JullyBlack) February 27, 2023
“This is what I’m getting as a BORN and raised Canadian,” Black wrote along with screenshots of the email, and the hashtag #HateRunsDeep.
In the replies, many people expressed their outrages, and offered continued support for the singer.
Love you Jully. Continue to walk tall. What you did was brave and showed true allyship. The fact that this person resorts to name calling says everything about them not you. Standing with you.
— nam kiwanuka (@namshine) February 27, 2023
The change you made to the anthem was just and correct, and so many applauded it. I am truly sorry you have been subjected to these vile messages from cowards
— Liz Braun (@LizBraunSun) February 27, 2023
I don’t understand how many actual screaming crybabies there are in Canada. It’s one word of one song and it’s the truth. ❤️
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) February 27, 2023
I can never understand how someone can have this much hate in their heart. Yet it’s a daily occurrence. I’m really sorry Jully, sending you lots of love.
— Faiza Amin (@Faiza_AminTV) February 27, 2023
Grotesque. You improved the anthem and they can't handle that.
— Elizabeth Renzetti (@lizrenzetti) February 27, 2023
Disgusting - absolutely disgusting. People like this need to be put away. So sorry, Jully. You're a kind and upstanding Black woman - People will try and strip that from you because they are so disturbed with how you CONTINUE to change the narrative. Stay strong love.
— Katrina Ramlochan (@karamlochan) February 27, 2023
I am so profoundly and deeply sorry that you - or anyone - receives such vile racist hate. You are a champion and a light - I know you’ll keep pushing forward. And so so so many people are here cheering you on 🫶😘
— Chris Glover (@chrisgloverCBC) February 27, 2023
Disgusting, hateful, pathetic letter. This person doesn't even know that Africa is a continent and not a country. How ignorant! I'm so sorry @JullyBlack . Your presence here threatens their very fragile existence. Keep rising and breaking grounds. Love you ♥️
— Birgit Uwaila Umaigba (@birgitomo) February 27, 2023
While the move to change the words of the anthem received a flood of reaction, Black has stayed by her decision, telling the Canadian Press, "I wouldn't have sung it if I didn't believe it should be this."
This wasn’t the first time the national anthem has been changed. In 2018, the lyric “in all thy sons command” officially changed to “in all of us command” to make it gender-neutral.
