Fun fact: FDR commissioned our national anthem in Spanish 80 years ago!
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
What happened? There are big, heavy headlines right now, but instead of diving into them, I’m taking you on a fun fact journey with me! On Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, the national anthem before the baseball game was sung in Spanish. The singer, Nezza, said she was asked to perform in English, but as a Latina woman from Los Angeles, she felt compelled to sing the Spanish version with everything going on in her community. I had no idea that there was an official version of the national anthem in Spanish! In fact, I’ve learned that Franklin D. Roosevelt put out the request for a Spanish translation in 1945. An American woman from Peru, Clotilde Arias, heeded the call and wrote what would become the official Spanish translation of the National Anthem. Some of the reactions to Nezza’s performance were quite ugly. Some called for her to be deported (she’s an American), and others said she owed the crowd an apology. But I love what her performance taught me. Singing the anthem in Spanish isn’t new, because Spanish-speaking patriots aren’t new. FDR recognized 80 years ago that a love of country could be and should be proclaimed in Spanish, too.
How can I pray? Pray for Latinos in America who are feeling fearful and scared right now. Pray for the people who reacted with anger to Nezza’s performance — soften their hearts, and bring people into their lives to help them see the deep love for country that so many Latinos have. Praise God for all of the good gifts that other cultures have brought with them as they come to America.
What is one more thing I can do? Take time to learn a Latino American story that you haven’t heard before. If you have kids, my kindergartener was particularly riveted by the book Separate Is Never Equal about the fight for integration in California’s public schools. And then, find a way to share what you learned on social media or with a friend in real life! And now, if you hear someone complain about the national anthem being sung in Spanish, you can eagerly share how this was actually commissioned 80 years ago!
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