ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 18, 1997 TAG: 9702180088
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: LARRY O'DELL ASSOCIATED PRESS
Not a single discordant note was sounded Monday as the House of Delegates voted to retire a state song that critics say glorifies slavery with words like ``darkey'' and ``massa.''
The House voted 100-0 to make ``Carry Me Back to Old Virginia'' the state song "emeritus." There was no debate.
``This puts the song where it belongs - in history - and it won't be troubling us any further,'' Del. William Robinson, D-Norfolk, told his House colleagues.
The first attempt to repeal the state song was made in 1970 by then-state Sen. Douglas Wilder, a grandson of slaves who became the nation's first elected black governor.
Legislation to repeal the song or sanitize its lyrics became annual fixtures on the General Assembly docket. Lawmakers each year were influenced by ``Carry Me Back'' supporters who said the song was an important part of Virginia's heritage.
But this year, the lawmakers were persuaded by arguments that the song is so offensive that it is no longer taught to schoolchildren and has not been performed at an official state function in two decades.
The Senate, which approved the measure 24-15 on Jan. 28, now must consider the House version, which doesn't include a provision calling for a special commission to find a new state song - meaning Virginia could find itself without an official anthem.
The bill, which the Senate approved 24-15 on Jan. 28, now goes back to the Senate for action on a House amendment. The Senate version calls for a special commission to be formed to find a new anthem and delays the retirement date so one can be chosen.
A House committee voted against forming such a commission and the House amendment speeds up the retirement date.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, co-sponsor of the bill along with Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, said she would ask the Senate to accept the House version rather than risk losing the bill, which Gov. George Allen supports.
``We've come too far to risk losing it now,'' Lucas said.
``Carry Me Back to Old Virginny'' was written in 1875 by James A. Bland, a black minstrel from Flushing, N.Y., and was adopted as the state song in 1940.
The assembly changed ``Virginny'' to ``Virginia,'' but left the lyrics intact. The song is written from the viewpoint of a freed slave who loves Virginia and longs to be reunited after death with ``massa and missis.''
To leave a message for state legislators, call (800) 889-0229 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays or write c/o General Assembly Building, Richmond, Va., 23219. To track the status of bills, go on-line at www.roanoke.com and click on "The Richmond Archive."
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1997by CNB