Toronto singer Jully Black receives racist emails following O Canada anthem change
A week after Toronto singer Jully Black made headlines by switching just one tiny word of the Canadian national anthem when performing, disgusting messages of hate and racism continue to roll in.
On Sunday, Feb. 19, the Juno-award-winning artist performed in Salt Lake City at the NBA All-Star game and made a change to the anthem's lyrics, in solidity with Indigenous communities.
The Canadian Queen of R&B sang "our home on Native land," instead of "our home and Native land," and since then, internet trolls and racist individuals have bombarded the 45-year-old with hate.
Posting the screenshot of a recent email sent to her inbox and management team, Black said this hate-filled, abhorrent message was just one of many messages she has received.
The six-paragraph email talks about Black's heritage as a Jamaican woman, labeling the country as uncivilized and with incredibly racist descriptions.
Halfway through the email, the sender finally explains why they felt compelled to send such a vile message, incredibly ticked off about the national anthem change.
"This one stung I bit I won't lie," Black said about the post while also adding that the email made her "heart weep that there is this type of hate period."
I don’t understand the Jully Black hate at all. If acknowledging that this country was built on Native Land offends you, you’re definitely the problem
— Danny (@Danny_MAZE) February 27, 2023
Whoever sent the message made a point to say they were not white, which sounds exactly like what an unhinged white person hiding behind an email would say.
The email also included a threat, telling Black to "watch and see what happens," if she were to continue to sing the changed anthem.
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 won't flood my feed with any more negative posts I just want you all to see the hate that is coming my way for being an Ally," the artist's Instagram post read.
Her comments are filled with people showing their support for Black, telling her to report the email to the authorities and telling her to not be deterred by the message.
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
In the days since Black performed, she has also received many messages of support and praise from people applauding for her taking such a stance on a public stage.
Canada has a real problem and they have yet to acknowledge this and do something about it. So sorry you had to endure this from one of the worst representations of these lands. I am Indigenous, you chose the right word. I admire your strength and thank you💔
— Debbie ᑳᑫᓯᒧᑐᑕᐁ (@ironbow) February 27, 2023
For those who are still angry about this moment (and who are blissfully ignoring Canadian history), the "country" of Canada was "founded" on Indigenous lands, where communities had been living for thousands of years.
Only through the use of treaties, residential schools, and other colonizer systems did the country we know today as Canada come to be.
"Indigenous peoples have been in Canada since time immemorial. They formed complex social, political, economic and cultural systems before Europeans came to North America," reads the Canadian Encyclopedia.
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