Nezza's translated national anthem shines light on a forgotten Latina trailblazer
The 30-year-old pop singer, whose real name is Vanessa Hernández, uploaded the interaction on TikTok, where she proceeded to sing the Spanish version anyway. She captioned the video, 'para mi gente [heart] I stand with you.'
In a tearful follow up TikTok video, she clarified that her decision to follow through with singing 'El Pendón Estrellado' was in response to the ongoing immigration sweeps throughout Los Angeles
'I've sang the national anthem many times in my life but today out of all days, I could not,' Nezza said in the TikTok video.
The Dodgers did not issue a public comment on Nezza's social media posts, but a team official said there were no consequences from the club regarding the performance and that Nezza would be welcome back at the stadium in the future.
'I just don't understand how anyone can watch the videos that have been surfacing and still be on the wrong side of history,' Nezza told The Times.
Nezza's performance has also sparked conversations about the origins of 'El Pendón Estrellado,' resurfacing the legacy of a trailblazing Latina composer, Clotilde Arias.
'The lyrics and the story are the same,' said Nezza. 'We're still saying we're proud to be American.'
In 1945, the U.S. State Department looked to commission a Spanish version of the national anthem, per the request of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who looked to strengthen political and business partnerships with Latin American countries amid World War II. His cultural efforts aligned with his 1933 Good Neighbor Policy, a Pan-Americanism objective that he implemented at the start of his first term to distance the U.S. from earlier decades of armed intervention.
Although 'The Star-Spangled Banner' had already been translated to various languages by the time that President Roosevelt entered office, including two Spanish versions, no versions of the anthem were considered singable. In 1945, the Division of Cultural Cooperation within the Department of State, in collaboration with the Music Educators National Conference, invited submissions for the song in Spanish and Portuguese to promote American patriotism throughout Latin America.
Composer and musician Arias — who immigrated to New York in 1923 at the age of 22 from Iquitos, Peru — answered the call.
At the time, Arias had already established herself as a formidable copywriter for ad agencies, translating jingles and songs in Spanish for companies like Alka-Seltzer, Campbell Soup, Ford Motor Co., Coca-Cola (including the translation version of Andrews Sisters' 'Rum and Coca-Cola') and others.
She submitted 'El Pendón Estrellado,' which included singable lyrics that conveyed the original patriotic essence of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' It was accepted as the only official translation of the national anthem allowed to be sung, according to the National Museum of American History.
However, Arias would die in 1959 at age 58, leaving the song's existence publicly unknown until 2006, when Roger Arias II, her grandson, dug out drafts of the sheet music and drafts hidden in the garage.
The unexpected find caught the attention of Marvette Pérez, the late curator of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History who at the time was programming Latino exhibits like '!Azúcar!: The Life and Music of Celia Cruz.'
To honor Arias' legacy, Pérez organized an exhibit in 2012 titled 'Not Lost in Translation: The Life of Clotilde Arias,' featuring real documents and photographs of the songwriter. The exhibit also commissioned the first-ever recording of 'El Pendón Estrellado,' sung by the a cappella ensemble Coral Cantigas under the musical direction of Diana Sáez. The DC-chamber choir also performed during the exhibit's opening day, which Arias' son, Roger Arias, age 82 at the time, came to see.
'I was there when she was writing it,' Roger Arias told NPR at the time. 'She'd sing it in her own way to see if it fits, and she would say, 'How does that sound, sonny?' And I would say anything she did sounded good to me. So, yes, she struggled through it, but she made it work.'
For Nezza, Arias' 'El Pendón Estrellado' is not only a symbol of American pride, but also a living piece of forgotten Latino history.
'Latino people are a huge part of building this nation,' said Nezza. 'I think [the song] shows how we are such an important piece to the story of America.'
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Forbes
26 minutes ago
- Forbes
See Trump's Major Tariff Flip-Flops—As President Claims 'No Extension' To Liberation Day Pause
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March 26 The Trump administration announced 25% tariffs on imported cars to be imposed starting April 3, with an extension to imported auto parts starting May 3, as Trump suggested the levies would accelerate 'tremendous growth in the automobile industry' as automakers build more U.S.-based plants. March 27 Trump indicated his auto tariffs would be 'permanent' throughout his second term. March 31 White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters there would be 'no exemptions at this time' to Trump's impending tariffs on foreign goods. April 2 Trump rolled out his tariff policy at a 'Liberation Day' event at the White House, releasing details of the plan that showed nearly all countries (even uninhabited ones) facing tariffs ranging from 10% and 50%—but the Trump administration appeared to calculate by just dividing a country's trade surplus with the U.S. by its export value, rather than the more sophisticated formula the administration claimed (flip-flop No.1 ). Contrary to Leavitt's March 31 comments, the executive order imposing the tariffs exempted 'copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber articles, certain critical minerals, and energy and energy products' (flip-flop No. 2). Trump also backtracked on his previous commitment for the U.S. to charge reciprocal tariffs matching the ones other countries impose on American goods, saying in his speech the administration would instead 'charge them approximately half of what … [other countries] have been charging us, so the tariffs will be not a full reciprocal,' adding, 'I could have done that, I guess, but it would have been tough for a lot of countries and we didn't want to do that' (flip-flop No. 3). April 3, 4 p.m. EDT Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro denied to CNBC that Trump intended to negotiate his tariffs with other countries—saying, 'This is not a negotiation. This is not that. 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April 7, 3 p.m. EDT Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he was 'not looking at' pausing his tariffs, and, when asked if his tariffs were permanent or if they could be negotiated, said, 'Both can be true,' adding, 'There can be permanent tariffs, and there can also be negotiations.' The president also insisted he would move forward with his tariff agenda despite them roiling the stock market, saying, 'No other president would be willing to do what I'm doing,' but 'I don't mind going through it because I see a beautiful picture at the end.' April 8 Trump trade representative Jamieson Greer testified to the Senate Finance Committee the White House 'will have the president's plan go into effect' on April 9 as scheduled—denying there would be any delay—but the government was 'coupling that with immediate negotiations.' April 8, 1 p.m. EDT Leavitt told reporters during a press briefing that Trump has directed his trade team to 'have tailor-made trade deals with each and every country that calls up this administration to strike a deal,' and emphasized Trump intended to bring manufacturing of tech products to the U.S., saying the president 'absolutely' thinks iPhones and other products could be made in the U.S. and Trump 'believes we have the labor, we have the workforce, we have the resources to do it.' April 9, 9:33 a.m. EDT Trump told Americans to 'BE COOL' after the stock market plunged in response to his tariffs taking effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT, writing on Truth Social, 'Everything is going to work out well,' and later urging Americans to buy stock and for companies to move their operations to the U.S. April 9, 1:18 p.m. EDT In a stunning about face, Trump announced on Truth Social he was pausing the worst of his tariffs on most countries for 90 days, though he would continue a baseline 10% tariff rate and raise his tariffs on most Chinese goods by 125%. (flip-flop No. 6). Trump officials suggested immediately after his announcement the pause was part of the president's negotiating strategy, with Bessent telling reporters, 'This was his strategy all along' and Trump 'goaded China into a bad position,' while Leavitt told reporters, 'Many of you in the media clearly missed the art of the deal.' The president almost immediately contradicted those comments, telling reporters later Wednesday he had decided to pause the tariffs because 'people were jumping a little bit out of line. They were getting yippy,' also saying his plan to pause the tariffs 'probably came together early this morning,' after the tariffs had taken effect (flip-flop No. 7). April 9, 3 p.m. EDT Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office he still intends to impose additional tariffs on pharmaceuticals as well as semiconductor chips, saying the U.S. will build a chips factory that 'will be one of the largest plants in the world' and everything needed in order to approve it will be 'done in a matter of months.' April 10, 11 a.m. EDT Trump stood by his tariff policy as markets went down again after an initial rally in response to the 90-day pause, saying at a Cabinet meeting, 'We think we're in very good shape. We think we're doing very well. 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April 12 The White House said in response to the exemption on tech products the administration still wants to move manufacturing of those products to the U.S., with Leavitt saying in a statement, 'President Trump has made it clear America cannot rely on China to manufacture critical technologies such as semiconductors, chips, smartphones, and laptops … these companies are hustling to onshore their manufacturing in the United States as soon as possible.' April 13, 9 a.m. EDT Lutnick told ABC's 'This Week' the exemption on semiconductors and other goods is only temporary, claiming Trump is still crafting tariffs on tech goods and pharmaceuticals that will be rolled out 'in probably a month or two.' April 13, 3:36 p.m. EDT Trump claimed on Truth Social that contrary to the customs announcement, there was 'no Tariff 'exception' announced on Friday' and the tariffs on smartphones and other goods are 'just moving to a different Tariff 'bucket,' adding his administration will be 'taking a look at Semiconductors and the WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN in the upcoming National Security Tariff Investigations' (flip-flop No. 9). Later in the day, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he would soon announce tariff rates for chips, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, also promising that tariffs would be restored for electronics 'very soon,' but he would also 'talk to companies,' arguing, 'You have to show a certain flexibility. Nobody should be so rigid.' 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The president and his treasury secretary also conflicted on whether the U.S. is already in trade negotiations with China: Trump told reporters his administration is 'actively' talking with China, while Bessent told reporters in a separate appearance that 'both sides are waiting to speak to the other,' adding when asked if that meant the two countries aren't in trade discussions, 'Not yet.' April 29 Trump signed an executive order exempting companies paying the 25% tariff on imported cars and auto parts from paying other tariffs, such as those on steel and aluminum (flip-flop No. 11). Companies will also receive a reimbursement on tariffs for imported parts equal to up to 3.75% of the value of a new car in the first year and 2.5% of the car's value in the second year before it's phased out, multiple outlets reported. 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May 6, 7 p.m. EDT Shortly after Trump's comments, however, Bessent and Greer said they would participate in discussions with Chinese officials in Switzerland over the weekend—which Beijing claims the Trump administration requested, though Trump later denied that (flip-flop No. 13). May 8 Trump announced his administration's first trade deal—or at least the framework for one—which was made with the United Kingdom, and still leaves the 10% baseline tariff on U.K. imports in place. May 9, 7:26 a.m. EDT Trump floated a potential 80% tariff rate on Chinese imports, writing on Truth Social, '80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B.'—after floating to reporters the day before he was now open to lowering tariffs on China, saying that if negotiations over the weekend went well, 'You know [the tariff rate is] coming down' (flip-flop No. 14). May 9, 1 p.m. EDT Leavitt told reporters Trump's 10% tariffs on foreign goods will be permanent even after the Trump administration completes trade deals with other countries, saying the president is 'determined to continue with that 10% baseline tariff.' May 12 After suggesting Sunday they had reached some kind of agreement, Bessent and Chinese officials announced Monday a 90-day pause on the worst of the two countries' tariffs on the other's goods, with the U.S. lowering its tariff rate on most Chinese goods to a combined 30%, which includes both the 'Liberation Day' tariffs and the 20% tariffs the Trump administration had previously imposed—and is far below the 80% figure Trump floated (flip-flop No. 15). May 16 Trump suggested he will reimpose new tariff rates without completing trade deals with other countries—despite the White House claiming he would offer trade deals to 'each and every country that calls up this administration to strike a deal'—telling reporters, 'We have ... 150 countries that want to make a deal, but you're not able to see that many countries' (flip-flop No. 16). The president suggested Lutnick and Bessent will be 'sending letters out' in the coming weeks to foreign governments that the administration won't reach trade deals with, in which the Trump administration will 'be telling people what they'll be paying to do business in the United States.' May 18 Bessent told CNN the Trump administration is largely focused on negotiating with just 18 key trading partners and backtracked on Trump's claim letters imposing new tariff rates will be sent out to other countries the Trump administration doesn't have time to negotiate with, telling CNN and 'Meet the Press' that letters will only be sent to nations who don't negotiate in 'good faith' informing them their tariffs will return to their previous April 2 rates (flip-flop No. 17). Bessent also suggested for the first time that the Trump administration could impose blanket tariff rates on different global regions, such as central America or parts of Africa. May 19 Hassett claimed Monday to Fox Business the Trump administration has a 'number of deals' on the table that could be finalized over the next two weeks, suggesting those could serve as a template for other countries' trade deals with the U.S., and echoed Bessent in suggesting the Trump administration will reimpose its April 2 tariff rates on any countries who don't reach deals. May 23, 7:19 a.m. EDT After previously reversing his tariffs on Apple products, Trump threatened 25% tariffs on iPhones in an early morning Truth Social post, saying he will impose the tariff on Apple if its phones being sold in the U.S. are not 'manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else' (flip-flop No. 18). May 23, 7:43 a.m. EDT The president also threatened new 50% tariffs on imports from the European Union starting June 1, writing on Truth Social that the bloc 'has been very difficult to deal with' and claiming, 'Our discussions with them are going nowhere!' (flip-flop No. 19). May 23, 9:30 a.m. EDT After Hassett previously suggested that deals with other countries could be announced imminently in the coming weeks, Bessent offered a more pessimistic view, telling Fox News only that he expects there to be 'more and more' deals announced 'as we approach the end of the 90-day period,' which doesn't expire until July (flip-flop No. 20). May 25 Following a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump said he would postpone imposing 50% tariffs on the European Union to July 9, stating he would 'rapidly get together' with European leaders to 'see if we can work something out' (flip-flop No. 21). May 28 Trump was asked about criticism he's 'chicken[ed] out' by backing down from the harsher tariff rates he imposed, which the president called a 'nasty question,' claiming about his decision to set high tariff rates and then lower them, 'It's called negotiations.' 'You set a number' so it will go down, Trump said, adding he thought the 145% tariff rate that was in place for Chinese imports was 'high' and suggesting he set the 50% tariff rate on the EU in order to get it to the negotiating table—with Trump going on to muse that he'll face criticism calling him 'chicken' if he negotiates with Europe and gets its tariffs down to a more 'reasonable' rate. May 30 Trump announced a raise on steel tariffs from 25% to 50% during an event in Pennsylvania, saying the new rate would go into effect on June 4 (flip-flop No. 22). June 4 The steel and aluminum tariff hike took effect, raising import fees on those products to 50%—except for those from the U.K., which will faces a lower 25% tariff rate thanks to the trade deal the country's government reached with the Trump administration. June 11 Bessent testified to House lawmakers it's 'highly likely' Trump will extend his tariff pause in order to complete negotiations with trading partners, claiming the administration is prepared to 'roll the date forward,' while Trump told reporters later that day he wouldn't rule out an extension. (flip-flop No. 23) June 27 Trump said his administration can 'do whatever we want' on the tariff deadline, saying, 'We could extend it, we could make it shorter,' and claimed the White House would send out letters to other countries 'over the next week and a half or so, or maybe before,' in which the administration is 'just going to tell them what they have to pay to do business in the United States.' June 30 Bessent then suggested tariff rates for any countries who don't reach deals could return to the initial April 2 levels, telling Bloomberg TV that other countries negotiating with the administration 'should be aware that if we can't get across the line because they are being recalcitrant, then we could spring back to the April 2 levels.' July 2 Trump announced the U.S. had reached a trade deal with Vietnam, in which goods from the country will receive a 20% tariff, with 40% for goods that pass through Vietnam from other countries like China. July 3 Bessent told Bloomberg TV there are likely to be a 'flurry' of deals made before the July 9 deadline and that approximately 100 countries would receive a 10% tariff rate on their goods, which Reuters notes would be fewer than the number of countries that were slated to get 10% tariffs before the 90-day pause. Trump told reporters he would start sending out letters Friday to other countries imposing new tariff rates, which he said would range from 'maybe 60 or 70% tariffs' to '10 or 20%'—suggesting he could pose significantly higher tariff rates for some countries than what he first proposed on 'Liberation Day,' when rates maxed out at 50% (flip-flop No. 24). The president also suggested countries would have to start paying their new tariff rates on August 1 'in pretty much all cases,' rather than when the 90-day pause is set to expire July 9. July 6 Trump announced on Truth Social his administration would start sending 'letters and/or deals' on tariffs to other countries starting at noon the following day, pushing back the timeline after he previously promised they would start being sent on July 4 (flip-flop No. 25). The president also threatened additional 10% tariffs on 'any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS'—referring to the bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran—as the organization decried Trump's tariffs at its summit in Brazil (flip-flop No. 26). July 7 Trump formally extended the deadline for his 'Liberation Day' tariffs until Aug. 1, after sending out letters to 14 countries imposing new tariff rates starting that day if they don't negotiate a trade deal with the Trump administration (flip-flop No. 27). Around the time of the announcement, the president wouldn't rule out that the deadline could be extended again, however, telling reporters that evening that the Aug. 1 date was 'firm, but not 100% firm.' July 8 Trump doubled down on the Aug. 1 date and took a much stronger stance than the day before, writing on Truth Social 'there will be no change' to that date and saying, 'In other words, all money will be due and payable starting AUGUST 1, 2025 - No extensions will be granted' (flip-flop No. 28). Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here . Trump's frequent flip-flopping on tariffs—and taking rates down after the markets get spooked—has earned him the nickname of 'TACO Trump' on Wall Street, which stands for 'Trump always chickens out.' Trump has called the nickname 'nasty' and White House spokesperson Kush Desai decried it as 'asinine' in a statement to The Washington Post. The moniker and belief that Trump will back off his worst tariff threats has stuck around, however, with Deutsche Bank strategists raising their forecasts in June for the S&P 500 index based on the belief Trump has 'already relented' on tariffs and there will be 'further relents' in the future. The stock market had a muted response to Trump's new round of tariff letters largely because of the president's tendency to back off his tariff threats, Wall Street analysts suggested Tuesday, with IG Group chief market analyst Chris Beauchamp calling the latest tariff rollout a 'damp squib.' 'Rightly or wrongly, investors think they know what happens from here,' Beauchamp wrote. 'Either negotiations result, and a 'deal' of some sort (usually in the vaguest terms) is announced, allowing Trump to claim a win, or a fresh extension to the deadline is announced.' 'You know, if I set a number, a ridiculous high number, and I go down a little bit, a little bit, they want me to hold that number,' Trump told reporters in May as he railed against the 'TACO Trump' name and the suggestion he was 'chickening out' by lowering tariff rates. Referring to the 145% tariff rate previously in place on Chinese goods, Trump continued, 'You know, 145% tariff, even I said, 'Man, that really got up … Whoa, that's high. That's high.'' Two courts have already ruled that Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs are unlawful and the president exceeded his authority by imposing them. The tariffs remain in place, however, as appeals courts then put those rulings on hold while the litigation plays out. The appeals court is scheduled to hold oral arguments on July 31 on the most sweeping lawsuit over the tariffs, so there won't be any changes to the tariffs' legality before that date. Plaintiffs in one of the lawsuits over the tariffs asked the Supreme Court to take up the issue on an urgent timeline, requesting that justices hear oral arguments over the tariffs' legality as soon as their next term begins, or even sooner. The court rejected that request, however, so while it's still possible the Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether Trump's tariffs are legal, they won't be doing so within the coming months. It's ultimately still unclear what the tariff rates will look like when the extended pause ends on Aug. 1—even for countries that receive letters from the Trump administration imposing new tariff rates, as the president wrote in the letters that their rates are subject to change 'depending on our relationship with your Country.' Many of the countries that Trump targeted have vowed to continue negotiations in hopes of securing a better rate before Aug. 1. The trade deals also aren't expected to completely get rid of tariffs on any country, as Lutnick claimed after the trade deal with the U.K. was announced that for countries that have trade deficits with the U.S., 'The best they can do is 10%—most likely they'll be higher.' While Trump has threatened tariffs on iPhones and EU goods, it remains to be seen if those will take effect and how long they'll stay in effect, and whether more goods could be either tariffed or exempted from the tariffs. No tariffs have yet been imposed on critical imports like semiconductors, as Lutnick and Trump claimed would be implemented, but they still could impose them in the future. Democratic lawmakers have asked the Trump administration to exempt baby products from its tariffs, which Bessent testified was 'under consideration.' Democrats have decried the constant changes in Trump's tariff policy, which they argue further harm the economy. 'The White House has no idea what it's doing on tariffs and keeps flip flopping. Lutnick now says the tariff exemptions on, for example iPhones, are temporary. Why even do an exemption if you're going to reverse it soon?' Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., said on X on April 13. 'The White House 'has no strategy, and is rapidly losing credibility.' Trump has long touted tariffs as a cornerstone of his policy agenda, making them a centerpiece of his campaign and repeatedly pledging to put them in effect. His flip-flopping on the 'Liberation Day' tariffs comes after Trump previously shifted his stance in how he handled tariffs on Mexico and Canada, initially announcing hours after his inauguration that he would impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico on Feb. 1, which briefly took effect before he ultimately paused them for 30 days on Feb. 3. The tariffs then took effect again on March 4, though Trump later paused tariffs on automobiles and exempted many products from the tariffs on March 6. Trump has charged forward with his tariff plans despite longstanding warnings from economists that doing so would raise prices for American consumers and harm the economy, which have played out as the tariffs have taken effect, roiling the stock market and leading economic experts to warn of a looming recession.
Cosmopolitan
28 minutes ago
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Fans Theorize Chappell Roan Is Filming 'The Subway' Music Video
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- Business Insider
No, Carnival Cruises is not banning rap music
The cruise line has responded to claims circulating online that DJs aren't including hip-hop music in their sets or honoring song requests, with some social media users saying the alleged move is racially motivated. Matt Lupoli, the senior manager for public relations, denied the allegations. "Unfortunately, certain media outlets have blown this matter out of proportion," Lupoli told BI in a statement. "We have always had a wide variety of entertainment options and for the last several years we have communicated our expectations about guest behavior." It's not just the music claims — two notices about Carnival have also been making the rounds and fueling misinformation. A snapshot of safety guidelines from Carnival was posted on social media in June and includes a curfew for minors, a ban on handheld drinks and fans on dance floors, and a prohibition on radios. Some online criticized the supposedly new rules — but Lupolisaid that though the snapshot is authentic, those rules rules have been in place for more than two years. A video from Carnival posted in February 2023 outlines some of the rules. Lupolitold BI that the only recent addition is a prohibition on "clack fans," which are handheld fans that make a loud sound. To make matters more complicated, another graphic circulating on TikTok is entirely fake, Lupoli told BI. It reads "Effective June 2025" across the top and lists some of the same rules. Versions of the fake graphic include typos— minors must follow curfew unless they're with an "ault" and "solo cruslers must be 21+ or sall with someone 25+" — but nonetheless got significant pickup online. Some TikTok users also said that Carnival implemented a 15-drink daily limit on its Cheers! drink package, and ramped up enforcement. Lupoli told BI that the limit has existed for years. A Pew survey last year found that American adults are less concerned about disinformation on TikTok compared to other social media platforms. Of those surveyed, 71% reported seeing inaccurate news on TikTok "sometimes" or "extremely or fairly often," compared to 76% on Instagram, 84% on Facebook, and 86% on X. In April, TikTok announced that it's piloting a new feature called "footnotes," which are similar to the community notes on other social media platforms. The feature lets users add context to videos and is first being trialed in the US. Unlike Meta and X, TikTok is not getting rid of professional fact-checkers. Earlier this year, TikTok made changes to its US Content Advisory Council, adding three new members with libertarian or conservative backgrounds. One of them co-authored a blog post for the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, that argued, "The First Amendment does protect misinformation and hate speech."
