Brushing Off The Bigots

Sebastian de la Cruz singing during Game 3 of the NBA Finals | Photo: Noah Graham, Getty Images

Sebastien de la Cruz has a powerful voice.

The 11-year-old won national attention through his appearance on NBC's America's Got Talent last season, and now has even more thanks to his performances of the National Anthem during the NBA Finals. 

The San Antonio, Texas native was actually not scheduled to sing the Anthem but was called to do it for Game 3 at the last minute when Darius Rucker couldn't get to the game on time. He was called back to perform it again for Game 4.

But no one knew of the social media firestorm that would ensue.

After his first performance, many took to Twitter and other social networks with racially charged comments, trying their best to ruin his amazing performance. 

One example - of many - being a tweet saying "9 out of 10 chance that kid singing national anthem is illegal." I saw a comment on a YouTube video from FOX San Antonio basically saying that "Mexicans should be shot in the street like the dogs they are."

Really people?

The fact of the matter is Sebastien is a born and raised American. His father has served in the U.S. Navy. Although I'm not surprised, it still pisses me off at how the American people are still so racist.  

It boggles my mind that most of these people are probably much older than de la Cruz but resort to pick on him all because of the way he looks and his name. 

If you think racism isn't a problem in our country you're dead wrong. It's a shame that something as simple as singing our country's National Anthem can spark such vile, contemptible nonsense.

I've always believed that racist bigots such as the people who started this are un-American.

Shut up and grow up!

Here is Sebastien's amazing, heartfelt and 100 percent American rendition of our National Anthem.