"Lift Every Voice and Sing"is a hymn with lyrics byJames Weldon Johnson(1871–1938) and set to music by his brother,J. Rosamond Johnson(1873–1954). Written from the context ofAfrican Americansin the late 19th century, the hymn is a prayer of thanksgiving to God as well as a prayer for faithfulness and freedom, with imagery that evokes the biblicalExodusfrom slavery to the freedom of the "promised land."
 Sheet music of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" | |
| Also known as | Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing |
|---|---|
| Lyrics | James Weldon Johnson,1900 |
| Music | J. Rosamond Johnson,1900 |
| Audio sample | |
"Lift Every Voice and Sing" performed by theUnited States Navy Band,2021 | |
Premiered in 1900, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was communally sung within Black American communities, while theNAACPbegan to promote the hymn as a "Negronational anthem"in 1917 (with the term"Black national anthem"similarly used in the present day). It has been featured in 42 different Christian hymnals,[1]and it has also been performed by various African American singers and musicians. Its prominence has increased since 2020 following theGeorge Floyd protests;in 2021, thenHouse Majority WhipJim Clyburnsponsored a bill proposing that "Lift Every Voice and Sing" be designated as the "national hymn" of the United States.[2]
History
editJames Weldon Johnson, Principal of the Edwin M. Stanton School inJacksonville, Florida,had sought to write a poem in commemoration ofAbraham Lincoln's birthday. However, amid the ongoingcivil rights movement,Johnson decided to write a poem which was themed around the struggles ofAfrican Americansfollowing the Reconstruction era(including the passage ofJim Crow lawsin theSouth). "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was first recited by a group of 500 students in 1900. His brotherJ. Rosamond Johnsonwould later set the poem to music.[3][4][5]
After theGreat Fire of 1901,the Johnsons moved to New York City to pursue a career onBroadway.In the years that followed, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was sung within Black communities; Johnson wrote that "the school children of Jacksonville kept singing it; they went off to other schools and sang it; they became teachers and taught it to other children. Within twenty years it was being sung over the South and in some other parts of the country."[3][6]
Recognition
editAsculpturebyAugusta Savagenamed after the song was exhibited at the1939 New York World's Fair,taking the form of a choir of children shaped into aharp.Savage was the only Black woman commissioned for the Fair, and the sculpture (which was retitled "The Harp" by organizers) was also sold as miniature replicas and on postcards during the event. Like other temporary installations, the sculpture was destroyed at the close of the fair.[7][8][9]
As the "Black national anthem"
editIn 1919, theNational Association for the Advancement of Colored People(NAACP) dubbed "Lift Every Voice and Sing" the "Negro national anthem", for its power in voicing a cry for liberation and affirmation for African American people.[5]James Weldon Johnson would be appointed to serve as the NAACP's first executive secretary the following year.[6]It has similarly been referred to as "the Black national anthem".[10][11]
The use of the term "the Black national anthem" in reference to "Lift Every Voice and Sing" has been criticized. Timothy Askew, an associate professor at thehistorically BlackClark Atlanta University,argued that the use of the term "Black national anthem" could incorrectly implicate a desire ofseparatismby Black communities, that the lyrics of the hymn do not overtly refer to any specificrace(which has inspired people to perform it outside African American communities), and "identity should be developed by the individual himself, not by a group of people who think they know what is best for you."[12]SomeConservativecommentators have similarly criticized performances and references to "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as the "Black national anthem" as separatist and diminishing to "The Star-Spangled Banner"as the national anthem of the United States.[13][14]
In response to Askew's remarks, the NAACP's then-senior vice president of advocacy and policy Hilary O. Shelton toldCNNthat the hymn "was adopted and welcomed by a very interracial group, and it speaks of hope in being full first-class citizens in our society", used in conjunction with the U.S. national anthem or thePledge of Allegianceduring public events, "It is evident in our actions as an organization and here in America it is evidence that we are about inclusion, not exclusion. To claim that we as African-Americans want to form a confederation or separate ourselves fromwhite peoplebecause of one song is baffling to me. "[12]
In January 2021, Representative and then-House Majority WhipJim Clyburnsponsored HR 301, a bill that proposed that "Lift Every Voice and Sing" be designated as the national hymn of the United States. Other songs have been proposed to become the national hymn of the United States in the past, and "The Star-Spangled Banner"would have remained the national anthem.[15][16][17][18]
Notable references and performances
editIn 1923, the male gospel group Manhattan Harmony Four recorded the hymn as "Lift Every Voice and Sing (National Negro Anthem)". It was added to theNational Recording Registryin 2016.[19]
InMaya Angelou's 1969autobiography,I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,the hymn is sung by the audience and students at Maya's eighth-grade graduation ceremony, after a white school official dashes the educational aspirations of her classmates.[20]
In 1972,Kim Westonsang the hymn as the opening number for theWattstaxFestival at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. This performance was included in the filmWattstaxwhich was produced by Wolper Films. The musical direction and recording were both overseen byStax RecordsengineerTerry Manning.[citation needed]
In 1975,James Brownquoted a lyric from the hymn as part of his performance of the U.S.national anthembefore theMuhammad Ali vs. Chuck Wepnerboxing match.[6]
In 1990, singerMelba Moorereleased a modern rendition of the hymn, which she recorded with the assistance of other singers, including R&B artistsStephanie Mills,Freddie Jackson,Anita Baker,Dionne Warwick,Bobby Brown,Stevie Wonder,Jeffrey Osborne,andHoward Hewett;and gospel artistsBeBe & CeCe Winans,Take 6,andThe Clark Sisters,after which, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was entered into theCongressional Recordby Del.Walter Fauntroy(D-DC).[21]It was also added to the National Recording Registry in 2016.[19]
In 2008, jazz singerRene Mariewas asked to sing the national anthem at a civic event inDenver, Colorado,where she caused a controversy by substituting the words of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" into the song. This arrangement of the words of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" with the melody of "The Star-Spangled Banner" became part of the titular suite on her 2011 CD release,The Voice of My Beautiful Country.[22]
On January 20, 2009, the Rev.Joseph Lowery,a civil rights movement leader who co-founded and is a former president of theSouthern Christian Leadership Conference,used a near-verbatim recitation of the hymn's third stanza to begin his benediction at the inauguration ceremony forPresidentBarack Obama.[23]
Jon Batiste,former bandleader of thelate-night talk showThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert,occasionally worked "Lift Every Voice and Sing" into the music that was played by his bandStay Humanwhen the program hosted a Black guest; he stated that the hymn "connects us to the history of all the people who we stand on the shoulders of—who have marched and fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy and that we're trying to improve upon".[6]
On September 24, 2016, the hymn was sung by mezzo-sopranoDenyce Gravesand chorus at the conclusion of the opening ceremonies of theNational Museum of African American History and Culture,at which Obama delivered the keynote address.
On October 19, 2017, whenWhite supremacistleaderRichard Spencerspoke at theUniversity of Florida,music professor Laura Ellis played "Lift Every Voice and Sing" on the university'scarillonto convey a message of unity.[24]
On April 14, 2018, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was sung byBeyoncéduring herheadlining performanceat theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.[25][26]
In May 2018, theTabernacle Choirperformed "Lift Every Voice and Sing" during an edition ofMusic & the Spoken Wordattended by members of the NAACP, who were in Salt Lake City for a national leadership meeting.[27]
The song was featured as the opening and closing song ofThe Blues and Its People,asuitebyRussell Gunnfirst performed on February 18, 2023 at Harlem'sApollo Theaterto mark the 50th anniversary ofAmiri Baraka's bookBlues People: Negro Music in White America.[28]
Prominence after the George Floyd protests
editIn mid-2020, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" began to receive renewed attention amid nationwideprotestsover thepolice murder of George Floyd,which became acause célèbrefor what protesters considered brutal policing of the Black community: it was sung during demonstrations and other events which were held in solidarity.[6]Presidential candidateJoe Bidenreferenced the hymn in his action plan for addressing perceived racial disparities in the United States, which was titled "Lift Every Voice: The Biden Plan for Black America".[29][6]On June 19, 2020,Googlefeatured aJuneteenth-themedanimation on its home page,set to aspoken wordrendition of the hymn's first verse byLeVar Burton.[30]In 2021,Vanessa Williamssang "Lift Every Voice and Sing" on thePBSIndependence DayspecialA Capitol Fourth,commemorating the recognition ofJuneteenthas a federal holiday.[13]
The hymn also began to be incorporated into sporting events: duringNASCAR's2020 Pocono 350,musicians Mike Phillips and West Byrd quoted "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as part of their rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner",[6]while theNational Football Leagueannounced that "Lift Every Voice and Sing" would be played or performed as part of the pre-game ceremonies of all Week 1 games during the2020 season.[31]The decision came as part of a new social justice campaign being introduced by the NFL, stemming from the league's acknowledgements of theBlack Lives Mattermovement,[32]and its handling of playerstaking a kneeduring the singing of the national anthem in order toprotest againstracial inequalityandpolice brutality.[32]The NFL'sopening night kickoff gamefeatured a filmed performance of the hymn byAlicia Keysat theLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum,[33]which was later replayed as part of the pre-game show ofSuper Bowl LVon February 7, 2021.[34]
The NFL stated that it would again feature the hymn at Week 1 games and other "tentpole" events (including theNFL Draftand playoff games) during the2021 season.[35]Some African American fans who were interviewed byNBC Newsfelt that the NFL's decision was "pandering" that would not have a material impact on the league's pursuits of social justice.[36]
Lyrics
editLift every voice and sing,
'Til earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on 'til victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place For which our fathers died.
We have come, over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
'Til now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.[37]
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[38] Beyoncé Homecoming Live Cover |
Gold | 20,000‡ |
|
‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^"Lift Every Voice and Sing".Hymnary.org.
- ^Ryan Benk (January 22, 2023)."Rep. James Clyburn Proposes to Make 'Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing' the National Hymn".NPR.RetrievedApril 23,2023.
- ^ab"Behind the lyrics of 'Lift Every Voice and Sing'".CNN.Retrieved2022-02-06.
- ^James, Timothy (Winter 2013)."The Story of the Black National Anthem," Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing ", Written by James Weldon Johnson"(PDF).Selah.Vol. 1, no. 1. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 16 February 2015.Retrieved16 February2015.
- ^ab"Till Victory Is Won: The Staying Power Of 'Lift Every Voice And Sing'".NPR.Retrieved2022-02-06.
- ^abcdefg"A History of the 'Black National Anthem'".Time.Retrieved2022-02-05.
- ^Bearden, Romare and Henderson, Harry.A History of African-American Artists (From 1792 to the Present),pp. 168–180, Pantheon Books (Random House), 1993,ISBN0-394-57016-2
- ^"Sculptor Augusta Savage Said Her Legacy Was The Work Of Her Students".NPR.Retrieved2022-02-15.
- ^"Augusta Savage: the extraordinary story of the trailblazing artist".The Guardian.2019-05-08.Retrieved2022-02-15.
- ^Jackson, Jabar; Martin, Jill (July 3, 2020)."NFL plans to play Black national anthem before Week 1 games".CNN.Retrieved2020-07-04.
- ^Touré (November 17, 2011)."Society It's Time for a New Black National Anthem".Time.RetrievedFebruary 16,2015.
- ^ab"Professor at historically black college questions 'black national anthem'".CNN.Retrieved2022-02-06.
- ^ab"Conservatives Slam Vanessa Williams For Singing Black National Anthem During Fourth Of July Special".BIN: Black Information Network.Retrieved2022-02-06.
- ^Castronuovo, Celine (2021-09-11)."Bill Maher criticizes NFL for playing Black national anthem".The Hill.Retrieved2022-02-06.
- ^Gibson, Travis (2022-02-03)."Mayor Curry backs bill that would make 'Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing' a national hymn".WJXT.Retrieved2022-02-15.
- ^"Rep. James Clyburn Proposes To Make 'Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing' The National Hymn".NPR.Retrieved2022-02-15.
- ^Berry, Deborah Barfield."To help heal racial wounds, Black national anthem would become America's hymn under proposal".USA Today.Retrieved2022-02-15.
- ^Mathewson, Eryn; Saunders, Zoë (2021-02-11)."Why Rep. James Clyburn is pushing to make 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' the US national hymn".CNN.Retrieved2023-02-12.
- ^ab"National Recording Registry Picks Are" Over the Rainbow "".Library of Congress. March 27, 2017.RetrievedJuly 23,2020.
- ^Angelou, Maya(1969).I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.New York: Random House. pp.169–184.ISBN0-375-50789-2.
- ^Anderson, Susan Heller."Chronicle",The New York Times,April 18, 1990. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
- ^Pellegrinelli, Lara (July 3, 2009)."Poetic License Raises a Star-Spangled Debate".All Things Considered.NPR.RetrievedJanuary 15,2012.
- ^"Barack Obama Facts - 44th President of USA".Tradenjoin.Retrieved2023-03-19.
- ^Diaz, Andrea; Chavez, Nicole (October 20, 2017)."College's bell tower trolled white supremacist with black national hymn".CNN.Retrieved2017-10-20.
- ^Hudson, Tanay (April 15, 2018)."Beyoncé's Coachella Performance Had HBCU Vibes And We Are Loving It".MadameNoire.Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2021.RetrievedApril 16,2018.
- ^Schmidt, Samantha (April 16, 2018)."'Lift Every Voice and Sing': The story behind the 'black national anthem' that Beyoncé sang ".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2021.RetrievedApril 17,2018.
- ^"On this Juneteenth, watch two musical events celebrating African American history".Church News.2020-06-19.Retrieved2021-01-17.
- ^Scherstuhl, Alan (2023-02-16)."Amiri Baraka's 'Blues People' Comes Home to the Apollo".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2023-02-19.
- ^Kight, Stef W. (4 May 2020)."Biden campaign unveils" Lift Every Voice "plan for African Americans".Axios.Retrieved2022-02-06.
- ^Porter, Jon (2020-06-19)."Google Doodle celebrates the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth".The Verge.Retrieved2022-02-06.
- ^"The NFL Will Play 'Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing' Before Each Season-Opener Game".NPR. July 2, 2020.
- ^ab"NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says league was wrong for not listening to players earlier about racism".CNN. June 5, 2020.
- ^"Everything to Know About 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,' The Black Anthem Alicia Keys Performed at NFL Kick-Off".Billboard.2020-09-11.Retrieved2021-07-16.
- ^"Super Bowl: Jazmine Sullivan, Eric Church Perform National Anthem; H.E.R. Rocks" America the Beautiful "".The Hollywood Reporter.2021-02-07.Retrieved2021-04-19.
- ^"NFL says it will play Black national anthem before games again this season".The Hill.2021-07-15.Retrieved2021-07-16.
- ^"Why fans see the NFL's 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' gesture as blatant pandering".NBC News. 9 July 2020.Retrieved2022-02-06.
- ^"NAACP History: Lift Every Voice and Sing".NAACP.Retrieved7 June2020.
- ^"Brazilian single certifications – Beyoncé – Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing"(in Portuguese).Pro-Música Brasil.RetrievedJanuary 5,2023.
External links
edit- An omnibus collection of Johnson's poetryatStandard Ebooks
- Free scores by J. Rosamond Johnsonat theInternational Music Score Library Project(IMSLP) – including "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
- 'Lift Every Voice and Sing': A Celebration of the Negro National Anthemat theWayback Machine(archived March 1, 2009), edited byJulian Bondand Sondra Kathryn Wilson
- Black History Month 2003,Performance Today,NPR – includes a link to a RealPlayer version of the song
- Lynn Sweet,transcript of Rev. Lowery's Inauguration Benediction,Chicago Sun-Times
- Video of singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing"onYouTubeled by Alice Walker and Dr. Rudolph Byrd at Emory University
- Video of Alicia Keys singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing"onYouTube