Lift every voice and sing

James Weldon Johnson stood before a crowd of children, his heart pounding with pride.

It was 1900, and he had written a poem to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

His brother, J. Rosamond Johnson, set it to music, and together, they taught it to the students of Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida.

As the children’s voices soared, singing Lift Every Voice and Sing, the words took on a life of their own.

The hymn spoke of struggle, hope, and faith of a people who had endured and would endure still.

The song spread, carried by voices in churches, schools, and gatherings.

It became a prayer, a protest, a promise. Decades later, the NAACP declared it the Black National Anthem, recognizing how it had united and inspired generations.

And so, what began as a simple school performance became an anthem of resilience, echoing through history, lifting every voice.