who wrote the song lift every voice and sing
The song "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900. Johnson was an American author, educator, lawyer, diplomat, and civil rights activist.
Why did the author write the song?
How did the songs’ popularity spread?
Who endorsed the song?
What NAACP stand for? When did this organization make Lift every voice their official song?
What do you think the theme of Lift every voice is?
What 3 lines in the song stand out to you and why?
1. James Weldon Johnson wrote the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as a poem to be performed by 500 students in celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday on February 12, 1900. The song was later set to music by Johnson's brother, John Rosamond Johnson. The lyrics resonate with themes of perseverance, unity, and hope for a better future, reflecting the African American experience in America.
2. The song's popularity spread through the African American community and became known as the "Negro National Anthem." It was sung at meetings of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), churches, and school events, and it became an anthem for the civil rights movement.
3. The NAACP, an African American civil rights organization founded in 1909, endorsed "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as its official song in 1919. The NAACP stands for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and its mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all people.
4. The themes of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" include resilience, unity, faith, and the pursuit of equality and justice. The song serves as a call to action for the African American community to rise up, overcome adversity, and strive for a better future.
5. Three lines in the song that stand out are:
- "Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us"Suggests the importance of persevering and having faith in the face of adversity.
- "Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us"Reflects on the progress and hope for a better future.
- "Facing the rising sun of our new day begun"Symbolizes a new beginning and a fresh start towards a brighter future.