"Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a hymn originally written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson in 1900, with music composed by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson. It is often referred to as the "Black National Anthem" due to its profound significance in African American history and culture

. The song was first publicly performed by a choir of 500 schoolchildren at the Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida, to celebrate President Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Its lyrics express a prayer of thanksgiving, faithfulness, and freedom, reflecting the struggles and hopes of African Americans at the turn of the 20th century, particularly in the context of segregation, racial violence, and the ongoing fight for civil rights

. The hymn has been adopted by the NAACP and served as a rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Its themes include perseverance through hardship, faith in divine guidance, and a commitment to justice and liberty. The song continues to be an emblem of African American resilience and aspiration, gaining renewed prominence in recent years during social justice movements

. Here is an excerpt from the lyrics that captures its spirit:

Lift every voice and sing,
'Til earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list'ning 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

In summary, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a powerful hymn symbolizing the African American journey from slavery and oppression toward freedom and equality, serving both as a spiritual anthem and a call to action