let every voice sing

"Let every voice sing" is part of the famous hymn and poem titled "Lift Every Voice and Sing," often referred to as the Black National Anthem. It was written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson in 1900, with the music composed by his brother John Rosamond Johnson. The lyrics call for voices to sing with faith, hope, and a call to march on toward victory, celebrating freedom and liberty with a hopeful and determined spirit. The opening lines include: "Lift 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." The hymn carries deep historical and cultural significance for African Americans, originally performed by schoolchildren in a segregated school to mark President Abraham Lincoln's birthday. It has since become an enduring anthem reflecting struggle, perseverance, and hope for justice and equality.