The Black National Anthem is the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing." It was originally written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 and set to music by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson
. 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
. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" eloquently captures the struggles and hopes of Black Americans, especially in the context of the post-Reconstruction era and the ongoing fight for civil rights. It was adopted by the NAACP as the "Negro National Anthem" in 1919 and became a powerful rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s
. The song remains a significant cultural and historical symbol within Black communities, often performed at historically Black colleges, churches, and important events, including recent high-profile performances such as at the Super Bowl
. In summary, the Black National Anthem is:
- Title: "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
- Written by: James Weldon Johnson (lyrics, 1900)
- Music by: John Rosamond Johnson
- First performed: 1900 by schoolchildren in Jacksonville, Florida
- Adopted by NAACP as Black National Anthem: 1919
- Significance: A hymn of faith, hope, and resilience in the face of racial injustice and a symbol of Black American history and civil rights
