The Origins of "Lift Every Voice and Sing": A Brief History

Lift Every Voice and Sing, originally written as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, has become the US black national anthem and a symbol of hope for marginalized people around the world. Written in 1900 by scholar and poet James Weldon Johnson, the song speaks to the enduring faith and resilience of black Americans against racial oppression in the United States. The song has been covered and remixed by various artists and was recently sung at the Super Bowl by Sheryl Lee Ralph. Its message endures and will continue to live on for as long as we sing.