2026 NBG Booklet
The Significance of the Black National Anthem
More than a hymn, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a call to unity and survival-a sacred thread in the story of Black America. Written in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson and set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson, the song debuted in Jacksonville, Florida, sung by 500 Black schoolchildren. Its verses, steeped in hope and hardship, quickly became an anthem for generations. Adopted by the NAACP and echoed through the Civil Rights Movement, it gave voice to those denied liberty and uplifted spirits when freedom felt far away.
Today, its words still call us to rise to remember our pain, but never forget our power.
And just as the song speaks to our legacy, so does the raised fist-a bold symbol of Black resistance and resilience. From the Black Power movement to the frontlines of today's protests, the fist is more than a gesture. It is a declaration: We are here. We are strong. And we will not be silenced.
Together, the anthem and the fist remind us that Blackness is not just to be endured-it is to be celebrated, protected, and lifted. As our graduates walk across the stage, may they carry this anthem not just in voice, but in spirit-and continue to rise with the strength of all who came before them.
SAN BERNARDINO NAACP: https://www.sanbernardinonaacp.org/ RIVERSIDE NAACP: http://naacp-riverside.org/
LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING
Lift every voice and sing Till earth and heaven ring
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 till victory is won