January 18: Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing

By Magdalena I. García

The second book I picked to celebrate Martin Luther King Day with my son M. is Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing, written by James Weldon Johnson and illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. Many church-going people of my generation know—and even sing—this tune, which is considered the African-American National Anthem. It is a moving testimonial to the struggles and achievements of African-Americans.

Last summer I included this song—which believe it or not is in The Presbyterian Hymnal—as part of the 4th of July weekend worship. I had hoped that one of our members, who has a stunning tenor voice, would be able to sing it. But it turned out he did not know the tune, so instead he offered to sing “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies.” Not exactly what I had in mind to close the sermon.

I was shocked. How could a child who was born and raised in the Chicago Public School system not know this tune? How could a young adult who studied music under a Hispanic maestro not have been exposed to this music? Why were Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart part of the curriculum, but not J. Rosamond Johnson (James’ brother who set to music this beautiful poem)?

But it gets worse. The really sad part of the story is that my own son—who is 20 years younger than the church tenor, and who is also being raised in the Chicago Public School system—would not recognize this tune unless I had introduced him to it! So I guess that those of us who want our children and youth to get a fuller, more accurate picture of the history of this country—and the world—have our work cut out for us. We must dare “lift ev’ry voice and sing ‘til earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of Liberty...”