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Alternate Title:
Black National Anthem
First Line:
Lift every voice and sing, til earth and heaven ring
Artist & Tune
Composed by:
Version by Aretha Franklin
Performed by:
Version by Tuskegee University Golden Voice Choir
Performed by:
Version by Stanford Talisman
Performed by:
Version by Howard Gospel Choir
Performed by:
Version by Committed
Performed by:
Version by Ray Charles
Performed by:
Version by Beyonce
Performed by:
Version by Alicia Keys
Performed by:
Version by DC Labor Chorus
Performed by:
About the Song
This song was originally a poem written by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) in 1900 and put to music by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson (1873–1954) in 1905 for a celebration of Lincoln's birthday. In 1919 the NAACP designated it as the "Negro National Anthem".