James Weldon Johnson and his brother J. Rosamond Johnson set to music the poem that becomes 'Lift Every Voice and Sing.'
At a Glance
- Date
- 6 November 1901
- Location
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Key people
- James Weldon Johnson, J. Rosamond Johnson
- Category
- Arts & Literature
- Source
- Historical accounts (1900-1901) · Library of Congress
What It Meant Then
First sung by schoolchildren, it was embraced by the NAACP as the Black national anthem.
What It Means Now
The hymn remains a powerful expression of Black faith, struggle, and hope.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “'Lift Every Voice and Sing' Is Composed.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/lift-every-voice-and-sing-is-composed/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' Is Composed. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/lift-every-voice-and-sing-is-composed/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “'Lift Every Voice and Sing' Is Composed.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/lift-every-voice-and-sing-is-composed/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.