New Harmonies of Liberty
02-01-2022
Known as the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” captures the persistent stride toward freedom and equality for America’s black citizens. Leading Change asked several alumni to reflect on the words of the song, written by brothers, J. Rosamond Johnson and James Weldon Johnson, and share its meaning and hope for today.
Listen to “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” here.
"Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," penned over a century ago, represents the hopes and aspirations of Americans who at the time were called Negroes, and the song became unofficially known as the Negro National Anthem. It remains a stirring testament to hope in the face of persistent racism.
As a counterpoint to "Lift Ev'ry Voice," in 1915 the movie, "Birth of a Nation," became the most popular movie of its day. It was a racist screed devoted to the Ku Klux Klan. The KKK is still recruiting white supremacists today, and many of them call themselves Christians. The fight against racism is not yet over.
"Lift Ev'ry Voice" proclaims the dark past does not have the final word. As death did not have the last word with Jesus, neither does racism have the last word today. The Poor People's Campaign, led by Rev. Dr. William Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, now speaks out against a system which exploits the poor of every color, marginalizes women, children, LGBTQ persons, and immigrants. This is faith in action. Let us march on till victory is won.
Rev. Jeffrey Courter, M.Div.’14,
The stanzas to this anthem remind me that we are all constantly engaged in a spiritual fight against evil powers. My heart goes to a deep place when listening to the well-known words. The lyrics take me to a past that causes me to center my black female body chained, naked in the slave ship. I envision a female on her back, facing the rising sun – yet with ‘eyes watching God.’ Silent tears. Who would hear? Who would care? I think of her womanhood devalued, yet she has incarnate in her survival strategies with help of her God - Nyame, Olodumare - maybe Jesus. I reflect on the faith, and unity in the struggle to survive with a covenant from a God who brought us a mighty long way. So, with resilience we proclaim her pain – was not in vain. We see your tears. We claim your pain.
Rev. Dr. Anita Crittenden, M.Div.’01, D.Min.’20
Reflecting on “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” I think of confidence in God and how our ancestors suffered and persevered through the “dark past” of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade, slavery, Jim Crow, racism, and injustice. Yet in the midst of this darkness, they relied on faith to bring hope for a better day. The hope of my ancestors encourages me to pray for freedom for all of God’s children. The hope that victory will be won when prisoners are set free. The hope that people will be released from being illegally forced to live in cages. The hope that frees us from discrimination and allows access to affordable housing, medical care, and jobs. It is this hope that reminds us of God’s grace, and which leads us to victory. “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase,” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Donna Hammond
Certificate in Black Church Studies’19, M.Div. student
A ‘song’ doesn’t have to have words and a ‘march’ can be a crawl. I’ve wrestled for words in the last couple years amid the challenging crucible in our country as well as significant personal upheaval. Here, this profound, melodic cry of endurance and hope reminds me I can – and am called – to keep singing. Even if my song’s a wordless hum…or a groan on hands and knees…or a long, hope-filled sigh. My favorite book of Scripture has long been the Psalms, and I’m challenged by one of its most repeated calls – to sing.
I love heading out on an early morning run to Lake Michigan at sunrise. Seeing the “rising sun,” regularly re-centers me in God’s enduring, unshakeable faithfulness, with new and sustaining mercies promised after whatever darkness the night before held. I fix my eyes on the sun, the Son, and I sing. An exhale of trust. A breath of release. A promise to keep going for one more day. This is my song.
Rev. Arianne Lehn, M.Div.’11
I don't know about you, but some days the song in my heart gets choked up by the hardship of living in the sustained stress and pain of a pandemic, but still, I hope you would sing. I hope you would sing like the psalmists who weren't afraid to bring their big feelings before God, to rant and rave and rage and somehow remain hopeful. I hope you would sing because the Spirit understands even the gargled groans we call lyrics, and what's more, Spirit prays for us. Most importantly, I hope you would sing as a sign that we are not alone. Every day, I am inspired by the ways in which the Beloved Community continues to fight for justice, to shine God's light on all creation, to march on to victory. This song, like the heart song of all believers, sounds most heavenly when sung together.
Adriana Rivera, M.Div.’21
Rev. Jeffery Couter
Rev. Dr. Anita Crittenden
Donna Hammond
Rev. Arianne Lehn
Adriana Rivera