"Lyons delivers the history of a song that has inspired generations of
African-Americans to persist and resist in the face of racism and
systemic oppression. . . . A heartfelt history of a historic anthem."
--Publishers Weekly
Now in paperback.
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.
In Jacksonville, Florida, two brothers, one of them the principal of a
segregated, all-black school, wrote the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
so his students could sing it for a tribute to Abraham Lincoln's
birthday in 1900. From that moment on, the song has provided inspiration
and solace for generations of Black families. Mothers and fathers passed
it on to their children who sang it to their children and grandchildren.
Known as the Black National Anthem, it has been sung during major
moments of the Civil Rights Movement and at family gatherings and
college graduations.
Inspired by this song's enduring significance, Kelly Starling Lyons and
Keith Mallett tell a story about the generations of families who gained
hope and strength from the song's inspiring words.
--A CCBC Choice
--A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
--An ALSC Notable Children's Book