"Lift Every Voice and Sing," often referred to as the Black national anthem, was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 as a poem. Johnson, a prominent Black writer, educator, and civil rights activist, wrote the poem to celebrate the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. His brother, John Rosamond Johnson, set the words to music, and it was first performed by a choir of 500 schoolchildren in Jacksonville, Florida.

The song quickly became popular within the Black community and was adopted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as a rallying cry for civil rights and Black empowerment. Over the years, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" has been sung at major events such as the NAACP annual convention and was designated as the Black national anthem by the NAACP in 1919.

The song's powerful lyrics reflect the struggles and triumphs of Black Americans and serve as a reminder of the resilience and perseverance of the Black community in the face of adversity. It remains an important cultural symbol in Black history and continues to be sung at a variety of events and gatherings to honor the legacy of the Black experience in America.