Black History Month

Today marks the first day of what has become known as Black History Month in the U.S. Now I usually don’t celebrate this month in anyway. I remember being in school and teachers focusing on the history of my ancestors during this month but said very little during the rest of the year. I find it odd that we can only celebrate the achievements and history of African Americans during one month…but it’s also very sad that no other subculture in America gets any real recognition of their contributions to our society except for on Cinco de Mayo and perhaps St. Patrick’s Day. I feel Black history, as well as every other race, culture, etc. is American history, because without it, our country wouldn’t be where it is today.

This year I’ve decided that I want to use this month to educate others on the subject. My goal is to post as much information as I can this month about the history, etc of African Americans. Starting out, here’s a song that I grew up learning. I think I know this song better than the National Anthem. I can’t remember who, but someone bought me the book with the lyrics and I’ve always cherished it. And I can bet there are view people outside the Black community that know this song even exist.

LIFT EV'RY VOICE AND SING

also known as

"The Black National Anthem"

by James Weldon Johnson

Lift ev'ry voice and sing,

Till earth and heaven ring.

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;

Let our rejoicing rise,

High as the list'ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

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;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on till victory is won.


Stony the road we trod,

Bitter the chast'ning rod,

Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

Yet with a steady beat,

Have not our weary feet,

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,

We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

Out from the gloomy past,

Till now we stand at last

Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.


God of our weary years,

God of our silent tears,

Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who has by Thy might,

Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet, stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,

Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee,

Shadowed beneath thy hand,

May we forever stand,

True to our God,

True to our native land.