This hymn, Lift every voice and sing has been called the "Black National Anthem" because it is successful in celebrating how far the African Americans have come from their days of slavery and it also acknowledges the fact that they still have a long way to go in their journey towards freedom. This paper focuses on the song, Lift every voice and sing and how it holds great significance to African American identity and belonging in the United States drawing onto the ideas of Double Consciousness presented by W.E. DuBois along with ideas presented by Shana Redmond and Bond and Wilson along with references
In looking at "Lift Every Voice," one can see evidence of W. E. B. DuBois’ idea about double consciousness, which has affected how many African …show more content…
The questions coming to mind are, was he a fool? Was he unaware of the deteriorating political difficulty of his fellow African Americans and the mob violence? Two words: Unquenchable optimism. To him the glass of human progress was always half full, not half empty and he wanted the entire African American community to realize and preach that. (Bond and Wilson 2001). He said, “On the one hand, the lyrics reveal how African Americans were estranged from their cultural past by the impact of racial oppression and that they manifested the psychological and physical scars inflicted by that injustice. On the other hand, the song is irrefutably one of the most stalwart and inspiring symbols in American civil rights history.” (Bond and Wilson 2001) His confidence in his race is easily personified in the song. They wanted people to live the song.
In technical terms, the song has simple melodic lines and strong chord accompaniment that mimic the reliance on oral tradition in black music. The song was actually written in 6/8 however it is performed in 12/8 in accordance with black gospel tradition. Melodic emphasis lands on the word voice and sing following long notes and the whole song follows the same rhythm with moments of unison. The Johnson brothers end the piece with a dramatic, prolonged chord placing victory and harmony at the
In looking at "Lift Every Voice," one can see evidence of W. E. B. DuBois’ idea about double consciousness, which has affected how many African …show more content…
The questions coming to mind are, was he a fool? Was he unaware of the deteriorating political difficulty of his fellow African Americans and the mob violence? Two words: Unquenchable optimism. To him the glass of human progress was always half full, not half empty and he wanted the entire African American community to realize and preach that. (Bond and Wilson 2001). He said, “On the one hand, the lyrics reveal how African Americans were estranged from their cultural past by the impact of racial oppression and that they manifested the psychological and physical scars inflicted by that injustice. On the other hand, the song is irrefutably one of the most stalwart and inspiring symbols in American civil rights history.” (Bond and Wilson 2001) His confidence in his race is easily personified in the song. They wanted people to live the song.
In technical terms, the song has simple melodic lines and strong chord accompaniment that mimic the reliance on oral tradition in black music. The song was actually written in 6/8 however it is performed in 12/8 in accordance with black gospel tradition. Melodic emphasis lands on the word voice and sing following long notes and the whole song follows the same rhythm with moments of unison. The Johnson brothers end the piece with a dramatic, prolonged chord placing victory and harmony at the