James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) was a Renaissance figure in African American arts and letters. Poet, lyricist, educator, and civil rights activist, Johnson composed the lyrics to "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in 1899 as a poem celebrating Black resilience and aspiration. His brother, J. Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954), was a classically trained composer and performer who set the text to music, creating what would become known as the "Black National Anthem."
The Johnson brothers understood the power of music as a vehicle for dignity and collective identity. Together, they created a composition that has endured for over a century, performed in concert halls, churches, schools, and protest marches. Their collaboration produced a work that functions simultaneously as spiritual anthem, patriotic statement, and educational touchstone in American musical life.
