Lift Every Voice and Sing -- A Hymn for Martin Luther King Weekend

Tomorrow is the official observance of  Martin Luther King Day. I will be offering a review of a new book by Lewis Baldwin Tuesday titled The Arc of Truth: The Thinking of Martin Luther King Jr.  So as to surround tomorrow's observance, I share this version of James Weldon Johnson's profound hymn "Lift Every Voice," which is known as the Black National Anthem. Even as we witness the growing pushback against diversity and equity in our country in the name of anti-wokeism (otherwise known as white grievance), it is worth highlighting King's witness and this powerful hymn.

In the spirit of this hymn, let us stand for justice for all, especially those who have been pushed to the side during our nation's history. 

 

 Lift every 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 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 day that hope 

Unborn had died; 

Yet with a steady beat, 

Have not our weary feet, 

Come to the Place on 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 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, 

Least our hearts,

drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee, 

 Shadowed beneath the Hand, 

May we forever stand, 

True to our God, True to our native land.

James Weldon Johnson