Historical Facts about the song,
“Lift Every Voice and Sing”
These words were performed first as a
poem which was part of the celebration of
Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February
12, 1900, by 500 school children in the segregated Stanton School. James Weldon
Johnson wrote the words to introduce
Booker T. Washington, the honored guest.
The poem was later set to music by Johnson’s brother, John.
Some years later the song was declared to be the African American
National Anthem because of its power in voicing the cry for liberation and affirmation of the African American people.
Highlights of Collections
found at the NMAAHC
The Brazos Valley African
American Museum….. presents
African American
National Heritage
Society
Lift Your Voice and the
Dedication and Grand
Opening Viewing of the
National Museum of African American
History and Culture, the newest Smithsonian
Museum in Washington D.C.
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Harriet Tubman collection, including her hymnal, lace shawl given her
by Queen Victoria, and photographs of her funeral
Jim Crow railroad car
Chuck Berry’s red Cadillac
Black fashion collection ( over 1000 items)
Tuskegee Airmen Trainer Plane
Works of art by Charles Alston, Jacob Lawrence, Lorna Simpson,
Romare Bearden, and others
Slave cabin from Edisto Island, S.C. (1800-1850)
Sports Gallery shows contributions of athletes on and off the field
Marian Anderson’s outfit from her 1939 concert at the Lincoln
Memorial
Saturday, September 24, 2016
8:45 a.m.
at the
Brazos Valley African American Museum
500 East Pruitt St., Bryan, TX * 979-775-3961
Event Schedule
Saturday, September 24, 2016
8:45 am
Remarks by Museum Staff,
Continental breakfast
9:00—10:00 am
Viewing of the dedication of the
National Museum of American
History and Culture in Washington,
D.C.
Participate in a musical celebration
of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,”
The Negro National Anthem
10:00—10:30 am
10:30—11:00 am
Small groups listen to storytellers
share stories that were written by or
about notable African Americans
11:15—11:30 am
Introduction to the new BVAAM
Family Library: A collection of
books for K-12 students which
focuses on African American
history and culture.
Throughout the morning, you may view exhibits which
demonstrate some of the items on display at the National
Museum in Washington, D.C., as well as exhibits in our
Museum that celebrate the contributions of African Americans in the Brazos Valley. A book display of some African American authors born in September gives a preview
of potential books for the new BVAAM Family Library.
Donations of new or gently used books for this library are
greatly appreciated.
A voter registration table will be provided by a BVAAM
Board Member.
The Negro National Anthem
By James Weldon Johnson
Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening 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 chastening 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 have 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.