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A26 U.S. NEWS
Monday 6 July 2020

'Lift Every Voice and Sing' hymn ignites hope across nation

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. ery Voice" plan, which is a
AP Entertainment Writer reference to the song. The
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The plan proposes to address
Black national anthem was issues in the Black com-
born more than a century munity, including "systemic
ago, but the popular hymn misconduct" in police de-
within the African Ameri- partments and prosecutors'
can community called "Lift offices.
Every Voice and Sing" has The Rev. Markel Hutchins
resurrected a beacon of said Biden's reference to
hope during nationwide the song and hearing white
protests. Americans singing the lyr-
In recent weeks, countless ics has given him "hope
rallies were held from D.C. and confidence, although
to Seattle with arm-locked we're in a dark place as a
protesters of different rac- nation today."
es reciting the song's lyr- "There's new inspiration and
ics while marching against motivation in America to-
police brutality of unarmed day for people of every
Black people. The dem- walk of life, every race, ev-
onstrations throughout ery culture and every orien-
the U.S. were ignited after tation," he said.
George Floyd, who died Some NBA and collegiate
after a Minneapolis police teams played the song at
officer pressed a knee into In this June 19, 2020, photo, people attend a peaceful rally in Chicago to mark Juneteenth. games during Black History
his neck for several minutes. Associated Press Month years ago, thanks
Some marches were to Eugene Williams. The re-
peaceful, while others in 1919. The decision came to the plaza where John F. known third stanza. tired Howard University pro-
turned violent. But one more than a decade be- Kennedy was shot in 1963 "It's much more applicable fessor lobbied for teams to
common thread at protests fore "The Star-Spangled to march before collective- to the United States as we play the song in February.
were people chanting the Banner" was adopted as ly taking a moment to sing would love it to be more Williams wants the song to
anthem's long-lasting mes- the national anthem of the the song. Protesters sang than 'The Star-Spangled be played in all U.S. sport-
sage of faithfulness, free- U.S. the song last month at the Banner,'" Young said of the ing venues, but Young
dom and equality. During the civil rights move- historic Lincoln Memorial in Black anthem. and Hutchins are unsure if
"I saw whites singing that ment, the song was popular Washington, D.C. The same Along with the protest, the that should be the case.
song saying 'No justice, no during protests with the likes happened in Los Angeles, staying power of "Lift Every Hutchins thinks the song
peace' and ''Black Lives of "We Shall Overcome" Chicago, Baltimore and Voice and Sing" into broad- should be sung with pride
Matter.' It's something I and "Amazing Grace." The Minneapolis. er audiences can also be and not taken lightly.
didn't see early in my ca- latter was written by former "The song is a refreshment credited to the biggest en- "I think the song is just too
reer or even 15 years ago," slave trader John Newton, and renewal of my faith," tertainers and political fig- sacred to be reduced to
recalled the Rev. Al Sharp- but the song helped define said Young, the civil rights ures who have referenced what 'The Star-Spangled
ton, referring to protesters racial equality. leader and former Atlanta it. Banner' is," he said. "The
in Minneapolis in the after- Sharpton said the ability of mayor and U.S. ambassa- Beyoncé performed the 'Star-Spangled Banner' is
math of Floyd's death. "You " Lift Every Voice and Sing dor to the United Nations. song in front of a mostly patriotic and inherently
got to see people other " enduring several genera- He said the singing of the white audience at the and uniquely American. It
than us appreciating our tions speaks volumes. song at protests shows how Coachella Valley Music represents the complexities
song, our anthem. This is just "The fact that this song "desegregation of America & Arts Festival in 2018. The of America. But 'Lift Every
not a moment. This is a real could survive us going from is really the integration of late Rev. Joseph Lowery Voice and Sing' is much
movement." the back of the bus and cultures, ideals, energies began his benediction re- more sacred on my view
Growing up, Sharpton said the outhouse to the Tru- and spirituality." citing the song's third verse and should be handled as
he learned self-identity man Balcony at the White Young has known the at the inauguration for such."
through the anthem, which House, it shows that this song's lyrics since kinder- President Barack Obama Sharpton confidently said
was written as a poem by song really resonates in our garten and even recited in 2009; and musicians Mike the song should be per-
James Weldon Johnson hearts," he said. "Very few every word during a recent Phillips and West Byrd sprin- formed at big venues for
before his brother, J. Rosa- songs would last through interview. He believes the kled in snippets of the song sporting events and be-
mond, turned it into music. those kinds of changes in Black anthem is a more while playing the national yond.
The song was performed Black America. That's why "powerful and patriotic" anthem at NASCAR's 2020 "It should because it rec-
for the first time in 1900, not it's a great barometer to song than America's na- Pocono 350 on Sunday. ognizes the heritage and
long after it was written. the cultural shift." tional anthem, which was The NFL will play "Lift Every the true authentic America
The NAACP dubbed "Lift Protesters are certainly written by a slave owner Voice and Sing" before struggle," he said. "There's
Every Voice and Sing" as making the song heard. In who made a painful refer- each game during Week always been the contro-
the Black national anthem Dallas, hundreds flocked ence to slavery in its little- 1, a person familiar with the versy about race being in-
discussions told The Associ- volved in the national an-
ated Press. It'll be played them.
first when the Super Bowl Here's an authentic anthem
champion Kansas City coming out of the Ameri-
Chiefs host the Houston can experience that does
Texans to kick off the NFL not denigrate the country,
regular season on Sept. 10. but also uplifts the struggle
Last month, Democratic and affirmation of people
presidential hopeful Joe that have been part of this
Biden released the "Lift Ev- country."q