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May We Forever Stand
- A History of the Black National Anthem (The John Hope Franklin Series in African American History and Culture)
- Narrated by: Keyonni James
- Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins
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May We Forever Stand
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Publisher's Summary
The twin acts of singing and fighting for freedom have been inseparable in African American history. May We Forever Stand tells an essential part of that story. With lyrics penned by James Weldon Johnson and music composed by his brother Rosamond, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was embraced almost immediately as an anthem that captured the story and the aspirations of black Americans. Since the song's creation, it has been adopted by the NAACP and performed by countless artists in times of both crisis and celebration, cementing its place in African American life up through the present day.
In this rich, poignant, and enjoyable work, Imani Perry tells the story of the Black National Anthem as it traveled from South to North, from civil rights to black power, and from countless family reunions to Carnegie Hall and the Oval Office. Drawing on a wide array of sources, Perry uses "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as a window on the powerful ways African Americans have used music and culture to organize, mourn, challenge, and celebrate for more than a century.
What the critics say
"Perry provides exegesis and exhortation in explaining how a song captured a culture, and in turn became a cultural captive held fast by emotional ties of a diverse people; hers is a work for adolescents and academics, indeed for any readers interested in at least glimpsing a sense of a pulsing, resilient black consciousness. Highly recommended."—Library Journal, starred review
"Through extensive research and eloquent writing, Perry . . . expertly sifts through the layers of black civic, social and cultural history that are inextricably linked to 'Lift Every Voice and Sing.'"—San Francisco Chronicle
"Excellently researched and sourced."—Michigan Historical Review