What's in a song?

The Superbowl has offered?its fair share of controversy over the years, like the time Motown artist Marvin Gaye, sang a soul-stirring rendition of the National Anthem?that had some women “clutching their pearls”. The recent Superbowl was no different and it has social media abuzz about the singing of?“Lift Every Voice and Sing”, also known as the Negro National Anthem, which has a rich and powerful history that is often overlooked in mainstream society.

It is disheartening to hear people of all backgrounds talk with disdain about this song being sung prior to the “Star Spangled Banner” at the Superbowl. “It was divisive,” said some folks, while others remarked, “I never knew such a song existed”. To me, slaveholder and composer Francis Scott Key, was divisive when he created the “Star Spangled Banner as “a patriotic musical composition” set to the tune of the British drinking song “Anacreon in Heaven”, and whose lyrics did nothing to make my ancestors feel included in its stanzas, except to disparage victims of enslavement.???

Growing up in the United States, I recall it being sung at nearly every gathering of Black folks in my community. I must admit, as a child I found it long and uninteresting because, like many, I dismissed its significance. But the rendition of this song at the Superbowl, by Tony Award performer Sheryl Lee Ralph, deeply touched my soul.?

For me, the lyrics written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson, are a particularly poignant testament to the struggle and resilience of Black Americans who endured centuries of lynching, displacement, racism, and discrimination. “We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered. Till now we stand at last”. Powerful words for those of us who share this collective history and are on the heels of continued injustices.?

"We are all downwind from history."

I recently heard a professor with expertise on the applied history of the American Revolution say, “We are all downwind from history”. We can choose to use the cowardly path of intentional ignorance or choose to understand the intersectionality of Black history in the United States as a marker for continued social injustice, including systemic racism. If you don’t see why there was a need for Black folks in the United States to create a song to build up agency in this country, then lean into thinking more critically about the difference between awareness and division.??

The embedded spirit of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” enabled Black folks to march and toil towards equality and inclusion in a country that saw us as less than human. It was our own tenacity and the decency of allies that created opportunities for us to make countless contributions to society, from the arts to technology. Just think of the impact of Black musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Aretha Franklin. Or consider the groundbreaking work of Black inventors like Garrett Morgan, who patented the first traffic signal, and Lewis Latimer, who helped improve the light bulb. And, it is the genius of Marian Croak, a Black American woman, who is credited with initiating and developing Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) that enables platforms like Zoom, Skype, and more that kept us all connected during a global pandemic. According to a report by Brookings, Black Americans held 50,000 total patents for inventions between 1870 and 1940.?Yet, many Black Americans still live in the shadows of consideration with under-resourced schools, food deserts, health disparities, blighted neighborhoods,?a lack of representation in decision-making positions, and more.?

My Black History Month algorithm has been very generous, and it delivered the legendary debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley held at Cambridge in 1965. The eloquent and stirring argument delivered by Baldwin offers tremendous context about the history of our country. He said, “It comes as a great shock around the age of 5, or 6, or 7, to discover that the flag to which you have pledged allegiance, along with everybody else, has not pledged allegiance to you”. Further, he debated that, “The disaffection, the demoralization, and the gap between one person and another only on the basis of the color of their skin, begins there and accelerates – accelerates throughout a whole lifetime – to the present….”?I encourage those who are unpacking the illusions presented by a history where Africans are seen as “savages” and Black folks as “missionary charity” to watch this debate and read an analysis of the poem “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.?There are lessons here for an entire country, and perhaps the world.?

It Is not enough to simply say “I didn’t know’, not in 2023. There is an abundance of readily available resources for learning. In a world where history often overlooks marginalized communities, it’s important that we embrace opportunities to learn about the experiences of Black Americans who were able to lift themselves from underneath the knee of a country seemingly intent on holding them down. We might?all be richer with this knowledge.?

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" - Nelson Mandela.

As the late civil rights leader Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’.??Black History Month, the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, initiatives like the Brooklyn Public Library which offers free digital library cards to any young adult across the US to counter book censorship,?and countless other measures help?deepen and expand our thinking.

Learning about our complex and varied histories is not just about studying and talking about the past; it means understanding the events, decisions, struggles, and yes, even songs that provide?deeper insight into the root causes of today’s issues and developing informed opinions and strategies to address them. And approaching our inquiry and crucial conversations with an intent?of self-awareness allows us to reflect on our?own biases, assumptions, and experiences and how these factors shape our perspectives. Reflecting on?power and privilege also allows us to see whether we’re?using it to maintain systems of inequality or to build up systems of fairness.?

As a society, we have made strides toward embracing our diverse tapestry, yet we still have a way to go. I believe it is our collective responsibility to continue marching towards this goal so that everyone is treated fairly, regardless of race, gender, or background. I hope we all can take pride in our national identity and feel inspired by the lyrics of songs like “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, as recognition of our collective American history.?

Additional reading:?

The 1619 Project: The 1619 Project, created by The New York Times, is a major journalism initiative that aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the center of the national narrative. The project includes a series of essays, articles, and podcasts that explore the history and legacy of slavery in the United States.?

?National Museum of African American History and Culture: As part of the Smithsonian Institution, this museum offers a wealth of information and resources on Black history, including online exhibits, educational resources, and collections of artifacts and historical items.?

?African American History Online: This website provides a comprehensive overview of Black history, including timelines, biographies, and articles on key events and figures in Black history.?

?BlackPast.org: This online reference center provides a wealth of information on Black history, including articles, timelines, and educational resources for students and educators.?

?The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois: This classic work, published in 1903, is considered one of the most influential books on Black history and culture. It explores the experiences of Black Americans and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.?

?“The Color of Law” by Richard Rothstein: This book provides a comprehensive history of the government-sanctioned discrimination and segregation that has shaped the American landscape for the past century. It offers an in-depth look at the policies and practices that have contributed to racial inequality and injustice in the United States.?

?“How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi: This book provides a clear and actionable framework for understanding and combating racism in all its forms. It offers a roadmap for individuals and organizations to become antiracists and work towards a more just and equitable society.?