In this rich, poignant, and readable 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.ĭrawing 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. 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. 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. May We Forever Stand tells an essential part of that story. May We Forever Stand tells an essential part of that story. 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.The twin acts of singing and fighting for freedom have been inseparable in African American history. In this rich, poignant, and readable 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.

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. In this rich, poignant, and readable work, Imani Perry tells the story of the Black National Anthem as it traveled from South to North, from civil rights to. Her book is May We Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem. Perry is the Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American studies at Princeton University.

This week’s featured author is Imani Perry. May We Forever Stand tells an essential part of that story. In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book. The twin acts of singing and fighting for freedom have been inseparable in African American history.

May we forever stand