Lift Every Voice and Sing Themes

The word "race" is never explicitly mentioned in "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and yet it's a poem that's all about race. After all, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was written by an African-American po...

From the title, we may guess that "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a joyous song. It is. But it's also a song that's full of suffering. There's blood, there are tears, and there's even a "chast'ning...

African-Americans certainly didn't have an easy time in America. And while "Lift Every Voice and Sing" takes account of that difficult history, it also pays homage to the African-American spirit of...

In "Lift Every Voice and Sing," God is a good guy who's been there for African-Americans. The poem suggests that religion, faith in God, is central to the speakers' experience (and to the African-A...