Unit 3: Expansion and Reform and
Unit 6: Emergence of Modern America
"Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" and "Star-Spangled Banner"
by Vonzele Reed
Songs:
by James Weldon Johnson
by Francis Scott Key
Song Background
The following is a brief explanation of an activity comparing and contrasting the National Anthem of the United States (" Star-Spangled Banner") written by Francis Scott Key and the Black National Anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing" written by James Weldon Johnson and his brother John Johnson. This activity is designed to highlight and understand the ingredients used by the composers in their attempt to make symbolic songs of a country’s history and/or experience.
The United States has been referred to as a “Melting Pot." The various ethnic, religious, racial and political groups within the United States have come to call it home for different, yet equally important reasons. Regardless of how one has arrived in this country, the nation has selected the "Star-Spangled Banner" as the song that reflects a particular story and shared experience in the United States and hopes to spark a sense of patriotism and strong national identity. This song was officially adopted as the United States National Anthem in 1931.
In considering how to strengthen national identity among citizens of such a diverse nation, emblems such as the national anthem should represent the diversity of the nation’s citizens. When the" Star-Spangled Banner" was created in 1814, the United States did not consider of healthy portion of its people as citizens, namely people of African descent, women, and other minorities. The song reflects a narrow aspect of our nation’s history and people. Eighty-five years later in 1899 James Weldon Johnson (composer of the lyrics) and his brother John Johnson composed" Lift Every Voice and Sing" to celebrate the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln is symbolic to African Americans because of his role in leading the United States to end slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation. The song would later be adopted as the national song for the NAACP.
This activity is designed to listen, observe and highlight the patriotic symbolism within each song. Students and teacher together will read the lyrics and in an effort to better understand their unique messages and how they reflect the concept of national identity at the time they were written and subsequently adopted. The questions below should help guide the class to better understand what each composer found as patriotic and representative of the United States and it people.
Listen to each anthem with the lyrics and use the following questions to determine their patriotic symbolism. The overlying theme for this mini-assignment is to help students to think about equal representation in the patriotic songs composed by Americans for Americans.
Discussion questions:
- What does it mean to be patriotic?
- What are ways countries show their patriotism?
- How are national anthems patriotic?
Questions to use after listening to the song:
- Can the meaning of the "Star-Spangled Banner" continue to represent The U.S. in the 21st century?
- How do these two anthems differ from one another?
- Which song do you think reflects the United States both culturally and historically? Why?
- In your opinion which of the anthems represents an honest portrayal of United States history?
- Do you think there is a difference in the approach to writing music among blacks in whites based on what you have heard? Explain your answer.
NOTE: For further background information on the selections and their composers please refer to the Voices Across Time sections:
- "Star-Spangled Banner": Section 3 page 32
- "Lift Every Voice and Sing": Section 6 page 82