James Weldon Johnson wrote “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in late 1899. Johnson’s goal was to write a poem to commemorate the birthday of the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln.

WASHINGTON — Grammy-winning musician Ledisi performed "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at the 2025 Super Bowl, delivering a powerful rendition of the song often referred to as the Black national anthem.

The Black National Anthem — “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — is a hymn written as a poem by then-NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) in 1900.

Andrews, who studies African American and African diasporic music, was one of a dozen speakers at a daylong symposium on “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” on Thursday (June 12) at the museum.

Andrews, who studies African American and African diasporic music, was one of a dozen speakers at a daylong symposium on “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” on Thursday (June 12) at the museum.