The Story of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (S2, E2)

Kelly20Starling20LyonsKELLY STARLING LYONS is the author of, most recently, Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations.

On today’s episode, Kelly talks about the rich history behind the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which has become a significant touchstone in African-American history.

Kelly’s works incldue the Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices-honored picture book, One Million Men and Me; Ellen’s Broom, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor book, Junior Library Guild and Bank Street Best selection; Tea Cakes for Tosh, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People and winner of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Award for Juvenile Literature (sponsored by the AAUW of North Carolina), and Hope’s Gift, a Storytelling World Award winner, IRA/CBC Children’s Choices selection and SIBA Okra Pick.

A new book, Dreambuilder: the Story of Architect Phil Freelon, will be out in January, 2020.

Artists mentioned in this episode include:

Belle Biv Devoe
Beyoncé
Bobby Brown
Billy Eckstein
The Flow Band
Jackson 5
James Weldon Johnson
John Rosamond Johnson
Lena Horne
Francis Scott Key
René Marie
Melba Moore
New Edition
The O’Neal Twins
Soul Merchants of Pittsburgh
Mary Lou Williams
Stevie Wonder

And here’s a link to the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project.

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