![]() ![]() "Beychella" was the number-one trending topic on Twitter, and the hymn's title was itself a hashtag. college-age students were familiar with "Lift Every Voice and Sing."īut what is clear is Beyoncé's reach. Sue Jewell conducted research showing that only two in three black U.S. "It is not in wide use in the same way with contemporary generations as it has been with my parents and grandparents' generation." ![]() In her extensive study of the song's history and role, she's finding that fewer and fewer young people know the lyrics to the hymn. "It's unclear to me to what extent the song resonated with those in the audience," Redmond said. Yet others on Twitter, along with Redmond, wondered how many in the audience could actually identify the song and its significance. It was my pride/rage/power rolled up in 1 #Beychella"Ĭalise tweeted "I just need to know #HBCUfam did anyone else raise their fists in salute when Beyoncé sang Lift every voice and sing? #beychella" Nick Fury tweeted "I cannot stress how much of an important moment in music history, Black history, American history, the entire history of me - it was to hear Beyoncé sing Lift Every Voice & Sing while 100+ screamed to and through the Ancestors. Many black viewers reacting to the performance on Twitter agreed, calling her performance a "call to action." Some said "Lift Every Voice and Sing" brought them to tears, bringing back memories of singing the hymn at church or elementary school as young children. "It's really something to pay attention to." "To have someone on the scale of Beyoncé in a space like Coachella, is really a departure," Redmond, an associate professor of Musicology and African American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, said in an interview with The Washington Post. The inclusion of the turn-of-the-century hymn was important not only because of size of the audience, but because of the setting - a mainstream festival that is known for being attended predominantly by white people. Please reflect on the inspirational meaning of “Lift Every Voice And Sing,” its rich history and how it might help to bring unity to a nation in need of healing.But arguably the most significant moment in her show - politically and historically - was her rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," as it is also called, just before transitioning to "Formation." Based on the response on social media, the performance resonated particularly with black audiences live-streaming the performance at home, many of whom have grown up knowing the song by heart. The NFL is working with the James Weldon Johnson Foundation and the NAACP to share the historical significance of the song leading up to Kickoff weekend, where it will be featured before every game. It’s as pertinent in today’s environment as it was when it was written. It has encouraged generations of Black people that God will lead us to the promises of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. This Christian hymn about the struggle for freedom and equality inspires hope. Many schools continue this tradition today. We sang along with it right before placing our hands over our hearts and pledging allegiance to the American flag. As a child attending Jefferson Elementary School in the Trenton, NJ, public school system, the song was part of our morning ritual. It was put to music in 1905 by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, and adopted by the NAACP as its official song in 1919. James Weldon Johnson wrote the poem “ Lift Every Voice And Sing ” in the late 1800s. As we celebrate football’s return, I wanted to share some background on the spiritual song “Lift Every Voice And Sing” that you’ll see during the pageantry of the 2020 NFL Kickoff weekend.
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