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rtwilliams16's review against another edition
4.0
May We Forever Stand by historian Imani Perry tells the history of how the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” became the Black National Anthem and covers its rise and fall since its composition in the early 20th Century. The song was a collaboration effort by two brothers James Weldon Johnson who wrote the words and John Rosamond Johnson who composed the music. Perry mentions that the song tells “the story of black life in terms that were epic, wrenching, and thunderous”. Her central argument is that the anthem became a part of “Black formalism” which consists of a host of rituals, behaviors, and practices in Black institutions such as schools, colleges, churches, and social/political organizations.
Perry’s book explains the roots and structure of the song as well as how it became popular. The lyrics were inspired by a Rudyard Kipling poem called “Recessional”. Organizations like the National Association of Colored Women’s Club helped make it popular in the Black community and in 1919 the NAACP deemed it the official song of the civil rights organization. Although the song was popular it was not without its critics. Black nationalists, like Marcus Garvey, did not care for it and preferred the song “Ethiopia, Land of Our Fathers” to be the anthem.
This book does a great job in revealing the effect the song had in Black history and culture throughout the early to mid-20th Century. It influenced artwork such as Augusta Savage’s harp sculpture and it caused Black students to develop self-worth and a sense of identity because it was a part of the daily practice in their segregated schools. Throughout the book, Perry shares first person accounts of how the song was integral to young Black people’s lives. However, the song was displaced temporarily during the 1950s/1960s Civil Rights Movement but found a new purpose during the Black Power movement of the 1970s. Perry argues that this also marked a shift from Black formalism to Black liberation.
The remainder of the book focuses on the song’s impact in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries. The song continues to be sung by various notable artists and performed on special historical occasions. However, it seems that the song’s impact has waned from the early 20th Century. It has met conflict with the rise of hip hop and many Blacks today do not know the lyrics by heart. But the song always seems to get a new resurgence during times of turmoil in the Black community. Perry mentions how it was sung at various Black Lives Matter protests beginning in 2015. Since her book was published the song received newfound attention in 2020 after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. This goes to show how powerful the song still is even over 100 years after it was composed. It still provides comfort, hope, and liberation to a people who continue to be oppressed by the White supremacist structures in America.
Playlist of the song that I created:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI2KlYwWQZNz2x63UQ0Yh9M8tJMFPh78Z
Perry’s book explains the roots and structure of the song as well as how it became popular. The lyrics were inspired by a Rudyard Kipling poem called “Recessional”. Organizations like the National Association of Colored Women’s Club helped make it popular in the Black community and in 1919 the NAACP deemed it the official song of the civil rights organization. Although the song was popular it was not without its critics. Black nationalists, like Marcus Garvey, did not care for it and preferred the song “Ethiopia, Land of Our Fathers” to be the anthem.
This book does a great job in revealing the effect the song had in Black history and culture throughout the early to mid-20th Century. It influenced artwork such as Augusta Savage’s harp sculpture and it caused Black students to develop self-worth and a sense of identity because it was a part of the daily practice in their segregated schools. Throughout the book, Perry shares first person accounts of how the song was integral to young Black people’s lives. However, the song was displaced temporarily during the 1950s/1960s Civil Rights Movement but found a new purpose during the Black Power movement of the 1970s. Perry argues that this also marked a shift from Black formalism to Black liberation.
The remainder of the book focuses on the song’s impact in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries. The song continues to be sung by various notable artists and performed on special historical occasions. However, it seems that the song’s impact has waned from the early 20th Century. It has met conflict with the rise of hip hop and many Blacks today do not know the lyrics by heart. But the song always seems to get a new resurgence during times of turmoil in the Black community. Perry mentions how it was sung at various Black Lives Matter protests beginning in 2015. Since her book was published the song received newfound attention in 2020 after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. This goes to show how powerful the song still is even over 100 years after it was composed. It still provides comfort, hope, and liberation to a people who continue to be oppressed by the White supremacist structures in America.
Playlist of the song that I created:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI2KlYwWQZNz2x63UQ0Yh9M8tJMFPh78Z
lukenotjohn's review against another edition
4.0
I quickly read through the majority of this while working on a paper exploring the history and theodicy of "Lift Every Voice and Sing." It was a phenomenal resource and a truly masterful piece of scholarship. Perry writes in a tone that seems to easily balance being engaging and expert on the subject at hand. It's obvious that robust research went into the writing process and so many different primary and secondary sources are interwoven beautifully with her own insightful analysis and interpolation. She includes explorations of the song as a spiritual hymn within Christian contexts as well as a rallying anthem for the Black community in America, while also grappling honestly with its more precarious position in contemporary culture today. Honestly wish I could've spent more time with it!
karencarlson's review
5.0
While the book looks at the Anthem itself (the brothers who wrote it, some poetic and musical references, and their purpose) it's more of a history of the black community and how the song became a powerful symbol - then nearly faded, only to regain its power in recent decades. I learned a lot, and was quite moved by how the song reflected, comforted, and inspired so many people in good times and bad, during celebrations and mourning. FMI see my blog post at A Just Recompense.
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