Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us. In 1900, in Jacksonville, Florida, two brothers, one of them the principal of a segregated, all-black school, wrote the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing" so his students could sing it for a tribute to Abraham Lincoln's birthday. From that moment on, the song has provided inspiration and solace for generations of Black families. Mothers and fathers passed it on to their children who sang it to their children and grandchildren. It has been sung during major moments of the Civil Rights Movement and at family gatherings and college graduations. Inspired by this song's enduring significance, Kelly Starling Lyons and Keith Mallett tell a story about the generations of families who gained hope and strength from the song's inspiring words.

 

This book has been graded for interest at 5-8 years.

There are 32 pages in this book. This book was published 2019 by Penguin Putnam Inc .

Kelly Starling Lyons is the author of Hope's Gift and Tea Cakes for Tosh . She lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughter and son, who love collecting rocks just like Jada. Nneka Myers has been known to paint worlds filled with color, texture, life, and diversity. Based in Toronto as a character designer and illustrator, her artwork can be found in TV animation, children's books, comics, and social media illustrations. When she is not a busy bee, she can often be found looking for inspiration in vintage fashion, drinking tea with friends, or playing video games.