Bill > SP0324

This joint resolution recognizes the 125th anniversary of the poem "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson, a renowned novelist, poet, civil rights leader, and key figure in the Harlem Renaissance. The resolution highlights Johnson's significant cultural contribution, noting that he wrote the poem in 1900 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. The poem, which was later set to music by Johnson's brother John Rosamond Johnson, became known as the Black National Anthem and holds profound significance for African Americans. The resolution emphasizes the poem's powerful lyrics, which eloquently capture the struggle for freedom, resilience, and hope in the face of historical oppression. It underscores the song's importance during the reconstruction and civil rights eras, noting its first performance by 500 school children in Jacksonville, Florida, and its subsequent adoption by the NAACP as a rallying cry during the Civil Rights Movement. The resolution ultimately celebrates the poem's enduring message of faith, solidarity, and the ongoing pursuit of liberty for the Black community.

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?paper=SP0324&snum=132