The Legacy in Our Voices
Remembering 'Lift Every Voice and Sing'
On this final day of February, I once again find myself immersed in a tranquil space of reflection and clarity. I am gently reminded of their names, precious faces etched in my heart, and of the treasured memories forged during countless family reunions that have profoundly shaped my life and soul. These moments serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of raising our collective voices, sharing our legacy, our history, rooted in faith, family, and community. These stories and traditions matter; they are the foundation of who we are.
Grandfather Sylvester Knight & Grandmother Elizabeth Moore Knight
Singing together was a normal occurrence for the Knight family, and a beauty model that we continue to mirrors for generations.
Center Baptist Church
Rural Alabama, 1974
Our reunions were vibrant and full of constant chatter, food, laughter, singing, playing, and praying. The melodies of those songs continue to echo within me, stirring emotions and touching the very core of my being. Ten girls, eight boys, along with grandpa and grandma, sang together, their voices blending into a chorus of hope, resilience, and love. These moments of unity, though often now reserved for funerals of our loved ones, remain profoundly meaningful and rewarding.
Why does this legacy still resonate so deeply after all these years? Because it embodies our history, our identity, and our unyielding spirit. In a world where others seek to erase or diminish the struggles and contributions of Black people, our traditions stand as powerful testaments of perseverance and pride. These rituals, gathering, eating home grown meals, playing, singing, praying, are more than memories; they are a living inheritance that bind us across generations. A warm embrace of love we share in tender moments of remembrance, of recognizing, naming our emotions and expressing our hearts.
Creating Memories at Various Family Reunions sharing smiles, hugs and love!
Just a few weeks ago, my daughter called, her voice tinged with emotions, reminding me of the hymn: “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” written by James Weldon Johnson with music composed by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson. Her longing to hear that song again, to hear the voices of our past, resonated deeply within me.
Here is the first stanza of the lyrics:
Lift every voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Often called theBlack National Anthem, this song is a symbol of our collective resilience. Hearing her express how much she missed singing it reminded me that these melodies aren’t just songs, they are sacred placeholders in the memory and history of our people.
We have planted and nurtured these cultural touch-points. They are embedded in the fabric of our history.
We remember.
Our children remember.
And that’s what truly matters.
The song, the traditions, the stories, they connect us to our past, inspire us in the present, and light the way for our children’s future.
Let these voices remind us of who we are, and of the legacy we carry forward.
Listen here: “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Thank you for meeting me here,
Until next time, take care!
Anna Laura!
I wRite. I write to free up space, to hold space, I write to reflect, to feel, To heal. To be human, I write flaws and all, I write…
We love to travel and experience the local galleries and points of interest.
Vancouver — Granville Island, Art Gallery
Need a Faith And Feelings reflective journal? It’s available in ebook, paperback, or hardcover, and learn more about the book here: https://a.co/d/8qw4hr5.
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