African-Americans certainly didn't have an easy time in America. And while "Lift Every Voice and Sing" takes account of that difficult history, it also pays homage to the African-American spirit of perseverance. Despite slavery, despite Jim Crow, and despite the discrimination that continued even after Jim Crow, African-Americans survived. Not only did they survive, they flourished, contributing in very important ways to the history of America. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" not only celebrates this fighting spirit, it also encourages African-Americans to keep up the good fight: to fight for freedom and triumph.
Questions About Perseverance
- Why do the speakers of this poem put so much emphasis on perseverance? What is to be gained by perseverance?
- Is there a difference between survival and perseverance, do you think? What's the relationship between these two things, or are they the same, according to the speakers of this poem?
- What does the poem suggest about the relationship between singing (and music more generally) and perseverance?
Chew on This
This poem is trying to show us that perseverance is the only thing we need to achieve freedom.
Not so fast—the poem shows us that perseverance isn't enough; we also need religious faith to achieve freedom.