Singing

The title of this poem is "Lift Every Voice and Sing." Is it any wonder that singing and music are an important motif? The speakers frame the poem as a song that is empowering and uplifting. Singing, and music, can help us find strength and the will to carry on. By evoking singing in this way, the poem also touches on the long history of music in African-American culture. In fact, beginning with slavery, African-Americans used singing and music as a way to resist oppression and to survive the brutality of their lives. In this way music was used as a kind of therapy. No access to a therapist? Just sing, baby.

• Line 1: The first line of the poem makes it very clear that this poem is actually a song. And it's meant to be sung by a group of people who "lift" their voices together. The verb "lift" suggests how singing can "uplift" us and make us feel better. 
• Line 3: The song that the speakers sing rings with the "harmonies of Liberty." The word "harmonies" again emphasizes the idea that this poem is a song, but it's a song that not only creates musical harmony, but also evokes the harmony of freedom. 
• Lines 7-8: These lines suggest that singing is an act of resistance to oppression. It's a song of "hope" and "faith" that's sung in reaction to the "dark past." 
• Lines 14-15: The description of "weary feet" treading a "steady beat" suggests the idea of singing and music. The "beat" of these feet implies music that has a rhythm.