The birthplace of Black Jacksonville icons James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson will be transformed in the next two years into a showcase park celebrating the city’s African American ...

From its beginnings as a birthday tribute to Abraham Lincoln sung in 1900 by 500 black schoolchildren in segregated Florida, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” has evolved into the unofficial black ...

James Weldon Johnson was a man of many talents. The Jacksonville native was a lyricist, poet, lawyer, civil rights activist, professor, and diplomat. He’s also the creator of “Lift Every Voice ...

In 1900, NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson wrote the hymn, while his brother, John Rosamond Johnson (1873–1954), composed the music. The song was first performed publicly in Jacksonville ...

But almost 150 years ago, it was where Jacksonville natives James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson were born. Today, the city will unveil the design of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park ...

Origin Of The Song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was written and composed by James Weldon Johnson and his younger brother John Rosamond Johnson. They were influential figures in the fields of ...

the masterpiece written by James Weldon Johnson and composed by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, in 1900. Despite some time passing, white folks’ voices are still rising in opposition to the ...

Johnson's brother, John Rosamond Johnson, later set the poem to music. "It's a patriotic song to celebrate the works of (Lincoln), before the song was called or adopted as an anthem," Jones said.

The park will celebrate musicians with ties to Jacksonville, including Ray Charles, Tim McGraw, Lynyrd Skynyrd, James Weldon Johnson, and John Rosamond Johnson. “They’ve sharpened their skills ...