"Lift Every Voice and Sing," sometimes referred to as the Black National Anthem, has been sung everywhere from protests to concert halls in the United States for well over a century. The song's origins, however, come directly from the mind of educator James Weldon Johnson and the needs of his school community. This article recounts the origins of the song with writer Johnson and his musician brother J. Rosamond Johnson, its widespread popularity, and the Library of Congress collection items related to the hymn. The author also includes a short bibliography of children's books and full-length books related to the topic.