Song {Black History Month}

For the month of February, Walking Worthy will be dedicated to the celebration of Black History Month.

We have loved the Casual Conversations and intentional emphasis that Southeastern has devoted to diversity on our campus and in our churches. This month, we will continue the discussion with posts from students and faculty. In today’s post, Mrs. Faye Dunbar shares a song that she enjoys singing in praise and worship to our God, especially during this month.

“Lift Every Voice and Sing”

            James Weldon Johnson was an American author, educator, diplomat, songwriter, and civil rights activist.  On the occasion of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in 1900, James Weldon Johnson wrote “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”  It was popular in the black community and became known as the “Negro National Anthem.”  During Black History Month, the song is sung in many African American churches. We hope you enjoy this song!

LYRICS

Lift ev'ry voice and sing,

Till earth and heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;

Let our rejoicing rise

High as the list'ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,

Bitter the chast'ning rod,

Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

Yet with a steady beat,

Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered.

We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

Out from the gloomy past,

Till now we stand at last

Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,

God of our silent tears,

Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who hast by Thy might,

Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,

Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;

Shadowed beneath Thy hand,

May we forever stand,

True to our God,

True to our native land.

Mrs. Faye Dunbar is a current student at SEBTS pursuing an MDIV in Biblical Counseling. She also holds a degree in Women’s Studies from Southeastern. She has led D-Groups for C@SE students for 3 years.  At 71 years old, Mrs. Faye has been married for 49 years and has 40 years of teaching experience under her belt, but she still loves learning.