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All the United States Florida Jacksonville Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing Park
AO Edited

Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing Park

This park commemorates the birthplace and legacy of the brothers who authored a song that has come to be known as the Black National Anthem.

Jacksonville, Florida

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About

Born in a shotgun-style house on this stretch of land in 1871 and 1873, respectively, the Johnson brothers grew up in the Lavilla area of Jacksonville, Florida. Their home life was full of music and literature, and the brothers each became proficient in the arts—James Weldon was a writer, a key figure in the NAACP, and an educator, while his brother John was a musician and composer. After leaving Jacksonville after the Great Fire of 1901, the brothers became key figures in the Harlem Renaissance.

In 1900, James wrote a poem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," which his brother put to music. The song was first performed by 500 students at Stanton School, where James Weldon was the principal, in celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. The song was eventually adopted by the NAACP and became a prominent rallying cry during the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s.

In recognition of the historic and cultural significance of both the song and the brothers who wrote it the land where they were born and spent part of their childhood was preserved as a park. Designed by Walter Hood, the park incorporates elements of the Johnson brothers' history and the lyrics of the song in large-scale art installations.

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Civil Rights Music Black History Poetry Parks

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Parking is limited and exclusively on side roads next to the park. The park is open sunup to sundown.

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ElusivePenguin

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November 21, 2024

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Sources
  • https://www.levsparkjax.org/
  • https://www.npr.org/2021/01/22/959704849/rep-james-clyburn-proposes-to-make-lift-evry-voice-and-sing-the-national-hymn
  • https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2024/06/27/lift-evry-voice-and-sing-park-set-to-open-in-lavilla-after-11-years-of-work/
  • https://www.dupontfund.org/levs
  • https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/lift-every-voice-and-sing
  • https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-and-community-programming/parks/lift-ev-ry-voice-and-sing-park
Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing Park
120 Lee St
Jacksonville, Florida, 32204
United States
30.330278, -81.670317
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