There is a major difference between a song and an anthem. An anthem is more representative of the ideas of a country. A song is more lyrical in the sense that it does not as much embody the values and ideas of a country, but rather the values and and themes of a specific idea. Both songs and anthems have similar sounds, and they both have lyrics, but an anthem’s lyrics are more closely connected to the values of the country.

Some examples of anthems used during the Civil Rights Movement include: “We Shall Overcome,” “Lift Every Voice” and “A Change is Gonna Come.” 

The Civil Rights Movement began in 1954 and achieved the enactment of laws put in place through 1968, but the struggle for social justice and equality is ongoing, more than half a century later. The goal then was for African Americans to gain equal rights under U.S. law and jurisdiction. The act ended segregation in public places, banned discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, religion sex or national origin. It was first proposed by President John F. Kennedy, met by opposition, mainly in the south, and then signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Congress drew up this and in 1965 passed additional legislation including the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

Date of birth: June 17, 1871
Place of birth: Jacksonville, Florida Date of death: June 26, 1938

There is a deep history and story behind the poem “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” This poem was written by James Weldon Johnson. Johnson is known mainly for his poetry and song writing. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was originally written as a poem, but became a song. There is deep meaning and a rich history that can be found within this poem song combination. Johnson was an advocate for the NAACP which is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 1920, he became the NAACP “national organizer.” He also became passionate about using his poetry skills to share his ideas for equality. “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is a song that follows a thematic literary arc. This song is a riveting and complex portrait of the African American struggle. It quickly transformed from a song to an anthem, As Johnson’s poem was performed for Abraham Lincoln at his birthday party in his memory. After this performance, the song became somewhat of an anthem. It is an influential literary artifact because it represents an important time in history and has a deep meaning behind the lyrics. You can look back at this song and there is meaning and lyrical value to this song. Each part of the song has its own important meaning. Johnson’s poem was transformed into a song when it was set to music created by his brother John. of a country’s ideas and values.

Lift every 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; 

Date of birth: January 22, 1931 Place of birth: Clarksdale, Mississippi Date of death: December 11, 1964.

Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” is a significant song that is still remembered to this day for its meaningful lyrics and influence that it brought to the civil rights movement. The song “A Change is Gonna Come” was first heard by the public on his album “Ain’t That Good News” in 1965. This song has similar themes and ideas to many other songs during the civil rights movement. The lyrics “It's been a long, a long time coming but I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will” are very important to understanding the overall themes and ideas of this song and current events at that time. One of the inspirations behind this song was an incident at a motel in Louisiana. It was when Cooke and his band were turned away from this motel in Louisiana as they were told it was a whites only motel. These themes of racism was noticed in “A Change is Gonna Come.” This song has ideas of racism being so prevalent, but it also addresses the world and the problems of the world in a positive way, and in a way that looks to the future. This is an uplifting anthem that creates positivity and motivation rather than a negative outlook of the world. It comes from a place that things will get better and there is always a brighter future to look forward to. Rather than looking at the negativity in the world, this song and melody encourages a positive framework to create positive change in the world.

But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will 

Ray Charles was a much loved musician who was born in Albany, Georgia. When he went to school, he became passionate about music in St. Augustine, Florida. Ray Charles was one of the original musicians who’s style is “soul” music and his musical style of soul inspired an entire generation of soul musicians. Soul music is a genre of music that combines several other genres and styles of music. At St. Augustine school he started to play music in his school. His passion for music started when he began to play the piano, but at around the age of five, he began to lose his sight, and by the time he was seven, he was blind. St. Augustine school is significant because it helped Ray Charles discover a new genre of music, and there is still a deep connection with soul music. Ray Charles and the St. Augustine school will always be remembered as the place and person where soul music started.Ray Charles, also known as the inventor of soul music was very famous for many of his songs. One of his most memorable songs was “You’re in For a Big Surprise, “ which was written by Percy Mayfield. This song was a classic that became very popular for generations to follow the career and life of Ray Charles. This song is still performed in concert halls and remembered for the vibrant visual story and complex lyrical narrative that it depicts. There are many themes in this song and they all have to do with the overarching concept of a surprise and change. The lyrics of this song follow the same lyrical narrative that would come from telling a story with a surprise. This song would be a considered an anthem because of the lyrical relevance that it holds in today’s world and because of the significance that it had when it was written. This anthem is still being sung throughout the country and the world as a remembrance of Ray Charles and the impact that he left on the world through his lyrical and instrumental capabilities as a thriving musician.

DR. Martin Luther King’s birthday is a national holiday and globally recognized as a very important day of the year. Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday is a day where the world looks at his achievements in advancing the civil rights movement and moving the country and parts of the world towards equal rights. Stevie Wonder’s song “Happy Birthday to Ya” helped to declare Martin Luther King’s birthday as a national holiday. Along with being a recording pianist and vocalist, Stevie Wonder was also a civil rights activist. When there was an idea of making Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a holiday. Stevie Wonder’s anthem “Happy Birthday to Ya” made this idea come to life.

Place of birth: March 25, 1942 Place of birth: Memphis, Tennessee Date of death: August 16, 2018

Date of birth: April 2, 1939 Place of birth: Washington, D.C. Date of death: April 1, 1984