Writer and educator James Weldon Johnson, (1871-1938) wrote “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which was first performed by his students at Stanton School 120 years ago. (Photo by Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)His choir students performed the song just last week at the Duval County School Board in honor of the song’s anniversary.On Feb.
12, 1900, Stanton School was expecting a special visitor: Booker T. Washington. One of the founders of the Tuskegee Institute, Washington came to town to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday with Johnson, according to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.Compelled by his admiration for his fellow educator, Johnson taught “Lift Every Voice and Sing” to 500 students so.