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In keeping with its principles of creating an inclusive community that values diversity, fairness and justice, Ohio Valley Conference member institutions will be incorporating the playing of
"Lift Every Voice and Sing" at upcoming basketball contests.
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” is one of the most cherished songs of the African American civil rights movement and is often referred to as the Black national anthem. Written originally as a poem and later set to music, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was first performed on February 12, 1900 by 500 children at a segregated Florida school in celebration of President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
"Lift Every Voice and Sing" was written at a time in American history when Jim Crow was replacing slavery. The song became a rallying cry for Black communities thanks to its recognition of both the past and present difficulties faced by African Americans and its hopeful vision for the future. Today,
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” remains a staple of the Black community and is often performed at concerts, worship services and graduation ceremonies.
The initiative was proposed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) as a message to reinforce sports unifying message.
It was unanimous approved by the OVC Council of Directors of Athletics to incorporate the song into games played the Saturday prior to Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 16) as well as each team's first home contest in the month of February to start Black History Month.
Lyrics to Lift Every Voice and Sing
Lift ev’ry voice and sing,
‘Til 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 ’til victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening 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,
‘Til 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 has brought us thus far on the way, Thou who has 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.