Sing a Song

James Weldon Johnson's profession is:

• Writer, educator, and civil rights activist

• Musician and composer

• Scientist and inventor

• Businessman and entrepreneur

James Weldon Johnson was helped by whom in writing the song, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”?

• His brother, John Rosamond Johnson

• Langston Hughes

• W.E.B. Du Bois

• Paul Laurence Dunbar

James Weldon Johnson wrote the words and his brother, John Rosamond Johnson, set the words to music.

• James Weldon Johnson wrote the lyrics and John Rosamond Johnson composed the music.

• John Rosamond Johnson wrote the lyrics and James Weldon Johnson composed the music.

• Both brothers wrote the lyrics together and composed the music together.

• Neither brother was involved in writing the lyrics or composing the music.

The Johnson brothers wrote the song for which president and event?

• President Lincoln's birthday

• President Washington's inauguration

• President Jefferson's retirement

• President Adams' election

Look at the timeline and think about the year 1900 when the song was written. Why might the Johnson brothers have wanted to celebrate President Lincoln’s birthday with a performance of this song?

• Because President Lincoln is known for ending slavery, and the song celebrates freedom and hope.

• Because President Lincoln was famous for writing music.

• Because President Lincoln was a popular president in 1900.

• Because President Lincoln was known for his speeches about war.

The character in the book sang the song for her husband on the train ride from Florida to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania because:

• She wanted to give hope and encouragement during their journey to a new life.

• She was bored and wanted to pass the time.

• She wanted to annoy the other passengers.

• She was practicing for a singing competition.

Some reasons the character and her husband could have been heading to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to start a new life include:

• They were likely seeking better job opportunities and escaping racial discrimination in the South.

• They wanted to experience colder weather and new scenery.

• They were planning to start a farm in the countryside.

• They were following family traditions of moving every year.

The character in the book is teaching this song to her children in order to:

• Pass on hope, pride, and the history of their culture to the next generation.

• Help them memorize the lyrics for fun.

• Teach them about musical instruments.

• Encourage them to become singers.

What line from the first verse of the song may have helped him get through those times?

• Let us march on till victory is won

• Lift every voice and sing

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

• Let us rejoice and be glad

We can tell from the text so far that the song was passed down from one generation to the next because:

• The text describes different characters singing the song at important moments in their lives and teaching it to their children.

• The song was only sung by one character throughout the story.

• The song was never mentioned in the text.

• The song was forgotten by all characters.