1. The formation of our republic and the impact of racism on our nation’s foundation.
The Declaration of Independence elucidates the principles upon which our republic was formed and sets the intentions for our national identity. Its preamble powerfully provides: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. President Abraham Lincoln described it as “a rebuke and a stumbling-block to tyranny and oppressions.” Today, however, the building blocks of this foundation – freedom and equality for all – remain elusive.
The Hill We Climb
Ms. Gorman wrote, “It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit, it’s the past we step into and how we repair it.”
- What feelings arise in you when reading this line?
- Consider: a) must we repair our past; and b) is it possible to do so?
- Consider sharing your reflections with others—how might different perspectives on repairing the past shape our collective future?
Lift Every Voice and Sing
- Think back to the first time you heard Lift Every Voice and Sing. How did it make you feel then, and how do those feelings compare to how you feel now?
- What feelings arise now when you hear the Anthem? Are they the same or different?
- What does that evolution say about the power of music in shaping our collective understanding of justice?
- Do you know the words to Lift Every Voice and Sing? If not, will you commit to learning the words?
- In 2020, the National Football League played Lift Every Voice and Sing at the opening of each football game as part of its efforts to combat racial injustice. Some saw this as performative and others as powerful. In your view, what separates performative actions from genuine efforts toward racial justice? Can symbolic gestures like these bring real change, or do they simply provide a temporary sense of progress?
National Hymn
In 2020, U.S. Representative James Clyburn advanced a measure to make Lift Every Voice and Sing a national hymn. In support, Rep. Clyburn said, “To make it a national hymn, I think, would be an act of bringing the country together. It would say to people, “You aren’t singing a separate national anthem, you are singing the country’s national hymn.”
- Do you agree with Rep. Clyburn’s comments? Could passage of such a measure promote healing?
- Would you support making the “Lift Every Voice and Sing” the national hymn?
- Can there be only one national hymn? If so, does that divide or unite us?
This is an invitation to deeply reflect on our nation’s past, the voices that have shaped its present, and the work ahead in repairing the inequities that persist. Through these questions and reflections, we can begin to challenge ourselves to think critically about race, justice, and healing.
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