Search results
A poem that celebrates the African American heritage and struggle for freedom and equality. The phrase "stony the road we trod" appears in the third stanza, expressing the hardships and sacrifices of the past.
A poem by James Weldon Johnson, also known as the Negro National Hymn, that celebrates the journey of African Americans from slavery to freedom. The poem includes the phrase "stony the road we trod" as a reference to the hardships and struggles of the past.
Sep 7, 2013 · Learn about the origin and significance of the Black National Anthem, which includes the phrase "Stony the road we trod". Read the full lyrics and watch a video of the song performed by the Isaac Sisters.
Jun 1, 1991 · Stony the Road We Trod: African American Biblical Interpretation. Paperback – June 1, 1991. A hallmark of American black religion is its distinctive use of the Bible in creating community, resisting oppression, and fomenting social change.
- (165)
- Fortress Press
- $20.34
- Summary
- Themes
- Structure and Form
- Literary Devices
- Introduction
- Detailed Analysis
- Similar Poetry
‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ by James Weldon Johnsonis a powerful poem about freedom and the impact of the past. Throughout this piece, Johnson celebrates African American heritage, the strength of the men and women who have come before him, and the promise of the future. He does not shy away from the darkness they’ve walked about of but uses it as ...
Johnson explores themes of freedom, suffering, and joy in ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing.’ The poem is incredibly optimistic. But, it does not ignore the suffering of the past. In fact, the speaker takes the time to acknowledge everything terrible that’s happened to his community throughout time. He cites the men and women who fought for equal rights, ...
‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ by James Weldon Johnson is a three-stanza poem/song. The stanzas are ten, eleven, and twelve lines long. The poem’s first stanza follows a simple rhyme scheme of AABCCBDDEE but then changes somewhat, ending in a triplet in the second stanza. But, it is mostly consistent throughout with couplets and alternate rhymesgiving...
Johnson makes use of several literary devices in ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing.’ These include but are not limited to: 1. Alliteration: the repetitionof the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words. For example, “Where” and “white” at the end of stanza two and “heaven” and “harmonies” at the beginning of stanza one. 2. Imagery: the use of parti...
Before beginning ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’readers should take note of the instructor text that often accompanies the poem. It was written directly from Johnson’s perceptive and describes how the song came into being. He says: He adds to this, saying that the song passed through their minds, but it remained in those of the school children. They “...
Stanza One
In the first stanza of ‘Life Every Voice and Sing,’ the speaker begins with the line that later came to be used as the title of the poem. The speaker asks that every voice lift itself to the sky and sing. It should be a celebration of “Liberty.” This is a beautiful image, one that’s meant to inspire celebration and joy in the face of oppression and a history of suffering. The poem defines specific parts of the African American experience, as Weldon saw it. He was thinking about the past, the...
Stanza Two
The rhyme scheme in the second stanza of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ is quite effective, especially considering how short some of the lines are. Most are around five lines long and help to drive home the speaker’s depiction of the past. The road they’ve walked down is “Stony,” he begins. This is a great example of a metaphor. The speaker is alluding to the past and all the obstacles he, his friends, family members, and the border African American community has had to get over. But, they’ve wa...
Stanza Three
In the final stanza of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’ the speaker addresses God. He refers to God as the person who “hast by Thy might / Led us into the light.”It’s with God’s strength that his community has been able to overcome all the horrorsin their past and present. These lines take on the form of a prayer as the poem continues. The speaker asks that they “forever” be kept on this lighted path and never “stray” from the places where “we met Thee.” The poem concludes with the speaker asking...
Readers who enjoyed ‘Life Every Voice and Sing’ should also consider reading some other James Weldon Johnson poems. For example: 1. ‘Mother Night’ – describes the speaker’s optimistic beliefs in regards to the afterlife and religion. 2. ‘Prayer at Sunrise’ – depicts the power of the sun and requests that the speaker is provided God’s strength. 3. ‘...
- Female
- October 9, 1995
- Poetry Analyst And Editor
The publication of Stony the Road We Trod thirty years ago marked the emergence of a critical mass of Black biblical scholars--as well as a distinct set of hermeneutical concerns.
Feb 1, 2021 · 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...
