Question

In Lift Every Voice and Sing, which of the following most closely identifies the focus of the speaker?

a) The speaker is focused on a group of people and their history.

b) The speaker is focused on himself and a particular event.

c) The speaker is focused on his immediate family at a gathering.

d) The speaker is focused on a close friend and a shared experience.

Answer 1

The option that best identifies the focus of the speaker in "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a) The speaker is focused on a group of people and their history.

The poem deals with themes of race and anti-black racism, and how African Americans have remained strong and resilient through difficult times in the past, but they can struggle as a collective for a better future. I was written by James Weldon Johnson in a time when Jim Crow was in full effect, so the speaker is focusing on the African American community and the possibility of a brighter future.

Answer 2

The poem “Lift Ev’ry Song and Sing” is written by James Weldon Johnson and is also known as the “Black National Anthem”. It was written to celebrate Lincoln’s birthday in 1900 in Jacksonville and was for the colored schoolchildren to sing. The writer focuses on the struggle of the black people in America and the better future that awaits them.

Question: In Lift Every Voice and Sing, which of the following most closely identifies the focus of the speaker?

Answer: a) The speaker is focused on a group of people and their history.