2 Books Published by University of North Carolina Press on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

The twin acts of singing and fighting for freedom have been inseparable in African American history. May We Forever Stand tells an essential part of that story. With lyrics penned by James Weldon Johnson and music composed by his brother Rosamond, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was embraced almost immediately as an anthem that captured the story and the aspirations of black Americans. Since the song’s creation, it has been adopted by the NAACP and performed by countless artists in times of both crisis and celebration, cementing its place in African American life up through the present day.

In this rich, poignant, and readable work, Imani Perry tells the story of the Black National Anthem as it traveled from South to North, from civil rights to black power, and from countless family reunions to Carnegie Hall and the Oval Office. Drawing on a wide array of sources, Perry uses "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as a window on the powerful ways African Americans have used music and culture to organize, mourn, challenge, and celebrate for more than a century.

Jean Toomer’s literary career began in 1923 with the publication of Cane, the first and one of the finest portrayals of the Black experience, and ended, somewhat mysteriously, thirteen years later with the publication of the long poem “Blue Mountain.” Toomer and his work were forgotten until the Black Arts Movement of the late 1960s rediscovered Cane, and a fresh generation of critics praised its aesthetics and philosophical merits. McKay explores the growth and decline of Toomer as a literary artist.

Originally published in 1987.

A UNC Press Enduring Edition — UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback for a wider audience.