Asia Muhammad - Timeline #1 AAST lyrics

African American literature began in the 18th century when African Americans were still enslaved. Even after African Americans began producing literature, they still faced criticism from members of white society. Many people are surprised to learn that "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was first written as a poem. Created by James Weldon Johnson, it was performed for the first time by 500 school children in celebration of President Lincoln's Birthday. The poem was set to music by Johnson's brother, John Rosamond Johnson, and soon adopted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as its official song. Today “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is one of the most cherished songs of the African American Civil Rights Movement and is often referred to as the Black National Anthem. 1773-Phillis Wheatley writes "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" "Maeceans, you, beneath the myrtle shade, Read o'er what poets sung, and shepherds play'd. What felt those poets but you feel the same? Does not your soul possess the sacred flame?"-Phillis Wheatley:Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral 1774-Continental Congress prohibits importation of slaves after December 1, 1774. "Salvation comes now from the lord, He being thy captive slave. Dear Jesus let the Nations cry, and all the people say, Salvation comes from Christ on high" -Jupiter Hammon 1775-First Antislavery society organized by Philadelphia Quakers. Quakers played a major role in the abolition movement against slavery in both the United Kingdom and in the United States of America. 1786-Jupiter Hammon was America's first African American published Poet. "Salvation comes by Jesus Christ alone, the only son of God. Redemption now to everyone that loves his holy name."-Jupiter Hammon-An Evening Thought 1855- Frederick Douglas writes and publishes his second autobiography entitled My Bondage and My Freedom "Very soon after I went to Baltimore to live, Master Hugh succeeded in getting me hired to Mr. William Gardiner, an extensive ship builder on Fell's Point. I was placed here to learn to calk, a trade of which I already had some knowledge, gained while in Mr. Hugh Auld's shipyard, when he was a master builder."-Frederick Douglas; My Bondage My Freedom(1955) 1863- President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. "All persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”-Emancipation Proclamation 1871- James Weldon Johnson writes "Lift Every Voice and Sing". "Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chast'ning rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died"--James Weldon Johnson:Lift Every Voice and Sing 1900- "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is performed and debuted for the first time in Jacksonville, Florida. "God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far on the way; thou who has by thy might, led us into the light"-James Weldon Johnson:Lift Every Voice and Sing