James Weldon Johnson composed Lift Every Voice and Sing, which became known as the Black national anthem. Author: Kailey Tracy Updated: 6:38 PM EST February 20, 2021
JACKSONVILLE, Fla The beat of several drums echoed from the newly renamed James Weldon Johnson Park in downtown Jacksonville Saturday afternoon.
The park was originally named after Civil War veteran, Charles Hemming, when he donated a Confederate monument to Jacksonville. The Confederate soldier statue that stood on top of the monument was removed last summer.
Organizers of Saturday s event, which included food music and dancing, called it Duval Legacies. It s the first of the series celebrating Black history in Duval, they said, starting with Johnson during Black History Month. Johnson composed Lift Every Voice and Sing, which became known as the Black national anthem.