On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis, Minn. Since then, music has been a tool to process the grief, anger and frustration felt in the wake of his tragic passing. It also has been used to elevate Black voices, to show the persistence of joy, strength and beauty in the wake of tragedy.
To honor Floyd’s memory, we offer this performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by the Clark Atlanta University Philharmonic Society, as featured at the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. Curtis Everett Powell leads the ensemble in an uplifting and stunning rendition of what’s commonly known as the Black National Anthem, arranged by Roland Carter.
We hope this music brings you a moment of reflection and optimism.
Lift Every Voice: A musical story from sorrow to justice Spelman College Glee Club visits Classical MPR University of Minnesota's 40th annual Martin Luther King Jr. TributeFollow our colleagues at MPR News for more programming and reporting honoring the life and legacy of George Floyd.
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