34 Black History Month Songs, from Lift Every Voice to Glory

What songs are good for Black History Month?

"Lift Every Voice and Sing", written in 1900 by brothers James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson and known as the Black national anthem, is the essential song. "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke, "We Shall Overcome" and "People Get Ready" by The Impressions are the civil rights classics, and "Glory" by John Legend and Common is the modern anthem.

Civil rights songs and anthems

1. "Lift Every Voice and Sing": known as the Black national anthem.
2. "We Shall Overcome": the anthem of the civil rights movement.
3. "A Change Is Gonna Come", Sam Cooke: a song of patience and hope.
4. "People Get Ready", The Impressions: Curtis Mayfield's gospel-rooted call.
5. "Mississippi Goddam", Nina Simone: written after the 1963 Birmingham church bombing and the murder of Medgar Evers.
6. "Strange Fruit", Billie Holiday: the haunting protest against lynching.
7. "What's Going On", Marvin Gaye: a plea for understanding.
8. "Happy Birthday", Stevie Wonder: written to campaign for a national holiday honoring Dr. King.
9. "Abraham, Martin and John", Dion: a tribute to Lincoln, King and the Kennedys.
10. "Pride (In the Name of Love)", U2: written about Dr. King.

Spirituals and freedom songs

11. "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot": the beloved spiritual.
12. "Wade in the Water": a spiritual often linked to stories of escape on the Underground Railroad.
13. "Oh, Freedom": a spiritual sung again during the civil rights movement.
14. "This Little Light of Mine": the gospel song Fannie Lou Hamer made a movement anthem.
15. "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize": a freedom song of the movement.
16. "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around": sung on marches across the South.
17. "Ella's Song", Sweet Honey in the Rock: inspired by organizer Ella Baker.

Songs of Black pride and celebration

18. "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)", James Brown: the 1968 pride anthem.
19. "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", Nina Simone: written in honor of Lorraine Hansberry.
20. "Respect", Aretha Franklin: an anthem for civil rights and women's rights.
21. "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now", McFadden & Whitehead: pure determination.
22. "Brown Skin Girl", Beyoncé, Blue Ivy Carter, SAINt JHN and Wizkid: a celebration of dark-skinned girls.
23. "Black Parade", Beyoncé: released on Juneteenth 2020.
24. "Golden", Jill Scott: living life to the fullest.
25. "Video", India.Arie: a song of self-acceptance.

Modern songs about racism, protest and hope

26. "Glory", John Legend and Common: from Selma, winner of the Oscar for Best Original Song.
27. "Alright", Kendrick Lamar: an anthem of hope chanted at protests.
28. "Freedom", Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar: a powerful anthem.
29. "Rise Up", Andra Day: a song of resilience.
30. "Fight the Power", Public Enemy: from Do the Right Thing.
31. "Changes", 2Pac: a hard look at a world that needs to change.
32. "I Can't Breathe", H.E.R.: the 2020 protest song that won the Grammy for Song of the Year.
33. "Stand Up", Cynthia Erivo: from the film Harriet.
34. "Formation", Beyoncé: a bold celebration of Southern Black identity.

Black History Month songs for school

For a school assembly or classroom, start with "Lift Every Voice and Sing", which many schools teach every February, then add "We Shall Overcome", "This Little Light of Mine" and "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder, which students love once they learn its history. Older students can study "A Change Is Gonna Come", "Glory" and "Alright" alongside the events that inspired them.

Songs for church on Black History Month Sunday

Many churches mark February with spirituals and freedom songs: "Lift Every Voice and Sing", "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", "Wade in the Water", "Oh, Freedom" and "This Little Light of Mine" connect worship with the history of the struggle. For more gospel and worship songs, see our songs about God.

Songs for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

For MLK Day in January, "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder, "Pride (In the Name of Love)", "Abraham, Martin and John", "Glory" and "We Shall Overcome" honor Dr. King's life and legacy, and a recording of his speeches pairs well with a quiet instrumental of "Lift Every Voice and Sing".

Juneteenth songs

Juneteenth, June 19, marks the day in 1865 when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, and it became a federal holiday in 2021. "Lift Every Voice and Sing", "Black Parade", "Oh, Freedom" and "Freedom" are fitting songs for the celebration.

Why music matters to Black history

From spirituals sung in slavery to freedom songs on the marches to hip-hop today, music has carried news, courage, faith and protest when other voices were silenced. Listening to these songs in order is one of the best ways to understand the history behind them, which is why so many teachers use music to teach this month.

A song to honor someone's story

Every family carries its own history: the grandparents who marched, the first in the family to graduate, the elders who held everyone together. A personalized song can honor that story with their names and the moments your family will never forget, a meaningful gift for a family reunion, a milestone birthday or a memorial.

How to create a tribute song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: R&B, hip-hop and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three moments from their life and what they mean to your family.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Honor your family's story in a song: create a song and hear four previews for free.