It's Here: The Bee Blunt x JWJF Lift Every Voice and Sing Scarf
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Today's the day. The Bee Blunt x JWJF Lift Every Voice and Sing Scarf, our collaboration with Bee Blunt, the lifestyle and fashion brand founded by Portia Blunt, is officially available, and we could not be more excited to see it out in the world.
This scarf began not with a sketch, but in the archives. Working closely with our Foundation, Portia Blunt and the Bee Blunt team were granted the extraordinary privilege of accessing James Weldon Johnson's literary archives and visiting the historic property where he lived and wrote, including his writing cabin. What emerged from that research is a wearable archive: crafted from 100% silk, the design carries passages lifted directly from Johnson's own handwritten journal, in his hand, in his ink, as he crafted the words to "Lift Every Voice and Sing," woven into something beautiful enough to be passed down. Every purchase does double duty, too. 25% of every sale goes directly to support the work of the James Weldon Johnson Foundation.
About the Hymn
Written in 1899 by James Weldon Johnson (lyrics) and J. Rosamond Johnson (music), it was first performed in Jacksonville, Florida on February 12, 1900, as a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln. Since then, it has grown into a powerful anthem of unity and resilience, deeply rooted in the American experience and the ongoing struggle for justice, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
This enduring hymn captures the best of American culture through great art, harmony, melody, and lyrics. Sung in churches, schools, and at pivotal moments in the Civil Rights Movement, its stirring verses continue to inspire and uplift. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" is more than a song; it is a national treasure that reminds us of the unbreakable spirit of a people and the collective pursuit of equality and freedom.
In February 1900, a group of young men in Jacksonville, Florida, organized a celebration of President Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Recognizing the importance of the occasion, James Weldon Johnson, then the principal of Stanton School, and his brother J. Rosamond Johnson decided to compose a song for the event. James wrote the heartfelt lyrics, and J. Rosamond, a classically trained composer, created the music.
Performed by a choir of 500 schoolchildren, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" debuted as a stirring tribute to Lincoln's legacy. The song's emotional depth and universal message immediately resonated with the audience. Although the Johnson brothers moved to New York shortly after, the children of Jacksonville carried the song with them to schools, churches, and communities, ensuring its steady spread across the South.
Within two decades, the song was widely recognized as the "Negro National Hymn," a title reflecting the striving of all people and the faith of citizens in a nation even in the face of America's systemic injustice.
About the Design
The result does not simply illustrate the hymn; it enters into dialogue with it, translating its emotional and spiritual depth into a visual language that is at once bold, layered, and deeply felt. Woven through themes of heritage, struggle, triumph, ambition, and collective memory, it reflects the full complexity of the Black American journey, a story marked by both profound pain and extraordinary beauty.
The scarf is crafted from 100% Mulberry silk in a 63 cm x 63 cm (24.8" x 24.8") square, designed to be worn around the neck, tied to a handbag, styled as a head scarf, or displayed as a piece of collectible textile art.
How to Help Us Make Today Count
Get yours. Shop now while it's freshest off the line, and consider one for a friend or family member too.
Tag us when it arrives. Follow @beebluntstudio and @jamesweldonjohnsonfoundation and tag us in your photos. We want to see (and share) every one!
Spread the word. Repost, forward, tell a friend. The wider this reaches today, the more it supports the Foundation's mission.
Thank you for being part of this moment. Every scarf worn is a voice lifted.