Celebrating the 120th anniversary of the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing," Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures will hold an event with Kelly Starling Lyons about her book that celebrates the Black National Anthem and how it inspired five generations of a family.

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The song was written by two Florida brothers, one of whom was the principal of a segregated, all-Black song, so that his students could sing it for a tribute to Abraham Lincoln's birthday in 1900.

Since then, the song has provided inspiration and solace for generations of Black families. Mothers and fathers passed it on to their children, who sang it to their children and grandchildren. It has been sung during significant moments of the Civil Rights Movement and at family gatherings and college graduations.

Inspired by the song's endurance, Kelly Starling Lyons and Keith Mallett tell a story about the generations of families who have gained hope and strength from the song.

Starling Lyons is a founding member of The Brown Bookshelf, a teaching artist, and an author of more than 30 books for young readers.

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Copies of "Sing a Song: How Life Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations" are available at City of Asylum Bookstore.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 30 at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, located at 4440 Forbes Avenue. For more information, visit the event's web page.