UVA fellow helps understand significance of black national anthem

CHARLOTTESVILLE, V.A. (WVIR) - A University of Virginia fellow is working to help people better understand the significance of every version of the black national anthem.

At a Virginia Humanities Fellows talk in Albemarle County on Tuesday, Sonya Donaldson discussed her plans to create a website that features performances of the song, "Lift Every Voice and Sing." Donaldson says giving those performances historical context can help understand people's relationship to the song.

"To make some determination about what that data is telling us in addition to the performance we are also looking at what the information behind it can tell us or might tell us," Donaldson said.

Donaldson hopes her project can help people understand more of the cultural significance of the song.