An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
Official websites use .gov A
.gov website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A
lock (
) or https:// means you've safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
Lift Every Voice: The Black Experience in the Heartland
A scene from the play, "Lift Every Voice, The Black Experience in the Heartland."
NPS Photo
In 2016, the National Park Service presented a Bright Star Theatre production, Lift Every Voice, The Black Experience in the Heartland. The play celebrated the National Park Service Centennial and African American history in the Midwest. The production traveled to or near 20 Midwest parks and connected people to black history themes in the Midwest, and the lives of extraordinary figures such as Dred Scott, Abraham Lincoln, Bass Reeves, Colonel Charles Young, George Washington Carver and Elizabeth Eckford. The play was performed at park sites, but also neighboring theaters, historically black churches, school auditoriums, and children's homes.