Oh to be Young, Gifted, and Black in America

The DC Voice likes to open Black History Month with the traditional Negro National Anthem- Lift Ev’ry Voice by James Weldon Johnson. Since then there have been other classics such as Black Pearl by Sonny Charles, Checkmates, Ltd., Say it Loud – I\’m Black, and I\’m Proud by James Brown, or Black Butterfly by Deniece Williams. However, Miss Nina Simone\’s – To Be Young, Gifted, and Black is probably the modern era anthem. This post was originally published in February of  2016. It deserves a spot in our annual Black History Month recognition. ***** February 16, 2016 Photo courtesy of latevoice.com The original body of work \”To Be Young Gifted and Black,\” a poem by Lorraine Hansberry. She then requested Nina Simone to sing the song.  Do the words still hold truth in 2016? To be young, gifted and black, Oh what a lovely precious dream To be young, gifted and black, Open your heart to what I mean In the whole world you know There are billion boys and girls Who are young, gifted and black, And that\’s a fact! Young, gifted and black We must begin to tell our young There\’s a world waiting for you This is a quest that\’s just begun When you feel really low Yeah, there\’s a great truth you should know When you\’re young, gifted and black Your soul\’s intact Young, gifted and black How I long to know the truth There are times when I look back And I am haunted by my youth Oh but my joy of today Is that we can all be proud to say To be young, gifted and black Is where it\’s at The post Oh to be Young, Gifted, and Black in America appeared first on The DC Voice.