Lord give me my Blackness

Give me the Blackness that I own

And cannot sell.

Give me the Blackness that is not the color of my skin,

But the identification of my race's cell.

Lord, give me my Blackness.

The Blackness that dwells at the bottom of the seas and rivers.

Give me the Blackness that protects me from the sunrays of heat

That flows from the top of my head to the top of my feet.

Lord, give me my Glory, Glory, Hallelujah Blackness.

Give me the Blackness that survived in Africa.

Give me the Blackness of the stow-away at the bellow of the ships.

Give me the blackness of my ancestral slaves.

Give me the Blackness of my civil rights days.

Give me the Blackness from the bellows of my soul that moves me within.

Give me the Blackness that history transcends.

Lord, Give me my Blackness.

The Blackness that evolved from African, Black, Nigger, Negro, Mulatto, Colored, and sort.

Give me my Blackness that developed me from the start.

Lord, give me my Blackness.

Give me the Blackness that broadens my nose and thickens my lips.

Give me the Blackness that debuted between my mother's hips.

Lord, give me my Blackness.

The Blackness that creates the locks of my hair;

The color of my eyes;

The Blackness that withstands discrimination and despair.

Lord, give me my Blackness.

The Blackness that forgives, but cannot forget the maltreatment

Of my ancestors;

That I share with my brothers and sisters.

Lord, give me my Blackness.

The Blackness that looks into the mirror saying,

"What must I overcome today."

Lord, Give me my Blackness.

Give me the Blackness to educate those that are unfortunate

To understand my Blackness.

Give me the Blackness.

Lord, Give me the Blackness to stand firm

When I become a burden to those who do not want me to discern

Their trickery and beguiling ways.

Lord, give me the Blackness that makes me.

Lord, give me my Blackness.