[NABS-L] Fwd: [nFBMI-Talk] Civil rights, Poetry and Romance

[Amy Sabo]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lydia Anne Schuck via NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2018 21:27:34 +0000
Subject: Re: [nFBMI-Talk] Civil rights, Poetry and Romance
To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Lydia Anne Schuck <lydia.a.schuck at wmich.edu>

Fred, I sang it in high school choir, and I still remember a lot of
the words. That was probably a couple hundred voices. Lydia

________________________________
From: NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of Fred
Wurtzel via NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2018 3:49:13 PM
To: msb-alumni at freelists.org
Cc: Fred Wurtzel
Subject: [nFBMI-Talk] Civil rights, Poetry and Romance

Hello,



Here are the lyrics to a song sometimes referred to as the "Black National
Anthem."  I believe it speaks to all of America and the world for that
matter.  I apologize if you are familiar with this, but I am so moved by
this song.  I have been aware of the song for quite a while, but I have
never really studied it.  Today, in celebration of Martin Luther King's
Birthday, I listened to 15 or 20 different renditions of the song thanks to
Apple Music.  It is so great.  Not all interpretations are equal, though I
leave it to you to take a listen and choose your favorite.



To me, this song is totally appropriate at Passover.  I can imagine Moses
reciting this poem or singing this song. It is an eternal song of struggle
away from oppression, bondage and subjugation, clearly appropriate to our
struggles as blind folks.  It is also a warning not to forget how we got
where we are.  All struggles have these things in common and never seem to
end.  We must always embrace faith and hope, as the lyrics note.



I hope you don't mind my little meditation on this song.  It has been
uplifting and grounding for me.  I hope it can have that effect for some of
you.



By the way, the song was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 to
commemorate Lincoln's birthday.  When I was in about 6th or 7th grade, Mary
Iscaro, now Wurtzel,  was in high school Forensics competition for the
Michigan School for the Blind.  Her entry was a recitation  of "The
Creation" by James Weldon Johnson.  Totally unknown to mary (I am 4 years
younger than Mary), I was in the audience in the Lions hall Auditorium where
she did a dress rehearsal of her recitation.  I was young and not much
acquainted with poetry or dramatic reading.  Mary truly blew me out of my
seat with her recitation.  She never knew of how moving this was to me until
we were married some 13 or so years later.  Johnson is a pretty amazing
writer and has had an impact on my life, even if in a kind of crazy romantic
way.  Poetry and civil rights are like that.



Warmest Regards,



Fred



Lift Every Voice and Sing



James Weldon Johnson

,

1871

-

1938





Lift every voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the
harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the list'ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that
the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present
has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on
till victory is won. Stony the road we trod, Bitter the chast'ning rod, Felt
in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, Have not our
weary feet Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over
a way that with tears has been watered. We have come, treading our path
through the blood of the slaughtered, Out from the gloomy past, Till now we
stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast. God of our
weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who hast brought us thus far on
the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, Led us into the light, Keep us forever
in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we
met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand, True to our God,  True to
our native land.





_______________________________________________
NFBMI-Talk mailing list
NFBMI-Talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
NFBMI-Talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/lydia.a.schuck%40wmich.edu
_______________________________________________
NFBMI-Talk mailing list
NFBMI-Talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
NFBMI-Talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/amieelsabo%40gmail.com

hello all,

i'm forwarding to you all a song/poem which was sent to me through the
nfb of mi nfbnet list today! I hope that you enjoy it all since it
represents mlk day today!