[nFBMI-Talk] Civil rights, Poetry and Romance

[christine Boone]

What a grand song and what a wonderful story about your first glimpse of the
lovely and talented Miss Mary Iscaro! Thank you for sharing this most
fitting song with us on the splendid day on which we celebrate the loving
power and masterful leadership of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.!  

Federation hugs to all,

Christine

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMI-Talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Fred Wurtzel via NFBMI-Talk
> Sent: Monday, January 15, 2018 2:49 PM
> To: msb-alumni at freelists.org
> Cc: Fred Wurtzel <f.wurtzel at att.net>
> 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/christineboone2%40gmail.com