HEY BLACK CHILD

Hey Black Child

Do ya know who you are

Who ya really are

Do ya know you can be

what ya wanna be

If ya try to be

What ya can be

Hey Black Child

Do ya know where ya goin

Where ya really goin

Do ya know ya can learn

What ya wanna learn

If ya try to learn

What ya can learn

Hey Black Child

Do ya know ya are strong

I mean really strong

Do ya know you can do

What ya wanna do

If ya try to do

What ya can do

Hey Black Child

Be what ya can be

Learn what ya must learn

Do what ya can do

And tomorrow your nation

Will be what ya want it to be

Written by – Useni Eugene Perkins

From the book: ‘Make a Joyful Sound: Poems for Children by African-American Poets.’ Edited by: Deborah Slier.

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