The Black Woman
 |
| Unknown Author |
Black queen of beauty, thou hast
given color to the world!
given color to the world!
Among other women thou art royal and
the fairest!
the fairest!
Like the brightest of jewels in the
regal diadem, Shin’st thou, Goddess of Africa,
regal diadem, Shin’st thou, Goddess of Africa,
Nature’s purest emblem!
Black men worship at thy virginal
shrine of truest love,
shrine of truest love,
Because in thine eyes are virtue’s
steady and holy mark,
steady and holy mark,
As we see in no other, clothed in silk
or fine linen,
or fine linen,
From ancient Venus, the Goddess, to
mythical Helen.
mythical Helen.
When Africa stood at the head of the
elder nations,
elder nations,
The Gods used to travel from foreign
lands to look at thee:
lands to look at thee:
On couch of costly Eastern materials,
all perfumed,
all perfumed,
Reclined thee, as in thy path flow’rs
were strewn- sweetest that bloomed.
were strewn- sweetest that bloomed.
Thy transcendent marvelous beauty
made the whole world mad,
made the whole world mad,
Bringing Solomon to tears as he
viewed thy comeliness;
viewed thy comeliness;
Anthony and the elder Caesars wept at
thy royal feet,
thy royal feet,
Preferring death than to leave thy
presence, their foes to meet.
presence, their foes to meet.
You, in all ages, have attracted the
adoring world,
adoring world,
And caused many a bloody banner to be
unfurled:
unfurled:
You have sat upon exalted and lofty
eminence,
eminence,
To see a world fight in your ancient
African defense.
African defense.
Today you have been dethroned,
through the weakness of your men,
through the weakness of your men,
While, in frenzy, those who of yore
craved your smiles and your hand-
craved your smiles and your hand-
Those who were all monsters and could
not with love approach you-
not with love approach you-
Have insulted your pride and now
attack your good virtue.
attack your good virtue.
Because of disunion you became mother
of the world,
of the world,
Giving tinge of robust color to five
continents, Making a greater world of millions of colored races,
continents, Making a greater world of millions of colored races,
Whose claim to beauty is reflected
through our black faces.
through our black faces.
From the handsome Indian to European
brunette,
brunette,
There is a claim for that credit of
their sunny beauty
their sunny beauty
That no one can e’er to take from
thee,
thee,
0 Queen of all women
Who have borne trials and troubles
and racial burden.
and racial burden.
Once more we shall, in Africa, fight
and conquer for you,
and conquer for you,
Restoring the pearly crown that proud
Queen Sheba did wear:
Queen Sheba did wear:
Yea, it may mean blood, it may mean
death; but still we shall fight,
death; but still we shall fight,
Bearing our banners to Vict’ry, men
of Afric’s might.
of Afric’s might.
Superior Angels look like you in
Heaven above,
Heaven above,
For thou art fairest, queen of the
seasons, queen of our love:
seasons, queen of our love:
No condition shall make us ever in
life desert thee,
life desert thee,
Sweet Goddess of the ever green land and placid
blue sea.
