Prayers, Anthems, Affirmations
Black People’s Prayer
We call upon the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe to Inspire Us to live and work together in Unity, Love, and Respect. To remind Us that We are Servants of the Greater Good; and to Illuminate Our hearts and minds that We may draw from the best of Our Great Teachers and Leaders.
Give Us the Capacity to envision Ourselves and the World through Marcus Garvey’s Eyes; so We may know Our Greatness and Our Rightful Place in the World.
Grant Us Dedication and Vision to serve Our People, like Harriet Tubman; that We may realize that Freedom and Goodness must always be shared.
Grace Us with the Dignity and Humility of Dr. King; and give Us the Will to fight for a Moral and Just society.
In the spirit of David Walker, grant Us the Courage and Ability to stand up against oppression and speak Truth to Power.
Help Us develop the Self-transforming Abilities of Malcolm X; that We may reshape Ourselves into a New and Restored People.
Bestow upon Us the Faith, Strength, and Perseverance of Queen Mother Moore and Kwame Toure; that We may Repair, Heal, and Restore Ourselves back to a Self-Determining People.
Provide Us with Leaders who possess the Wisdom and Statesmanship of W.E.B. DuBois; that they may Walk Implacable upon the path of Justice, Truth, and Freedom. Give them the Will to live, work, and sacrifice for the good of the People, while never betraying Our trust through self-serving agendas.
Help Us to Recognize good leaders and enable Us to Trust, Love, and Follow them; that We may be victorious over the oppressors that oppress Us, and live to see Our sacrifices and hard work create our own ‘Nation’ and a better life for our people.
Inspire Our daily thoughts, words, and actions; so they may give Honor to Our Ancestors and Ourselves. Grace Us with a constant yearning to be ‘Free’ and good works that stand, like the Great Pyramids, as an everlasting Monument of Noble Strength for future generations.
May We Practice the teachings of Fannie Lou Hamer; by never forgetting where We came from, and always Praising the Bridges that carried Us over.
We pray Your Eternal Peace be with those who crossed over before Us; the named and un-named, the great ones and the small ones. May the Energy of their Spirits, their Wisdom, and their monumental Deeds be with Us. And may We forever dwell within YOUR Grace.
Amen,Medasi,Hotep,Ashe Written by WAUTELLA
********************************************************************
New Afrikan Liberation Prayer
Liberation above me, Liberation in me, Liberation beneath me,
Liberation in my mind, Liberation in my eyes, Liberation in my ears,
Liberation in my arms, Liberation in my hands, Liberation in my legs,
Liberation in my speech, Liberation in my soul, Liberation in my body,
Liberation when i rise, Liberation is my activity, Liberation when i lay down,
Liberation when i live and Liberation when I die,
Liberation is Nationhood – Land and Independence,
Liberation is the Republic of New Afrika, Liberation is We,
Liberation is now, Liberation is forever,
Liberation is the spirit of our Freedom Fighting Ancestors,
Liberation is the CREATOR’S grace!
by Cinque Kofi Kinaya
********************************************************************************************
Blessed Are Those Who Struggle
Blessed are those who struggle, oppression is worse than the grave. Better to die for a noble cause than to
Blessed are those who struggle, oppression is worse than the grave. Better to die for a noble cause than to live and die a slave.
Blessed are those who courted death, who offered their lives to give, who dared to rebel rather than serve the oppressor, to die that We might live.
Blessed are those who took up arms and dared to face our enemies, like Nat Turner, Denmark Vessey, Gabriel Prosser, and Cinque, to mention a few names We know.
Blessed are the memories of those who were there at the Harper’s Ferry raid. Strong were their hearts! Noble their cause and great was the price they paid!!
Blessed are the voices of those who stood up and cried out, ‘Let us be free!’ Douglass and Garvey and Sojourner Truth, DuBois and Drew Ali.
Blessed are the giants that We have loved and lost to the bullet sting. Like Malcolm and Medgar and the Panthers who fell and Martin Luther King.
Blessed are the bodies of those who were hung from the limbs of the Sycamore tree. Who found an end to their hope at the end of a rope cause they dared to be ‘Free’. Up through the years We’ve continued this fight, our liberation to obtain. Although We have faced insurmountable odds, yet the ‘will to resist remains’.
Blessed are the spirits of those who have died in the prisons like George Jackson all over this land. Who committed one sin, they stood up like men and got iced for just being a man.
Blessed are all of you who will join with us now in this struggle of lie and death. So that freedom and peace will be more than a word to the offspring that We have left.
- Suliaman El Hadi
******************************************************************************************************
Prayer at Sunrise
O mighty, powerful, dark-dispelling sun,
Now thou art risen, and thy day begun.
How shrink the shrouding mists before thy face,
As up thou spring'st to thy diurnal race!
How darkness chases darkness to the west,
As shades of light on light rise radiant from thy crest!
For thee, great source of strength, emblem of might,
In hours of darkest gloom there is no night.
Thou shinest on though clouds hide thee from sight,
And through each break thou sendest down thy light.
O greater Maker of this Thy great sun,
Give me the strength this one day's race to run,
Fill me with light, fill me with sun-like strength,
Fill me with joy to rob the day its length.
Light from within, light that will outward shine,
Strength to make strong some weaker heart than mine,
Joy to make glad each soul that feels its touch;
Great Father of the sun, I ask this much.
by James Weldon Johnson
******************************************************************************************************************
Black National Anthem
Lift Every Voice and sing till earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of liberty
Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening 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 chastening 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 which tears has been watered
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered
Out of 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 has 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 me 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
by James Weldon Johnson
****************************************************************************************************************** This Flag of Mine
byAmy Jacques Garvey
Regardless of what is told of it,
Here's to this flag of mine
The Red, Black and Green
Hopes in its future bright
Africa has seen.
Here's to the Red of it,
Great nations shall know of it
In time to come.
Red blood shall flow of it,
Historians shall write of it,
Great flag of mine.
Here's to the Black of it
Four hundred millions back of it,
Whose destiny depends on it
The RED, BLACK and GREEN of it,
Oh, Flag of Mine.
Here's to the Green of it
Young men shall dream of it,
Face shot and shells of it
Waving so high.
Here's to the whole of it
Colors brought and pole of it
Pleased is my soul with it
Regardless of what is told of it,
Thanks God for giving it
Great Flag of Mine.
Pledge to the Red, Black, and Green Flag
I commit my body, mind, and Spirit to
the protection, defense and security of the Red, Black and Green.
I dedicate my life to the redemption
of Mother Africa and the Liberation of her
scattered Black children.
I accept for myself and my descendants
the teachings of Universal African Nationalism
and I promise that our children will be instilled with
the purpose and knowledge of themselves as African People
in order that the cause of our struggle
will neither falter nor fail
until all Black people are free and united through
One God, One Aim, and One Destiny!!!
We call upon the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe to Inspire Us to live and work together in Unity, Love, and Respect. To remind Us that We are Servants of the Greater Good; and to Illuminate Our hearts and minds that We may draw from the best of Our Great Teachers and Leaders.
Give Us the Capacity to envision Ourselves and the World through Marcus Garvey’s Eyes; so We may know Our Greatness and Our Rightful Place in the World.
Grant Us Dedication and Vision to serve Our People, like Harriet Tubman; that We may realize that Freedom and Goodness must always be shared.
Grace Us with the Dignity and Humility of Dr. King; and give Us the Will to fight for a Moral and Just society.
In the spirit of David Walker, grant Us the Courage and Ability to stand up against oppression and speak Truth to Power.
Help Us develop the Self-transforming Abilities of Malcolm X; that We may reshape Ourselves into a New and Restored People.
Bestow upon Us the Faith, Strength, and Perseverance of Queen Mother Moore and Kwame Toure; that We may Repair, Heal, and Restore Ourselves back to a Self-Determining People.
Provide Us with Leaders who possess the Wisdom and Statesmanship of W.E.B. DuBois; that they may Walk Implacable upon the path of Justice, Truth, and Freedom. Give them the Will to live, work, and sacrifice for the good of the People, while never betraying Our trust through self-serving agendas.
Help Us to Recognize good leaders and enable Us to Trust, Love, and Follow them; that We may be victorious over the oppressors that oppress Us, and live to see Our sacrifices and hard work create our own ‘Nation’ and a better life for our people.
Inspire Our daily thoughts, words, and actions; so they may give Honor to Our Ancestors and Ourselves. Grace Us with a constant yearning to be ‘Free’ and good works that stand, like the Great Pyramids, as an everlasting Monument of Noble Strength for future generations.
May We Practice the teachings of Fannie Lou Hamer; by never forgetting where We came from, and always Praising the Bridges that carried Us over.
We pray Your Eternal Peace be with those who crossed over before Us; the named and un-named, the great ones and the small ones. May the Energy of their Spirits, their Wisdom, and their monumental Deeds be with Us. And may We forever dwell within YOUR Grace.
Amen,Medasi,Hotep,Ashe Written by WAUTELLA
********************************************************************
New Afrikan Liberation Prayer
Liberation above me, Liberation in me, Liberation beneath me,
Liberation in my mind, Liberation in my eyes, Liberation in my ears,
Liberation in my arms, Liberation in my hands, Liberation in my legs,
Liberation in my speech, Liberation in my soul, Liberation in my body,
Liberation when i rise, Liberation is my activity, Liberation when i lay down,
Liberation when i live and Liberation when I die,
Liberation is Nationhood – Land and Independence,
Liberation is the Republic of New Afrika, Liberation is We,
Liberation is now, Liberation is forever,
Liberation is the spirit of our Freedom Fighting Ancestors,
Liberation is the CREATOR’S grace!
by Cinque Kofi Kinaya
********************************************************************************************
Blessed Are Those Who Struggle
Blessed are those who struggle, oppression is worse than the grave. Better to die for a noble cause than to
Blessed are those who struggle, oppression is worse than the grave. Better to die for a noble cause than to live and die a slave.
Blessed are those who courted death, who offered their lives to give, who dared to rebel rather than serve the oppressor, to die that We might live.
Blessed are those who took up arms and dared to face our enemies, like Nat Turner, Denmark Vessey, Gabriel Prosser, and Cinque, to mention a few names We know.
Blessed are the memories of those who were there at the Harper’s Ferry raid. Strong were their hearts! Noble their cause and great was the price they paid!!
Blessed are the voices of those who stood up and cried out, ‘Let us be free!’ Douglass and Garvey and Sojourner Truth, DuBois and Drew Ali.
Blessed are the giants that We have loved and lost to the bullet sting. Like Malcolm and Medgar and the Panthers who fell and Martin Luther King.
Blessed are the bodies of those who were hung from the limbs of the Sycamore tree. Who found an end to their hope at the end of a rope cause they dared to be ‘Free’. Up through the years We’ve continued this fight, our liberation to obtain. Although We have faced insurmountable odds, yet the ‘will to resist remains’.
Blessed are the spirits of those who have died in the prisons like George Jackson all over this land. Who committed one sin, they stood up like men and got iced for just being a man.
Blessed are all of you who will join with us now in this struggle of lie and death. So that freedom and peace will be more than a word to the offspring that We have left.
- Suliaman El Hadi
******************************************************************************************************
Prayer at Sunrise
O mighty, powerful, dark-dispelling sun,
Now thou art risen, and thy day begun.
How shrink the shrouding mists before thy face,
As up thou spring'st to thy diurnal race!
How darkness chases darkness to the west,
As shades of light on light rise radiant from thy crest!
For thee, great source of strength, emblem of might,
In hours of darkest gloom there is no night.
Thou shinest on though clouds hide thee from sight,
And through each break thou sendest down thy light.
O greater Maker of this Thy great sun,
Give me the strength this one day's race to run,
Fill me with light, fill me with sun-like strength,
Fill me with joy to rob the day its length.
Light from within, light that will outward shine,
Strength to make strong some weaker heart than mine,
Joy to make glad each soul that feels its touch;
Great Father of the sun, I ask this much.
by James Weldon Johnson
******************************************************************************************************************
Black National Anthem
Lift Every Voice and sing till earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of liberty
Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening 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 chastening 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 which tears has been watered
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered
Out of 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 has 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 me 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
by James Weldon Johnson
****************************************************************************************************************** This Flag of Mine
byAmy Jacques Garvey
Regardless of what is told of it,
Here's to this flag of mine
The Red, Black and Green
Hopes in its future bright
Africa has seen.
Here's to the Red of it,
Great nations shall know of it
In time to come.
Red blood shall flow of it,
Historians shall write of it,
Great flag of mine.
Here's to the Black of it
Four hundred millions back of it,
Whose destiny depends on it
The RED, BLACK and GREEN of it,
Oh, Flag of Mine.
Here's to the Green of it
Young men shall dream of it,
Face shot and shells of it
Waving so high.
Here's to the whole of it
Colors brought and pole of it
Pleased is my soul with it
Regardless of what is told of it,
Thanks God for giving it
Great Flag of Mine.
Pledge to the Red, Black, and Green Flag
I commit my body, mind, and Spirit to
the protection, defense and security of the Red, Black and Green.
I dedicate my life to the redemption
of Mother Africa and the Liberation of her
scattered Black children.
I accept for myself and my descendants
the teachings of Universal African Nationalism
and I promise that our children will be instilled with
the purpose and knowledge of themselves as African People
in order that the cause of our struggle
will neither falter nor fail
until all Black people are free and united through
One God, One Aim, and One Destiny!!!