Carrie Williams Clifford, "All Hail! Ye Colored Graduates" (1911)
Tune — "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name."
All hail, ye colored graduates
From college and from school;
May high ideals each life inspire
And service be its rule!
Let ev'ry citizen and friend
In our loved country wide,
Join in our hearty song of praise
And share our righteous pride.
We bid you go as champions brave
To fight for God and right;
And bring to those who are oppressed
Great Freedom's glorious light.
You'll find the fields for harvest ripe,
But laborers very few;
Then forth with willing hearts and strong
The evil to subdue.
Discouragements will oft confront
And seek to vanquish you;
But know that naught on earth can thwart
The man who WILLS to do.
Then forward, onward, upward go!
And as you boldly press
Your way to life's exalted heights
The Lord of Hosts will bless.
Published in Race Rhymes, 1911