Katherine D. Tillman, "Our Cause" (1902)
Time was when in the Black's defense,
In hours with awful perils dense,
Brave men stood up and plead his cause
And stormed against inhuman laws;
But now where clanked his heavy chain
His slavers would rebind again,
And from him freed but yesterday--
Take every manly right away!
Brave Sumner! Whittier! are ye gone!
Thou hast no like to call upon.
Garrison! Lincoln! We call in vain,
We shall not see thy like again.
Then be the Black his own defense,
And though his struggles be intense,
Fight hard, fight e'er for every right
That's granted by our Charter's might!
Published in Recitations, 1902