America’s Young Black Joe!

One tenth of the population
Of this mighty nation
Was sun-tanned by nature long ago,
But we’re Americans by birth and training
So our country will be gaining
When every citizen learns to know
That I’m America’s Young Black Joe!

Manly, good natured, smiling and gay,
My sky is sometimes cloudy
But it won’t stay that way.
I’m comin’, I’m comin’—
But my head AIN’T bending, low!
I’m walking proud! I’m speaking out loud!
I’m America’s Young Black Joe!

This is my own my native land,
And I’m mighty glad that’s true.
Land where my fathers worked
The same as yours worked, too.
So from every mountain side
Let freedom’s bright torch glow—
Standing hand in hand with democracy,
I’m America’s Young Black Joe!

Besides Joe Louis there’s Henry Armstrong,
Three titles to his name,
Beat everybody that was his size
In the fighting game.
Then there was Kenny Washington
In a football suit.
Run, pass, kick, tackle, and block to boot.

And don’t forget track men like Ellerbe
Who piles up points for Tuskegee,
Or Jessie Owens with his laurel wreath
That made old Hitler grit his teeth.
Look at those dark boys streaking by,
Feet just Aying and head held high.
Looky yonder at Metcalf, Johnson,
Tolan! Down the field they go,
Swift and proud before the crowd—
They’re America’s Young Black Joe!

This is our own, our native land,
And I’m mighty glad that’s true.
Land where my fathers worked
The same as yours worked, too.
So from every mountain side
Let freedom’s bright torch glow—
Standing hand in hand with democracy
I’m America’s Young Black Joe!