To Be Young Gifted and Black

02-15-2021

"To Be Young, Gifted and Black," with lyrics written by Weldon Irvine and sung by the incomparable Nina Simone, was first recorded in 1969. It was considered to be an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, with its inspiring message and uplifting image of black identity. It was written as a tribute to Simone's late friend, Lorraine Hansberry, who wrote the play, A Raisin in the Sun, and who died at the tender age of 34.

Young, gifted and black

Oh what a lovely precious dream

To be young, gifted and black

Open your heart to what I mean

In the whole world you know

There's a million boys and girls

Who are young, gifted and black

And that's a fact

"You are young, gifted and black"

We must begin to tell our young

There's a world waiting for you

Yours is the quest that's just begun

When you feelin' really low

Yeah, there's a great truth that you should know

When you're young, gifted and black

Your soul's intact

How to be young, gifted and black?

Oh, how I long to know the truth

There are times when I look back

And I am haunted by my youth

Oh, but my joy of today

Is that we can all be proud to say

"To be young, gifted and black

Is where it's at"

Is where it's at

Is where it's at

To hear the original song with lyrics, click here.

By Roland Godefroy - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4599740