In _Here I Stand_ (1958), Robeson says: Yes , for well over 300 years my people have been a part of American life and history. A half-century has passed since W.E.B. Dubois , in his classic _The Souls of Black Folk_ challenged white Americans in these words of poetry and truth:
"Your country ? How came it yours ? Before the Pilgrims landed we were here. Here we have brought our three gifts and mingled them with yours: a gift of story and song - soft, stirring melody in an ill-harmonized and unmelodious land; the gift of sweat and brawn to beat back the wilderness, conquer the soil, lay the foundations of the vast economic empire two hundred years before your weak hands could have done it; the third gift of the spirit...Our song, our toil our cheer...Would America have been America without her Negro people ? " Michelle Obama was on "The View" television show, and she was asked about her statement that this is the first time that she has been proud of her country ( the media has an obsession with her saying this). She explained that she meant "politically". That's a good idea. It is the politics of America which have been bad. Perhaps we can be proud of parts of American culture, art, music, parties, cabarets and labor. Charles >>> Ralph Dumain <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 06/23/2008 3:21 PM >>> I was thinking of this one too as a a specimen of Black Americanism, but couldn't remember the reference. At 12:41 PM 6/23/2008, Charles Brown wrote: >Let America Be America Again >by Langston Hughes _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis This message has been scanned for malware by SurfControl plc. www.surfcontrol.com _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
