SING IT. SAVE IT. SHARE IT.
AN INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM - LIKE SUN TO THE DAY, WE...ARE...THE LIGHT!!
The Black History Song is solely the lyrical creation of lifelong educator, Thea Paul, of Richmond, Virginia. The song was written, sung, and recorded in four languages (English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese) in order to create a bond with Black and Brown people in multiple nations. People of African descent in the Western Hemisphere are united in their journey and struggle for equality.
May their light continue to shine forevermore.
Available on YouTube (see the Lyrics page for each link), Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, and other streaming platorms.
LYRICS
Woe is the way / On the sea, tossed and turned. /
Giving our lives, for our freedom how it burns. / We opened our minds to the knowledge, lift us up. / We aim for the skyline, revolution to be tough
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Jim Crow don't show
no love. We know it's true.
Push and protest and pray.
Prepare the way.
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Like sun to the day, we're light.
We are LIGHT!
And we shine forevermore.
'Cause we know there's a better day ahead (3X)
THE BLACK HISTORY SONG CHALLENGE
The Black History Song Challenge is an opportunity for young people of African heritage to celebrate and showcase their unique, special, and dynamic character, talents, and authenticity and to share their awesomeness with the world via social media. The contest is sponsored by Thea Paul, the creator of the song, and by other business and community supporters.
ELIGIBILITY: While all students are invited to participate, only high school seniors and undergraduate college students in Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, and Petersburg Virginia may submit their video productions for a chance to win a cash prize and an academic scholarship.
AWARD: The winner will receive a plaque, a $50 cash award, and a $500 scholarship made payable to an institution of higher education.
DATES: Scholarship submission dates are February 1 – February 28 of each calendar year. Winners are announced on June 19.
CONTACT: For scholarship guidelines, email
theblackhistorysong@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 804-630-7444.
The song for this contest is available in multiple languages on YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other digital streaming platforms.
FOR THE CULTURE
Music Acknowledgments. We'd like to recognize the following persons for their help in bringing this project to fruition:
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Jeraldine Herbison - Orchestral Composer
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Jordan Blackstone – Concept musician
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Fabian Lance Dickerson - Producer / Keyboardist
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Phillip Foster, Jr. - Drums
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Carl Lester - Bass Guitar
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Shawn Chappelle - Background Vocals
Start A Movement In Your City. In the spirit of global community, we encourage other cities to adopt this song, -- to sing it, save it, and share it in order to promote similar campaigns with young people all over the country and hemisphere. Let's be the change we want to see. Let's encourage our teenagers to flood the internet with such positive representations of African-American, Afro-Latino, and Afro-Caribbean youth that we cause a shift in the mentality of America and the world.
Elementary And Secondary School Lesson Plans. Are you looking for ways to use The Black History Song with your school-aged children? Students of all ethnicities should know the rich history of African-American, Afro-Latino and Afro-Caribbean people.
Below is a link to classroom activities that may enrich your teaching and learning experience during Black History Month.