Editors Note: Mr. Perkins passed on May 7, 2023, at the age of 90
Have you heard the poem Hey Black Child before? Usually, recited by a snaggle-toothed Black child proudly and boldly for all to hear? I was introduced to it as a young child in the church, where one lucky kid among us was chosen to recite the penultimate presentation before the end of the program. This poem was penned by Chicagoan, Useni Eugene Perkins, and the story of how we FINALLY credited the proper poet is a long one.
I used his lyric to open up our Black History Month celebrations back in 2013. Long before the big correction of attribution began. You see, I mistakenly attributed the poem to Countee Cullen, a poet, novelist, children’s writer, and playwright, particularly well-known during the Harlem Renaissance. Without doing my due diligence, I let that attribution stay up through my re-publishing of the poem yesterday. All is well, and it’s nice that during my research I found that Perkins is still alive and well AND a Chicagoan!
Chi-City STAND UP!
I’ve often wondered how it feels to have something so ingrained in the Black community not be credited to you. It was written in 1975 for a musical for children entitled BLACK FAIRY, which was a play about a young boy who lacked self-esteem. Perkins wrote the musical because he felt there were few plays that celebrated Black history and culture while inspiring Black children.
One of the things that connected my husband and me when we were younger was the memory we had of children at the church I attended (with his aunt) always reciting this poem whenever we had a kids service. It didn’t matter if it was Black History Month or not, we were going to say it with our chest. I’m pretty sure at some point in time, my future husband may have seen me recite it.
I’m thinking that we may have this committed to memory by ALL of the children – yep, even the adult one this year, so those affirmations can be deep in their spirits. Okay, maybe I won’t make my big kid memorize it, but I’ll just say it nonstop so it is absorbed by osmosis.
Is there a favorite poem that inspires you these days? We’re very well aware of the likes of Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes – given that even THIS poem was attributed to them at one point in time.
I’m glad to have corrected this information and to once again share the words with you and your family for this round of Black History.
Hey Black Child
Useni Eugene Perkins
Hey Black Child,
Do you know who you are?
Who you really are?
Do you know you can be
What you want to be?
If you try to be
what you can be.
Hey Black Child,
Do you know where you’re going?
Where you’re really going?
Do you know you can learn
What you want to learn?
If you try to learn
What you can learn?
Hey Black Child,
Do you know you are strong?
I mean really strong?
Do you know you can do
What you want to do?
If you try to do
What you can do?
Hey Black Child,
Be what you can be
Learn what you must learn
Do what you can do
And tomorrow your nation will be
what you want it to be