Black Gold

We are kicking off our racial identity development series here at Experiencing History, with Esperanza Spalding's song, "Black Gold."

Black Gold

by 

Esperanza Spalding

Hold your head as high as you can

High enough to see who you are, little man

Life sometimes is cold and cruel

Baby no one else will tell you so remember that 

You are Black Gold, Black Gold

You are Black Gold

Now maybe no one else has told you so

But you're golden, baby

Black Gold with a diamond soul

Think of all the strength you have in you 

From the blood you carry within you

Ancient men, powerful men

Built us a civilization

They'll be folks hell-bent on putting you down

Don't get burned

Not necessarily everyone will know your worth

Think of all the strength you have in you 

From the blood you carry within you

Ancient men, powerful men

Built us a civilization

Think of all the strength you have in you

Powerful, powerful men

Built us a civilization

Hold your head as high as you can

High enough to see who you are, little man

Life sometimes is cold and cruel

Baby no one else will tell you so remember that 

You are Black Gold, Black Gold

You are Black Gold

There'll be folks hell-bent on putting you down

Don't get burned

Not necessarily everyone will know your worth

Think of all the strength you have in you 

From the blood you carry within you

Ancient men, powerful men

Built us a civilization

Think of all the strength you have in you

Powerful, powerful men

Built us a civilization

Hold your head as high as you can

High enough to see who you are, little man

Life sometimes is cold and cruel

Baby no one else will tell you so remember that 

You are Black Gold, Black Gold

You are Black Gold

Think of all the strength you have in you 

From the blood you carry within you

Ancient men, powerful men

Built us a civilization

All the strength

All the blood

That you carry

Ancient men 

Powerful men

In you

Built us a civilization

Hold your head as high as you can

High enough to see who you are, little man

Life sometimes is cold and cruel

Baby no one else will tell you so remember that 

You are Black Gold, Black Gold

You are Black Gold

You are Black Gold, Black Gold

You are Black Gold

You are Black Gold, Black Gold

You are Black Gold

You are Black Gold, Black Gold

You are Black Gold

Hold your head as high as you can

High enough to see who you are, little man

Life sometimes is cold and cruel

Baby no one else will tell you so remember that 

You are Black Gold

You are Black Gold

You are

You are

You are

Hold your head up

Don't give up 

You are Black Gold 

You are 

You are

Black Gold

Black Gold, Black Gold, Black Gold