I sang this song when I was 13 years old. I attended the middle school that was assigned for my area and we had predominantly all black teachers. My music teacher was black but she was in charge of music for the state of the Delaware. As I had sung with the school chorus since 3rd grade she was grooming me to one day sing opera. This particular song was one of her favorites and she gave me the honor of singing it for local churches (black and white). In two months time I will turn 69 years old and I can still remember the words. What a beautiful tribute to the black race.