Black Man’s Burden
Reverend H.T. Johnson –– 1899

Pile on the Black Man’s Burden. ‘Tis nearest at your door;
Why heed long bleeding Cuba, or dark Hawaii’s shore?
Hail ye your fearless armies,
Which menace feeble folks
Who fight with clubs and arrows
and brook your rifle’s smoke.
Pile on the Black Man’s Burden
His wail with laughter drown
You’ve sealed the Red Man’s problem,
And will take up the Brown,
With bullets, blood or death
Better by far defend it
With honor’s holy breath.