Ida German Carter; Baltimore Afro-American Ledger, August 9, 1902

O God we ask of Thee,
Give us full liberty,
O hear our plea!
Lead this our race aright,
Through the dark shades of night,
Into the perfect light,
Ordained by Thee.

We from our native land,
Brought by the captor’s hand,
To till the soil,
Worked! yes, with willing heart,
And felt the burning smart,
Wrought by the captor’s art,
Deep in our souls.

Now that the chains are broke
O lift off us the yoke
That gall our neck,
We want the perfect right
To walk in freedoms [sic] light–
Fearing not day and night,
Those who would wreck.

O here [sic] our feeble cry,
And here [sic] us ‘ere we die–
None can but Thee
Break every barrier down,
That would our rights confound,
Let freedom’s song abound
O’er land and sea.

Our God, Our Father see,
None take our liberty,–
Given by Thee!
We’re weak, but Thou art strong,
Make not the suffering long,
Right everything that’s wrong,
On earth or sea.

    The above hymn was composed by Miss Ida German Carter in the midst of the great police riot, which took place on the night of August 15, 1900, in the city of New York.