Camille Naudin
“La Marseillaise Noire — Chant de Paix”
“The Black Marseillaise — Song of Peace”
Translated by Manaen Mundi.
African sons! Sad victims,
Dehumanized by an absurd yoke
Brought about by Monsters
We must forget their crimes,
We must think of Jesus who said:
“People, no more blood, no more wars
“That abase humanity,
“I'm Brotherhood
“Embrace ourselves for we are brothers.”
Stand Up! The time is now for every man,
Regardless of his color or race, to claim the bread that is of his own toil.
Long enough! the infamous whip
Whose strokes have crushed us,
and made us without name, without home, and without a soul;
Enough of bondage! Shame, enough!
In divine compact,
Blacks and Whites alike,
With the death of old abuses,
Must move forward in all confidence,
Stand Up! The time is now for every man,
Regardless of his color or race, to claim the bread that is of his own toil.
Stand Up! for the solemn moment is now!
As the Old Guard collapses,
A waddling despotism
Will enthrone Liberty,
Discord unsows its seed
Human reason progresses;
It is intelligence and character
And not color of skin that make the man.
Stand Up! The time is now for every man,
Regardless of his color or race, to claim the bread that is of his own toil.
Let the darkness cease! Let there be light!
The Gospel comes to light;
The White man calls the Negro: “my brother,”
Over is Cain’s curse;
No more bloodshed! Treacherous ignorance,
The tyrant’s horrific weapon,
Self-destroying humanity
Away and no more of death, blood, and vengeance!
Stand Up! The time is now for every man,
Regardless of his color or race, to claim the bread that is of his own toil.
Let march on! Regardless of color,
Men of color, unite;
For the light of the sun is for everyone.
May each happy race prosper,
To the frontiers of humanity
Engrave these words: I hope in Thee,
Thou shalt reign, Equality.
Original text
Notes
- Brotherhood, Liberty, and Equality (Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité) first appeared in the French Revolution. The term ‘equality’ was especially controversial in America, and for example was stricken from the Pledge of Allegiance. As the final word here, it serves as the climax to the poem.
- Cain’s curse. The curse and mark of Cain (Gen. 4) and the curse of Ham (Gen. 9) were used by white Christians to justify the subjugation of black people.
Text prepared by
- Brandon Ainsworth
- Amrit Awal
- Dave Clark
- Manaen Mundi
- Brittany Pier
Source
Naudin, Camille. “La Marseillaise Noire.” Tribune de la Nouvelle-Orléans 17 June 1867. Print.