CHAPTER PAGE

Postscript                              ix
Credo                                  1

I. The shadow of years 3
      A Litany at Atlanta 14

II.  The souls of white folk 17
      The Riddle of the Sphinx 30

III.  The hands of Ethiopia 32
      The Princess of the Hither Isles 43

IV.  Of work and wealth 47
      The Second Coming 60

V.  “The servant in the house” 63
      Jesus Christ in Texas 70

VI.  Of the ruling of men 78
      The Call 93

VII.  The damnation of women 95
      Children of the Moon 109

VIII.  THE IMMORTAL CHILD 114
      Almighty Death 128

IX.  OF BEAUTY AND DEATH 130
      The Prayers of God 145

X. THE COMET 149
      A Hymn to the Peoples 161

Credo

I believe in God, who made of one blood all nations that on earth do dwell.  I believe that all men, black and brown and white, are brothers, varying through time and opportunity, in form and gift and feature, but differing in no essential particular, and alike in soul and the possibility of infinite development.

Especially do I believe in the Negro Race:  in the beauty of its genius, the sweetness of its soul, and its strength in that meekness which shall yet inherit this turbulent earth.

I believe in Pride of race and lineage and self:  in pride of self so deep as to scorn injustice to other selves; in pride of lineage so great as to despise no man’s father; in pride of race so chivalrous as neither to offer bastardy to the weak nor beg wedlock of the strong, knowing that men may be brothers in Christ, even though they be not brothers-in-law.

I believe in Service—­humble, reverent service, from the blackening of boots to the whitening of souls; for Work is Heaven, Idleness Hell, and Wage is the “Well done!” of the Master, who summoned all them that labor and are heavy laden, making no distinction between the black, sweating cotton hands of Georgia and the first families of Virginia, since all distinction not based on deed is devilish and not divine.

I believe in the Devil and his angels, who wantonly work to narrow the opportunity of struggling human beings, especially if they be black; who spit in the faces of the fallen, strike them that cannot strike again, believe the worst and work to prove it, hating the image which their Maker stamped on a brother’s soul.