"This Is A War Cry" - African American Church "War Cries" (Information, Comments, & YouTube Videos)

 

"This Is A War Cry: Calling All Of The Warriors" ♪Micah Stampley

Praise & Worship Songs, Published on Mar 8, 2012

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about and five YouTube videos of African American church praise break chants and music that are referred to as "War Cries".

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. And thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Most of the content of this post was published in a 2015 pancocojams post that has been deleted.

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INFORMATION ABOUT CHRISTIAN CHURCH "WAR CRIES"
Christian "War Cries" are chants with up-tempo, "hot" percussive music that is sung and played for "praise breaks". The "War Cry" is most closely associated with Apostolic Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr. who spread his particular rendition of that chant throughout African American Apostolic and Pentecostal congregations as well as other Black and non-Black Christian congregations in the United States.

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THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH WAR CRIES
"War Cries" are part of the Apostolic and Pentecostal traditions of "praise breaks". The purpose of praise breaks is to help bring down the Holy Spirit so that worshippers praise God by doing the Holy dance ("shout", "get happy", "get your praise on", "cut a step"), by speaking in tongues, and in other ways.

Micah Stampley's "This Is A War Cry Calling All Of The Warriors" song was recorded in 2005. A recording of "War Cry" led by Bishop Moales, Sr. was released January 4, 2011 -after Bishop Moales, Sr's death. That album Greater Mount Calvary Live As Told By The Music Ministry was recorded when Bishop Moales' visited that church which is located in Washington DC. Bishop Moales' church was in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Here's an excerpt from a book about the Pentecostal denomination that describes "praise breaks" although it doesn't use that term:

"The Special Language of Pentacostalism [Pentecostalism]" from Elaine J. Lawless, God's Peculiar People University Press of Kentucky, 1988 http://www.folkstreams.net/context,104
"In a typical Pentecostal church service several activities are common, all of which are geared toward helping the group members get happy or get a blessing, which refers to states where uninhibited behaviors such as crying, dancing in the spirit (in possession), jerks, tongue-speaking, and shouting can be exhibited. Shouting can take various forms, from shrieking to crying to speaking in tongues. It is viewed as a supranormal utterance, and, like spirit dancing, cannot be controlled by the individual. This marks the distinction between such behaviors as secular activities and as sacred activities performed in the context of the church service. Under the power of the spirit of God, the saints are not responsible for their acts; performed by choice in the context of the “world.” The same acts become desecrated. Participation in congregational singing, dancing, shouting, praying, and tongue-speaking is strongly encouraged; saints long to see the house on fire for God, that is, all members actively involved in exalting God and invoking the spirit to move among the members.
-snip-
Referring to this chant & music as a "war cry" follows the Christian conceptualization of the devil being in constant warfare with Christians. People who are sanctified are considered to be "soldiers" who are "on the battlefield" for the Lord.

It's important to emphasize that "War Cries" are the opposite of plaintive or wailing vocalizations. "War Cries" are joyous, victorious praise giving to God.

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SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH "WAR CRIES"
These comments are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
:
1. Love this song. I'm a warrior in the army of the Lord. I was getting my praise on the entire song !"
-sjett95, 2015 -  Stampley♪", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOC2vR9nxhM "This Is A War Cry Calling All Of The Warriors ♪Micah

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2. "[Micah Stampley's] War Cry is the type of praise song that will get you up on your feet and make you feel like you are right there in the choir. The tempo is funky and upbeat and Stampley's voice is reminescent of Donnie McClurkin's in pitch as he actually demonstrates a high pitched war cry several times during the song. The chorus will have you repeating "This is the war cry...of the warriors...pick up your weapons: fight, fight! This is the war cry, of the warriors, pick up your weapons, fight, fight! This is the war cryyyyyyy...of the warriooooooorrrrss..."
- Beverly, "A Refreshing Addition to the Gospel Tradition", on April 3, 2005, http://www.amazon.com/Songbook-Micah-MICAH-STAMPLEY/dp/B0007VF29Q

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3. "I love this song it gets me in the spirit all the time"
-@Tammarrah100, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzorD7B_vyY&t=154s"Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr. leads The YES War Cry"

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4. "how is this a WAR cry?"
-carter murphy, 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me3CWI6iR6U Ricky Dillard & New G "War Cry" [This video is no longer available.]  

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Reply
5. "A cry for spiritual warfare, when the praise would muster up and they will use it against the enemy. Israel done this many a times before they battled, they would give a great shout of victory before they won the battle. That's what happened when Joshua led them to Jericho and their war cry tore down the walls. But you have to be sanctified in youur shout because Israel also lost the battle because they shout wasn't sanctified. BE SANCTIFIED IN YOU SHOUT, that's all I'm saying!"
-C.L. Banks, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me3CWI6iR6U Ricky Dillard & New G "War Cry"

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6. "The war cry is the cry of Victory among the saints of GOD. It's war against the enemy. When you have been baptized in Jesus name and filled with the holyghost according to Acts 2:38 the devil lose you."
-Meyouna Johnson, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu5qh71ar8U Ricky Dillard & New G "War Cry" 

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7."Okay!!!!! I NEED me a church like this honey!!! Thats some old school praising!!! The energy!!! I need that in my life!!! My Goodness!!! Those people were shouting for their lives!! Amen!"
-fkn02, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3NuGb-DfXw "COGIC "WIC" Praise Break/War Cry" 

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8. "To be honest the war cry is just a remake of the old times when they did this war cry wayy back. nobody made it they remade it into something more of the dayss now thts all"
- Skyler Hardy, 2012, "Ricky Dillard & New G - "War Cry" " 

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9. "This video is 15 years old, but the power of the LORD is still bringing healing and deliverance. Thank you, Jesus ! 🙌💃🕺"
-@helengcray1125, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzorD7B_vyY&t=154s  "Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr. leads The YES War Cry"

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"Puts me in warrior mode every time"
-@Tammarrah100, 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzorD7B_vyY&t=154s "Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr. leads The YES War Cry"

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ADDITIONAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS
(These videos are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.)

SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Bishop Kenneth Moales Jr. - War Cry @ Lady Peggy Moales Homegoing

Dorian davis, Jun 11, 2018

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 -  Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, Sr. leads The YES War Cry

Joshua Brown, May 4, 2010

Great Uncle does it again! Bishop Kenneth H. Moales Sr. leads Greater Mount Calvary into a YES War Cry for our 44th church anniversary.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4- CALVARY WAR CRY



Byron Phillips Uploaded on May 10, 2009

SING VOICES OF CALVARY

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5- Ricky Dillard & New G "War Cry"



@TheSundaySchoolCollection, May 21, 2024 

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Early 20th Century Gospel Song "Keep On The Firing Line" (Part II- Eight YouTube Videos From Various Countries)

 

Keep On The Firing Line (Mt Zion Apostolic Youth Choir)

1baw2009, Jul 10, 2012

Abiezer Youth Convocation Abiezer Pentecostal Church 94-96 Milvan Drive Toronto, Canada.  Sunday, July 8, 2012 (PM)

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about the early 20th century United States Southern Gospel song "Keep On The Firing Line". 

This post showcases eight YouTube videos of "Keep On The Firing Line" from choirs, choral groups, and/or congregations in Canada, the United States (two videos), Jamaica, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the Bahamas, and the Philippines. These videos are presented in chronological order with the oldest published video given first.

The Addendum to this post presents my comments about this song.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/02/early-20th-century-gospel-song-keep-on.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about and lyrics for That early 20th century religious song is credited to Bessie F. Hatcher (sometimes listed as Thatcher) or to Otis Leon McCoy. Both of these composers of religious music were White Americans.

The content of this post is presented for religious and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer of this song. Thanks to all those who are featured in this videos. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Bill & Gloria Gaither - Keep On the Firing Line [Live] ft. Anthony Burger

 

Gaither Music TV, Nov 1, 2012 [This church is in the United States.]

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Church On The Rock Kingston - Kerron Ennis- Keep on the Firing Line

 

Kerilee scars, Mar 17, 2014

Kerron Takes you back with this old time song [Kingston, Jamaica]

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4- Keep On The Firing Line St Peters Native Baptist Church The Bahamas



Saint Peter, Apr 27, 2019 [The Bahamas]

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5- Keep on the Firing Line | I Love the Lord | Church & Pastoral Anniversary 2019 

 G-Street Church, Oct 12, 2019

1632 Germany St, Columbia, SC 29204 [This is an Apostolic church in Columbia, South Carolina, USA.]
-snip-
For comparison's sake, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q4sPGQi_FU for a 2013 YouTube video that showcases a White American Baptist church music group from Charleston, South Carolina singing "Keep On The Firing Line". 

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #6 -Keep On The Firing Line

FBCFI Hong Kong, Jan 25, 2021

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #7- Keep on the Firing Line

Baptist Heritage, May 13, 2024 [Christian college in San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines]
 
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #8 - Keep On the Firing Line: Choir March Is Back

 

General Assembly Apostolic Church UK, Jan 15, 2025 
#generalassemblyapostolicchurch

#generalassemblyapostolicchurch [London, United Kingdom]

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES ABOUT SOME OF THESE VIDEOS.
These videos were somewhat randomly selected from other YouTube examples. After I published these videos, I noticed that most of the renditions that feature Black singers were from Apostolic Christian churches  (Videos #1,Video #3, and Video #8.)

I also noticed that the music and singing for those Apostolic churches' renditions of "Keep On The Firing Line" reminded me of Jamaican Ska music. As per comments in their YouTube video discussion threads, a number of people from the congregations of Black Canadians' and Black United Kingdom's Apostolic churches are from Jamaican Apostolic churches whose music has that Ska sound.

Video #4 and #5 are exceptions to the videos that feature Black singers performing "Keep On The Firing Line" with a Ska sound. Video #5 showcases an African American Baptist church that performs that song with an African American Blues flavor. Video #4 showcases a congregation from the Native Baptist denomination in the Bahamas. That rendition doesn't have either a Ska flavor or a Blues flavor.

As somewhat of an aside, notice that most-if not all- of the females who are part of the congregation of the Apostolic churches cover their hair with a hat or with a scarf. 

The female choir members in the Bahamas video also cover their hair. However, females in the African American church video aren't wearing hats or scarfs to cover their hair in church.

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This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 

Early 20th Century Gospel Song "Keep On The Firing Line" (Part I - Information & Lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series about the early 20th century United States Southern Gospel song "Keep On The Firing Line". 

This post presents information about and lyrics for That early 20th century religious song is credited to Bessie F. Hatcher (sometimes listed as Thatcher) or to Otis Leon McCoy.  Both of these composers of religious music were White Americans.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/02/early-20th-century-gospel-song-keep-on_19.html for Part II of this series. That post showcases eight YouTube videos of "Keep On The Firing Line" from choirs, choral groups, and/or congregations in Canada, the United States (two videos), Jamaica, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the Bahamas, and the Philippines. These videos are presented in chronological order with the oldest published video given first.

Notice the differences in the tune and tempo for these renditions of this song.

The content of this post is presented for religious and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composer of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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INFORMATION ABOUT AND LYRICS FOR THE SOUTHERN GOSPEL SONG "KEEP ON THE FIRING LINE"

These online sources are given in no particular order. 

Online Source #1

[The writer of this online article credits Bessie F. Hatcher as the composer of this song. She is usually credited as the composer.]

From https://barryshymns.blogspot.com/2021/09/keep-on-firing-line.html

September 26, 2021, Posted by Barry Kauffmanat 

KEEP ON THE FIRING LINE
         "It seems to me that today the Church generally does not like to talk about anything involving war.  Our sermons, our music and our actions generally fail to portray the truth that we are engaged in a serious spiritual battle with Satan.  Often they don't seem to recognize the enemy, nor the need to fight him.  Yet he has been attacking our beliefs, our way of life. our religious liberties and especially our families like never before. 1 Peter  5:8 warns us,  "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

          In Ephesians 6:11-12 we are told to "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  This is a battle which we must take seriously.

          In 1915 Bessie F. Hatcher penned a song which is a powerful reminder to believers that we must take our place in this battle.  We must stay on the firing line and be brave and fight against all evil that would come against us.  And we don't need to look too hard to see these attacks today.  They are more evident than ever.  We must be consistent in our walk with God and we must "never run, nor even lag behind" in this battle.

          And we need not fear, the victory is the Lord's.  He gives us the whole armor of God which we need to claim daily to fight this spiritual battle.  In Romans .8:37-39 we are told  "In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord".

           Now I admit that at times today as we view what is happening in our country and in our culture it does become easy to get discouraged.  It is easy to think that maybe Satan is winning.  But He isn't.  Remember the scriptures quoted above.  God is in  control.  The victory is His.  We are to keep our trust in Him and just "keep on the firing line."

1.     If you're in the battle for the Lord and right,

Keep on the firing line;

If you win, my brother, surely you must fight,

Keep on the firing line;

There are many dangers that we all must face,

If we die still fighting it is no disgrace;

Cowards in the service will not find a place,

So keep on the firing line.

Refrain:

Oh, you must fight, be brave against all evil,

Never run, nor even lag behind;

If you would win for God and the right,

Just keep on the firing line.

 

2.     God will only use the soldier He can trust,

Keep on the firing line;

If you'll wear a crown then bear the cross you must,

Keep on the firing line.

Life is but to labor for the Master dear,

Help to banish evil and to spread good cheer;

Great you'll be rewarded for your service here,

So keep on the firing line.

Refrain:

Oh, you must fight, be brave against all evil,

Never run, nor even lag behind;

If you would win for God and the right,

Just keep on the firing line.

 

3.     When we get to heaven, brother, we'll be glad,

Keep on the firing line;

How we'll praise the Savior for the call we had,

Keep on the firing line;

When we see the souls that we have helped to win,

Leading them to Jesus, from the paths of sin,

With a shout of welcome, we will all march in,

So keep on the firing line.

Refrain:

Oh, you must fight, be brave against all evil,

Never run, nor even lag behind;

If you would win for God and the right,

Just keep on the firing line."
-snip-
[This article ends with a link to a song file for this song.] 

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Online Information #2

https://hymnary.org/person/Hatcher_Bessie
"Bessie F. Hatcher

Short Name:    Bessie F. Hatcher

Full Name:       Hatcher, Bessie F.

Birth Year (est.):          1860

Death Year:     1960

Bessie Frances Simmons Hatcher was apparently an actress who got converted and called to preach. She was a minister in the Pilgrim Holiness Church in the Pennsylvania/New Jersey district, although she did pastor Free Methodist and Wesleyan Methodist congregations at some point.

Her most famous songs were "Keep on the Firing Line", "I Would Not Want to Miss It", and "Let Me Burn Out for Thee", in addition to "He Will Not Fail Me Now". She married William Hatcher. She was born March 29 1880 and passed in June 1960 in Ocean County New Jersey. Old newspaper accounts allude to her conversion story, but so far have found no accounts of it. The district journal of 1961 called her "an old warrior of the Cross"."

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Online Information #3
AI Overview

"Based on the available, though limited, biographical information, Bessie F. Hatcher (sometimes listed as Thatcher in, or in connection to, religious hymnals) is associated with the Southern Gospel and Christian hymn tradition in the United States.

Nationality: American (associated with the Southern Gospel style and specific, often rural, American Christian music collections).

Context: She is sometimes credited with the lyrics to the popular Southern Gospel song "Keep on the Firing Line".

Details: Some sources note that the copyright status of her version of the song is uncertain, and it is sometimes confused or contrasted with the version by Otis L. McCoy, who is also widely credited with the song.

Note: Searches indicate that Bessie F. Hatcher (or Thatcher) is distinct from the British lyricist Betty Thatcher (1944–2011) or other historical figures named Bessie Gray."

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Online information #4
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_Leon_McCoy

"Otis Leon McCoy (February 17, 1897 – March 27, 1995) was an American gospel singer-songwriter and music teacher. He was the president of Tennessee Music and Printing, the publishing company of the Church of God, and he wrote hundreds of Southern gospel hymns.

[….]

Career

McCoy was a singer-songwriter of Southern gospel. From 1923 to the 1930s, McCoy was a member of the Vaughan Radio Quartet, a band whose members included Adger M. Pace, William Burton Walbert and Hilman Barnard.[5] In 1942, McCoy joined the Homeland Harmony Quartet, whose members included James McCoy, B. C. Robinson, and Connor Brandon Hall.[2] Over the course of his career, McCoy wrote hundreds of Southern gospel hymns, including Keep On The Firing Line and Heaven Bound Train.[3]

McCoy worked for the James D. Vaughan Publishing Company in Lawrenceburg.[6] In 1931, he became the founding president of Tennessee Music and Printing, the publishing company of the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee.[6] He served again as its president from 1934 to 1945, 1947 to 1952, and 1958 to 1961.[3]

Death and legacy

McCoy died in 1995.[3] He was inducted into the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame in 2003.[7]"...

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This concludes Part I of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Remembering Civil Rights Leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr.- "I Am Somebody"

 

NBCLA, Feb 18, 2026

Communities that were uplifted by the late activist Rev. Jesse Jackson reflect on how his leadership helped shape their future. Macy Jenkins and Conan Nolan report for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about United States civil rights leader, minister, and politician Rev. Jesse Jackson.

This post also showcases two YouTube videos about Rev. Jesse Jackson. These videos are presented with partial transcripts.

In addition, this pancocojams post presents information about Rev. Jackson's now famous call & response affirmation chant "I Am Somebody".

The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jr. for his cultural and political legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

Rest in peace Rev. Jackson Jr.

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INFORMATION ABOUT REV. JESSE JACKSON, JR.
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Jackson
"Jesse Louis Jackson (né Burns; October 8, 1941 – February 17, 2026) was an American civil rights activist, politician, and ordained Baptist minister. A protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. and James Bevel during the civil rights movement, he became one of the most prominent civil rights leaders of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. From 1991 to 1997, he served as a shadow delegate and shadow senator for the District of Columbia. He was the father of U.S. representative Jonathan Jackson and former U.S. representative Jesse Jackson Jr.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson began his activism in the 1960s and founded the organizations that later merged to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. Expanding his work into international affairs in the 1980s, he became a vocal critic of the Reagan administration and launched a presidential campaign in 1984. Initially viewed as a fringe candidate, he finished third for the Democratic nomination behind former vice president Walter Mondale and Senator Gary Hart. He continued his activism and mounted a second presidential bid in 1988, finishing as the runner‑up to Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis.

Jackson did not seek the presidency again, but in 1990 he was elected as the District of Columbia's shadow senator, serving one term during the Bush and Clinton administrations. Although initially critical of President Bill Clinton, he later became a supporter. Jackson hosted Both Sides with Jesse Jackson on CNN from 1992 to 2000. A critic of police brutality, the Republican Party, and conservative policies, he was widely regarded as one of the most influential African‑American activists of his era."...

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EXCERPT OF THE TRANSCRIPT FOR SHOWCASE VIDEO #1
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szoLtDvku28

{This excerpt begins at 2:50 to portions up to 4:32 in this video.]

..."Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson was a protégé of Doctor Martin Luther King Junior, leaning on his own skills as a great orator to carry on the torch and teach others how to fight for justice...

He was a preacher and a teacher. He would come up with sayings that nobody else would ever think of. "Down with dope. Up with hope."

...having been a black man who had run a real campaign [for President of the United States], he laid the foundation for Barack Obama. Barack Obama would not have been president had it not been for Jesse Jackson. Jackson helped reshape the Democratic Party's primary from a winner take all format to a proportional allocation of votes. …

We'll hear the words of Jesse Jackson ringing in our ears. He said "I am somebody."

Young people and generations are going to have to say more than ever, "I am somebody."...

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INFORMATION ABOUT REV. JACKSON'S CALL & RESPONSE POEM " I AM SOMEBODY"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_%E2%80%93_Somebody
" "I Am – Somebody" is a poem often recited by Reverend Jesse Jackson, and was used as part of PUSH-Excel, a program designed to motivate black students.[1]

A similar poem was written in the early 1940s by Reverend William Holmes Borders, Sr., senior pastor at the Greater Wheat Street Baptist Church and civil rights activist in Atlanta, Georgia.[2]

History

A recording of Jackson delivering the poem appears on the album I Am Somebody published on Respect Records TAS-2601 in 1971.[3]

Jackson recited the free verse poem on Sesame Street in 1972 (taped in February, aired in May).[citation needed] It was geared to fulfilling Sesame Street’s initial curriculum for serving under-privileged city children, as well as promoting cultural understanding. On Sesame Street, lines of "I am/Somebody" or "But I am/Somebody" were recited in a call and response fashion by Jackson and the children. During the segment, children of multiple races were gathered on the Sesame Street set and led by Jackson in the poem. This performance is included on the 2006 DVD release Sesame Street: Old School.

"I Am – Somebody" was also recited by Jackson, with the assembled crowd at Los Angeles Coliseum for the famous Wattstax Music Festival on August 20, 1972.[4]

It also appears in When We Were Kings, a 1996 documentary examining the historic 1974 Rumble in the Jungle boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (which was still known as Zaire at that time). It was performed with band as part of a concert preceding the bout that was said to be the finest collection of African American entertainers ever assembled at that time.

The poem inspired the title of a 1998 book called I Am Somebody! (ISBN 0-516-26133-9) by Charnan Simon, but did not print the poem itself.

[...] 

The phrase has become so much of a calling card for Jackson that he yells it in a cameo in the movie Undercover Brother.

"I Am – Somebody" also inspired a similarly titled song on Carlos Santana's 2005 album, "All That I Am", which featured the American rapper will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas."

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMdMYLN9Rdg

I Am Somebody (Rev. Jesse Jackson) - Sesame Street - May 1972. Beautiful 

PeeCee, Feb 3, 2024

Remember this and never let anyone disrespect you
-snip-
Rev. Jesse Jackson leads a group of young children in a call & response affirmation centered around his now famous "I am somebody" saying. 

[EXCERPT OF THIS VIDEO'S AUTO-GENERATED TRANSCRIPT]

Rev. Jackson- "I am"

Children: -"I am"

Rev. Jackson -"somebody"

Children  "somebody"

Rev. Jackson - "I may be poor"

Children -I may be poor"

Rev. Jackson -"but I am somebody"

Children - "but I am somebody"

Rev. Jackson - "I may be young"

Children - "I may be young"

Rev. Jackson -"but I am somebody"

Children - "but I am somebody"

Rev. Jackson - "I may be on welfare"

Children -"I may be on welfare"

Rev. Jackson -"but I am somebody"

Children -"but I am somebody"

Rev. Jackson - "I may be small"

Children - "I may be small"

Rev. Jackson - "but I am"

Children - "but I am"

Rev. Jackson -"somebody"

Children - "somebody"

Rev. Jackson - "I may make a mistake"

Children -"I may make a mistake"

Rev. Jackson - "but I am"

Children - "but I am"

Rev. Jackson - "somebody"

Children - "somebody"

Rev. Jackson - "My clothes are different"

Children - "My clothes are different"

Rev. Jackson- "My face is different"

Children - "My face is different"

Rev. Jackson - "My hair is different "

Children - "My hair is different"

Rev. Jackson - "but I am"

Children - "but I am"

Rev. Jackson -"somebody"

Children - "somebody"

Rev. Jackson - I am black"

Children- "I am black"

Rev. Jackson - "I am brown"

Children - "I am brown"

Rev. Jackson - " I am white"

Children - "I am white"

Rev. Jackson - "I am somebody"

Children - "I am somebody"

Rev. Jackson - "I speak a different language"

Children -"I speak a different language"

Rev. Jackson -"but I must be respected"

Children -"but I must be respected"

Rev. Jackson - "protected"

Children - "protected"

Rev. Jackson -"never rejected"

Children - "never rejected"

Rev. Jackson -" I am

Children- " I am"

[...]

Rev. Jackson - "I am"

Children -" I am"

Rev. Jackson -"somebody"

Children -"somebody"...
-snip-
This affirmation ends with Rev. Jackson saying "Give yourselves a hand" and he and the children applauding.

This transcription omits the call & response 'I am God's child" so that this affirmation can be used in United States public schools and in other non-religious gatherings. 

The call & response "I am on welfare" may be omitted for contemporary use since the word "welfare" may no longer be used and/or that line may be considered very similar to the line "I may be poor".

I recommend that the word "and" be substituted in this "I Am Somebody" affirmation for the word "but". (For example "I am black and I am somebody" instead of "I am black but I am somebody").

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