quote · Legacy record
In these romantic regions man grows wild: Here dwells the Negro, nature’s outcast child; Scorned by his brethren; but his mother’s eye, That gazes on him from her warmest sky, Sees in his flexile limbs untutored grace, Power on his forehead, beauty in his face; Sees in his breast, where lawless passions rove, The heart of friendship, and the home of love; Sees in his mind, where desolation reigns, Fierce as his clime, uncultured as his plains, A soil where virtue’s fairest flowers might shoot, And trees of science bend with glorious fruit; Sees in his soul, involved in thickest night, An emanation of eternal light, Ordained,’midst sinking worlds, his dust to fire, And shine for ever when the stars expire. Is he not man, though Knowledge never shed Her quickening beams on his neglected head? Is he not man, though sweet Religion’s voice Ne’er made the mourner in his God rejoice? Is he not man, by sin and suffering tried? Is he not man, for whom the Saviour died? Belie the Negro’s powers:—in headlong will, Christian! thy brother thou shalt prove him still: Belie his virtues; since his wrongs began, His follies and his crimes have stamped him man.
In these romantic regions man grows wild: Here dwells the Negro, nature’s outcast child; Scorned by his brethren; but his mother’s eye, That gazes on him from her warmest sky, Sees in his flexile limbs untutored grace, Power on his forehead, beauty in his face; Sees in his breast, where lawless passions rove, The heart of friendship, and the home of love; Sees in his mind, where desolation reigns, Fierce as his clime, uncultured as his plains, A soil where virtue’s fairest flowers might shoot, And trees of science bend with glorious fruit; Sees in his soul, involved in thickest night, An emanation of eternal light, Ordained,’midst sinking worlds, his dust to fire, And shine for ever when the stars expire. Is he not man, though Knowledge never shed Her quickening beams on his neglected head? Is he not man, though sweet Religion’s voice Ne’er made the mourner in his God rejoice? Is he not man, by sin and suffering tried? Is he not man, for whom the Saviour died? Belie the Negro’s powers:—in headlong will, Christian! thy brother thou shalt prove him still: Belie his virtues; since his wrongs began, His follies and his crimes have stamped him man.
In print by 1888 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
An individual explanation has not yet been added. We do not substitute a generic description for an interpretation of these particular words.
Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- J. Montgomery (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1888 AD · industrial
In print by 1888: recorded in A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888) (1888 AD)
Page 96 · printed citation: J. Montgomery · subject: BROTHERHOOD
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.