| James Weldon Johnson, ed. (1871–1938). The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922. |
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| The Negro Soldiers |
| | | Roscoe C. Jamison |
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| THESE truly are the Brave, | |
| These men who cast aside | |
| Old memories, to walk the blood-stained pave | |
| Of Sacrifice, joining the solemn tide | |
| That moves away, to suffer and to die | 5 |
| For Freedom—when their own is yet denied! | |
| O Pride! O Prejudice! When they pass by, | |
| Hail them, the Brave, for you now crucified! | |
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| These truly are the Free, | |
| These souls that grandly rise | 10 |
| Above base dreams of vengeance for their wrongs, | |
| Who march to war with visions in their eyes | |
| Of Peace through Brotherhood, lifting glad songs, | |
| Aforetime, while they front the firing line. | |
| Stand and behold! They take the field to-day, | 15 |
| Shedding their blood like Him now held divine, | |
| That those who mock might find a better way! | |
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