St. Alphonsus School, Negro History Week,
February 10, 1949
Hughes' first stop in Wilson, NC was at the predominantly Black St. Alphonsus School. There, the students recited his longest poem to date, "Freedom's Plow," back to him (see below for the poem). Hughes was very pleased with their performance, writing in the Chicago Defender about their "fine Negro History program" for him and the recitation of his poem. Click the audio below to hear from former St. Alphonsus student, Everlene Giles Cunningham, on her recount of Hughes' visit to Wilson, NC that day.
Documents: (Double Click Image to View)
FREEDOM'S PLOW
Your interactive trip will feature the full poem of Hughes' "Freedom's Plow."
Context of Poem: "Freedom's Plow" was inspired by the African American spiritual "Keep Your Hand On The Plow." It's likely that the St. Alphonsus students recited this poem because of its rich history.
When a man starts out with nothing,
When a man starts out with his hands
Empty, but clean,
When a man starts to build a world,
He starts first with himself
And the faith that is in his heart-
The strength there,
The will there to build.
First in the heart is the dream-
Then the mind starts seeking a way.
His eyes look out on the world,
On the great wooded world,
On the rich soil of the world,
On the rivers of the world.
The eyes see there materials for building,
See the difficulties, too, and the obstacles.
The mind seeks a way to overcome these obstacles.
The hand seeks tools to cut the wood,
To till the soil, and harness the power of the waters.
Then the hand seeks other hands to help,
A community of hands to help-
Thus the dream becomes not one man’s dream alone,
But a community dream.
Not my dream alone, but our dream.
Not my world alone,
But your world and my world,
Belonging to all the hands who build.
A long time ago, but not too long ago,
Ships came from across the sea
Bringing the Pilgrims and prayer-makers,
Adventurers and booty seekers,
Free men and indentured servants,
Slave men and slave masters, all new-
To a new world, America!
With billowing sails the galleons came
Bringing men and dreams, women and dreams.
In little bands together,
Heart reaching out to heart,
Hand reaching out to hand,
They began to build our land.
Some were free hands
Seeking a greater freedom,
Some were indentured hands
Hoping to find their freedom,
Some were slave hands
Guarding in their hearts the seed of freedom,
But the word was there always:
FREEDOM.
