It’s forty-nine years ago, in February of 1972, that Reverend Jesse Jackson recited this poem with a group of kids on the stoop of 123 Sesame Street.
Its message about the individuality and significance of ALL people however, has not aged since:
”I may be Young
but I am
Somebody.
I may be on Welfare
but I am
Somebody.
I may be on Small
but I am
Somebody.
I may make a Mistake
but I am
Somebody!
My clothes are different,
My face is different,
My hair is different,
but I am
Somebody.
I am black, brown, white.
I speak a different language.
But I must be respected,
protected,
never rejected.
I am God’s child.
I am
Somebody!”
Sesame Street Footage from Episode 0402, aired May 1972
‘I Am - Somebody’ was written in the 1950s by Reverend William Holmes Borders Sr., an African American minister and civil rights leader.
It was popularised and adapted by Reverend Jackson and kept evolving over the years.
Set photos of Rev. Jesse Jackson, EP Jon Stone and the group of children- ©Children's Television Workshop/Everett Collection
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