To be young, gifted and black
Oh what a lovely precious dream
To be young, gifted and black
Open your heart to what I mean

In the whole world you know
There's a billion boys and girls
Who are young, gifted and black
And that's a fact, that's a fact

To be young, gifted and black
We must begin to tell our young
There's a world waiting for you
This is a quest that's just begun

When you feel really low
There's a great truth you should know
When you're young, gifted and black
Your soul's intact, your soul's intact

Young, gifted and black
Oh how I long to know the truth
There are times when I look back
And I am haunted by my youth

Oh but my joy, my joy of today
Is that we can all be proud to say
To be young, gifted and black
It's where it's at, it's where it's at
To be young, gifted and black
Is where it's at