The Souls of Black Folk
The After-Thought
Section summary
A closing prayer addressed to “God the Reader”: that the book not fall still-born into the world, but that a guilty nation of seventy millions may hear its truth and turn toward righteousness and human brotherhood. The prayer breaks off, and the words “The End” complete its last sentence.
Hear my cry, O God the Reader; vouchsafe that this my book fall not still-born into the world wilderness. Let there spring, Gentle One, from out its leaves vigor of thought and thoughtful deed to reap the harvest wonderful. Let the ears of a guilty people tingle with truth, and seventy millions sigh for the righteousness which exalteth nations, in this drear day when human brotherhood is mockery and a snare. Thus in Thy good time may infinite reason turn the tangle straight, and these crooked marks on a fragile leaf be not indeed