To Be Young, Gifted and Black



Young Gifted and Black is a song about being proud of your skin color and who you are. The song once reached the Top Ten on the R&B charts, and has spawned off different versions by Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, and Bob and Martha.

Nina Simone, who co-wrote the song, performed it on Sesame Street in the show's early years. She sat on the steps of 123 Sesame Street with a group of black children who sang along.