During the Dallas rally Monday, where Joe Biden consolidated the centrist wing of the Democratic Party, Lola Wilson performed James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a song commonly referred to as the black national anthem.

A few black women in the crowd waved their hands, but many didn’t get the symbolism and what it conveyed about Biden’s dramatic resurgence in the Democratic presidential contest.

“Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,” Wilson belted out. “Let us march on 'til victory is won.”

On Tuesday, the former Vice President stunned rival Bernie Sanders in Texas, winning the popular vote and likely coming away with more delegates. Like his breakaway win in South Carolina, Biden’s Texas victory was powered by his dominant performance among African American voters. And he nearly matched Sanders with white voters, many of them concerned that the Vermont senator was too extreme.

According to NBC exit polls, black voters were 21 percent of the electorate, and Biden won their votes over Sanders 60%-17%. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg got 15%.

African Americans were the only racial group Biden won, the exit polls show. Sanders edged him among white voters, who made up 44% of the electorate, 32%-29%. Sanders dominated with Hispanic voters, about 31% of the electorate, 45%-24%.

The urban areas of Houston and Dallas have a bigger share of the delegates than in other places, so winning the black vote was critical for Biden.

That’s why Biden’s Monday rallies at Texas Southern University in Houston and Gilley’s in Dallas were aimed in part at turning out his black base.

It apparently worked. Voters lined up for hours after the polls closed at TSU. Hervis Rogers, an African American man who works two jobs, was the last person to vote, and he cast his ballot for Biden after waiting for six hours.

“Joe Biden is not only the best choice for America, but for our community,” said David Wilson, a Dallas minister and president of the local Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, who supports Biden.

Wilson said health care, affordable college tuition and jobs are important in communities of color. He added that black voters wanted a champion to defeat President Donald Trump.

“Biden knows that the bitterness, the brokenness and the divisiveness won’t help the well-being of our society,” Wilson said.

After losing Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, Biden was left for dead by some pundits, and even supporters wondered if he had what it took to beat Trump.

Dallas lawyer Michael Todd was an early Biden supporter, but then gave Bloomberg a look. He ultimately voted for Biden.

“Biden was my choice from the time he announced, but I was really concerned after some of his early debate performances. I wasn’t sure if he was aggressive enough to take on and fight Trump,” Todd said. “It concerned me enough that I hesitated donating and really gave a hard look to Bloomberg.”

Because of his early performances, Biden was having financial problems. That exacerbated his problems with developing an effective field organization.

“In the last two debates, Biden really showed me he still had what it takes,” Todd said. “I pulled the lever for him and contributed to his campaign.”

Jane Hamilton, the Texas state director for Biden’s campaign, agreed that Biden’s rebound the week of the South Carolina primary helped in the Lone Star State, as well as two Monday rallies in Houston and Dallas.

“His debate performance, his town hall meeting and huge victory in South Carolina connected and energized Texas Democrats, particularly African Americans,” she said. “And even though we were underfunded, we had organization and support from key leadership on the ground to deliver votes he needed to win.”

Biden reportedly spent less than $100,000 on his Texas campaign.

Democratic presidential primary candidate Joe Biden (far left) was endorsed by (from left) Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Dallas), Rep. Colin Allred (D-Dallas), Rep. Mark Veasey (D-Fort Worth) and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of El Paso during a rally at Gilley's in Dallas on Tuesday. Biden's wife, Jill, is at far right. (Juan Figueroa / Staff photographer)

Black leaders said Wednesday that Biden was their communities’ choice, but he had help across the board.

"It is certainly important for black voters to be touted as the anchors, who brought [Alabama Senator] Doug Jones in Alabama, into the United States Senate, who propelled former Vice President Biden in South Carolina and continues to propel them,” said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston. “Black voters have the same desires that fellow Americans have. And that is to return this country to a sense of decency. And we will do it with fellow travelers. Anglo voters, Asian and Southeast Asian voters, Hispanic and Latinx voters,”

Jackson Lee said even though black voters “kick-started” Biden’s comeback, they are part of a solid coalition that will help him win the nomination and defeat Trump.

“Joe Biden will win and win only with a broad based coalition of which we are very much a part of it,” she said. “I think the only thing that black voters ask for, is a recognition of the major part we played, but will never desire to offer the proposition that we will do this, only and definitively by ourselves. We want a broad coalition, and we want this to be a victory for the nation.”

Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, said he was amazed by Biden’s victory.

“Not only did he do well with African American voters, he won big in the suburbs,” Veasey said. “People realized this was serious, that they needed to get out there and vote.”

Other demographic groups played a role in Biden’s Texas success. Along with Harris County to the southeast, Biden won Dallas, Collin and Tarrant Counties in North Texas. Sanders was strong along the border, including El Paso, and along the Interstate 35 corridor in Bexar, Travis, Hays and Williamson counties.

“Joe Biden won across the country by dominating among the foundation of the Democratic Party, which is African Americans,” said David de la Fuente, a senior political analyst for the centrist-left group called Third Way. “At the same time, more college-educated whites are joining the Democratic Party in the age of Trump, and these voters are seeing a steady hand in Biden.”

Exit polls showed Biden narrowly beat Sanders among college educated whites, who made up 24 percent of the electorate. Sanders won among white voters without a college education.

His strong performance on Tuesday could be credited with the unprecedented coalescing around his campaign. On Monday night in Dallas, he got the endorsements of former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke of El Paso and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a state he unexpectedly won. On Wednesday, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg dropped from the race

“I expect Biden to continue to unify the party and expand his coalition leading to more and more victories,” de la Fuente said.

“Democrats all know the urgency of beating Trump in November,” he added. “Sanders promised a political revolution driven by increased turnout, but in state after state, it is Biden, not Sanders, proving he can drive the excitement and turnout needed to beat Trump, while also appealing to swing voters.’’

In Texas, Democrats voiced a concern about the impact Sanders would have a down-ballot candidates, if he became the nominee. He describes himself as a democratic socialist.

A poll by The Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas at Tyler taken Feb. 17-26 revealed that most Texans wanted to return to the policies of President Barack Obama. Exit polls showed 39% of Texas Democratic primary voters wanted to return to Obama’s policies. Of voters who wanted to return to Obama’s policies, the exit poll showed Biden was the top choice at 48%, followed by Bloomberg at 18% and Sanders at 16%. Voters who wanted more liberal policies, 59% said they voted for Sanders.

Dallas businessman Curtis Ransom, who voted for Biden, agreed.

“To me Biden was the only logical choice,” he said. “Bernie is too far left. You have to keep your eye on the prize, and that’s defeating Trump.”