Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire
  • omnibus

Gunmen
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
04 Apr 2018
Stephon Clark's grandmother
Stephon Clark's grandmother

Hm, March 18th… my Mother’s birthday… I
heard lead bees stung the young man’s
Back, severed vertebrae, collapsed his lung,
left his arm bits of bone…on a ruby red river

Tear droughts betray me, though
Another Mother’s son was stolen—not
“Lost.” Though he didn’t “pass away”
on Disney sets of sci-fi
Where pigs fly
in firing squad formations,
under color of law, as
Gunmen—rerun-men:
Raising right hooves, testi-lying
about muted body-cams and
Special effects, puffing up Black men
as Hulk; Transmuting them into Black
Magic stunt men, simultaneously running
Away and Moonwalking “toward officers—”
Superman metallurgists, sorcerers turning
Wallets, candy bars, car keys, phones into guns…

The Town Crier, Raymond Nat Turner © 2018 All Rights Reserved

Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performing artist. You can find much more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com

poetry

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles. Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


Related Stories

Reese Piece…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Reese Piece…
15 April 2021
Salute to City of Angels’ son! He wrote, he wrote, he wrote And he wrote… Ramparts, The Progressive, The
First 100 Daze: A ‘new’ dance craze
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
First 100 Daze: A ‘new’ dance craze
27 January 2021
Everybody’s wild ‘bout this ‘new’ dance craze— this lewd, crude dance called “The 1st 100 Daze…”
mashing the state— Kristallnacht-style
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
mashing the state— Kristallnacht-style
20 January 2021
Kristallnacht came casting lead ballots, overthrowing Black elected officials and Massacring those that VOTED for them— 
This is what hypocrisy looks like…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
This is what hypocrisy looks like…
13 January 2021
“It's like writing history with lightning.“ — Woodrow Wilson on Birth of A Nation
Think…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Think…
06 January 2021
Think of peoples having the most tanks, the most drones, the most missiles, bombs, aircraft carriers, 
$election postmortem 
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
$election postmortem 
10 December 2020
It was the Latino Vote… No, it was the Latinix vote! No, it was Black Women! No, it was LGBTQ+ Black Women!
People Power (Or 30 min. men and women every 4 yrs?)
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
People Power (Or 30 min. men and women every 4 yrs?)
02 December 2020
The People earned a dancing in the streets day, horn honking, slogan shouting day—collective sigh/exhale
Endangering species… 
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Endangering species… 
25 November 2020
Endangering species— First Negroz and wild Karens in power—members of the Strong- arm Williams-Thom-ass Clarence-led
My Wise Country Cousin on  Unca Jim Clyburn an de Sharp Rite Turn
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
My Wise Country Cousin on  Unca Jim Clyburn an de Sharp Rite Turn
11 November 2020
Son, it look lak Unca Jim say, “Las’ time I chek I’se de whip— an’ got no time fo’ young Negroz wit all dey Blak Life lip…”
Bankrolling blu klux klans? 
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Bankrolling blu klux klans? 
28 October 2020
Rhythms of red, white, blue ‘party’ lights flashing beneath screaming sirens; The rush of warm crimson

More Stories


  • Why Defending Nicaragua is Important
    Stephen Sefton
    Why Defending Nicaragua is Important
    26 Oct 2021
    The U.S. effort to destabilize Nicaragua is an ongoing crime against that nation's people. Anti-imperialists must defend their right to self-determination.
  • The Killing of Gaddafi 10 Years ago has Resulted in the Death of the Nation of Libya and the Destruction of its People
    Richard Medhurst
    The Killing of Gaddafi 10 Years ago has Resulted in the Death of the Nation of Libya and the Destruction of its People
    26 Oct 2021
    Ten years ago Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton led the US/NATO war crime that destroyed the Libyan state and murdered its leader.
  • Photo: Twitter / @devilette
    Monica Cruz
    Puerto Ricans Resist Austerity Measures and Corporate Corruption
    26 Oct 2021
    Five years after PROMESA was signed into law which established the control of the Fiscal Control Board over the island’s economy, conditions in Puerto Rico are worse than ever before.
  • Planting Budgetary Time Bombs in Africa: the Macron Doctrine En Marche
    Daniela Gabor, Ndongo Samba Sylla
    Planting Budgetary Time Bombs in Africa: the Macron Doctrine En Marche
    26 Oct 2021
    French president Emmanuel Macron ensnares African nations in risky privatization schemes, a continuation of the colonial relationship.
  • The Many Crimes of Colin Powell
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    The Many Crimes of Colin Powell
    20 Oct 2021
    Colin Powell's death is an opportunity to question the inclination to respect the Black face in a high place. Powell's career includes a litany of crimes that must never be excused.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us