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

My Wise Country Cousin on Ferguson
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
10 Sep 2014
🖨️ Print Article

by BAR poet-in-residence Raymond Nat Turner

Ahm prowd ob Fightin’ Furgasun’s po, wurkin peeples, heroic youf Dey de wonz we can count on wen we’s fightin fo’ Justus, an’ Troof—

My Wise Country Cousin on Ferguson

by BAR poet-in-residence Raymond Nat Turner

Furgasun feel lak fresh air— a grate big festabul ob de masses
Now, de way folk unerstan it, depen on how dey see classes…
It’s lak de bus boycotts an freedum riots fo’ po’ folk lak me
But, de beginnin’ ob de en fo’ de blak booze-wah-zee…

 

Furgasun a revelooshunary skool teachin’ who/ how, ta fight:
Enamees ‘lef’, enamees rite, an’ enamees blak, enamees white—
Wen it pass a week, massas say, “Whoa, dis tang gittin’ messy!”
“We’s gon’ haf ta sen de Sharlaton boy, or at leese sen Jesse!”
But, ‘ol’ skool’ not enuf, dey mix ‘new skool’ in Massas’ Plan
Lak de ol’ witch: “a lil’ poison”——Blow, Lemon, an’ Van!
“Our niggas fly lak de witch’s monkees, roun’ de kid’s caskit
Speak disdane fo’ Fightin’ Furgasun: ‘millitunnz’ ta mask it!”

Me, ahm prowd ob Fightin’ Furgasun— speshally de heroic youf
Dey de onlee wonz ta count on fightin’ fo justus, ta tell de troof—
Dem fancy, remoat-cuntroled, Negroz ‘bout de bucks, an’libbin’ hi
“Follow de Eksampul ob Fightin’ Furgasun!” is our battulcry…

Raymond Nat Turner can be contacted at Raymond (at) upsurgejazz.com

Raymond Nat Turner © 2014 All Rights Reserved

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


More Stories


  • BAR Radio
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio November 6, 2026
    06 Nov 2026
    In this week’s segment, we hear about the Southern Human Rights Organizers' Conference (SHROC), which will be held in Jackson, Mississippi, in December. But we begin with an analysis of the Michigan…
  • Abdul al Sayed
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Abdul El-Sayed's Senate Victory in Michigan
    06 Nov 2026
    Abayomi Azikiwe is editor of the Pan-African Newswire and a Detroit-based activist. Abdul El-Sayed won his election and will represent Michigan as a United States senator. He defied the Democratic…
  • SHROC logo
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Southern Human Rights Organizers' Conference
    06 Nov 2026
    Jaribu Hill is the executive director of the Mississippi Workers Center for Human Rights in Greenville, Mississippi. She joins us from Greenville to discuss the upcoming Southern Human Rights…
  • Jamarl Thomas and Jemima Pierre
    Jemima Pierre, BAR Editor and Contributor , Jamarl Thomas
    The Truth About Haiti's "Gangs" --US Guns. UN Troops. Blackwater Drones | Dr. Jemima Pierre
    04 Nov 2026
    Jemima Pierre joined Jamarl Thomas to discuss the ongoing occupation of Haiti, deaths at the hands of Eric Prince's mercenaries, El Salvador's intervention at the behest of the U.S., and the…
  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    U.S. Plans for An Attack on Iran
    04 Nov 2026
    Public opposition to war with Iran has forced Trump to wait until after the midterm elections to commit more war crimes. But all signs point to an imminent attack.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us