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


  • Say Political Prisoners Names While They’re Still Alive
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Say Political Prisoners Names While They’re Still Alive
    13 May 2022
    It was recently announced that Sundiata Acoli, Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army member, will be granted parole after nearly 50 years of incarceration. The late Glen Ford, co-founder of…
  • Obama and Liberals Killed Abortion Rights
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Obama and Liberals Killed Abortion Rights
    11 May 2022
    The revelation that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision has not motivated left-wing democrats to effectively mobilize on an issue they claim to care about. They are made…
  • ESSAY: Black Soldiers of Imperialism, George Padmore, 1931
    Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    ESSAY: Black Soldiers of Imperialism, George Padmore, 1931
    11 May 2022
    In 1931, George Padmore explained how African soldiers were mobilized for European wars.
  • The heart of Asmara and other Eritrean towns are their centrally located grain, vegetable, and fruit markets. Establishing national food security is the primary national development goal.
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Notes from Eritrea, Part II
    11 May 2022
    Contributing Editor Ann Garrison continues her reporting from the Horn of Africa.
  • Bye, Big Sis
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Bye, Big Sis
    11 May 2022
    Memories of the late Gael Davis, Los Angeles activist, organizer and actress.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us