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 The State Machine’s Machinegun-Totin’ Cops… 
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
20 Aug 2014
🖨️ Print Article

by BAR poet-in-residence Raymond Nat Turner

Dey got Glocks, pumps, tasirs, peppurspray, vess—
White magik fo’ conjurin’ cases ob “resisin’ aress!”

My Wise Country Cousin on The State Machine’s Machinegun-Totin’ Cops… 

by BAR poet-in-residence Raymond Nat Turner

Look lak de Daltuns, Youngas an ol’ James gangs
Is resirrecit, an’ up ridin’ again, doin’ dey thangs—
Bowdin’ de D train wit machinegun-totin’ police
Dey needin’ dat firepower fo’ “keepin’ de peace?”
‘Less Al Kater on de A, Boocoo Harome on de B
Dem damn machineguns make no sense, to me…
‘Less Eyesool on de C, an’ Eyesis down on de D
Dem damn machineguns make no sense, to me…
Dey got Glocks, pumps, tasirs, peppurspray, vess—
White magik fo’ conjurin’ cases ob “resisin’ aress!”

Dey shoutin’ night an’ day‘bout Eyesool and Eyesis
Coverin’ up de fac dey sistum’s tremblin’ wit crisis:
Workin’ folk tired ob takeaways an’ myzerly charity
Caint take much mo’ ob dese heists called awesterity—
Son, I tolt you once, tolt you twice, dis makes thrice
Dis a police state Negroz an’ liberuls call ‘paradice!’

Dey got C-Is, Demografick Units an Mosk Crawlers,
Ebben mens among trash hallers, an’ cable installers…
Now, it lookin’ lak to me dat Bloody Billy Bratton
Is bringin’ dat ol’ SS mess up here in Manhattun…
Sho lookin’ lak what de youngtaz be callin’ po-po
Is jes de Furor’s ol’ gang ob thugs de Gustop-po—
Well, so much fo’ hare-splittin,’ ackademik debate,
It pas’ time fo’ callin’ dis muthafucka a police state!

Raymond Nat Turner can be contacted at Raymond (at) upsurgejazz.com
Raymond Nat Turner © 2105 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


  • Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Will we walk, talk; Chew gum, text and BREATHE at the same time?
    14 Aug 2024
    "Will we walk, talk; Chew gum, text and BREATHE at the same time?" is the latest from BAR's Poet-in-Residence.
  • Aisha
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Aisha Beliso-De Jesús’ Book, “Excited Delirium”
    14 Aug 2024
    In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book. This week’s featured author is Aisha Beliso-De Jesús.  Dr. Beliso-De Jesús is Olden Street Professor of…
  • Essam Elkorghli , Kribsoo Diallo , Matteo Capasso
    The Imperialist Attack on the Alliance of Sahel States
    14 Aug 2024
    The recent attack on Mali has the fingerprints of Western imperialism all over it. This series of events is part of the tried and true imperialist method of creating the conditions for intervention…
  • Charisse Burden-Stelly, PhD
    The June Jordan-Audre Lorde Dispute, Kamala Harris, and Palestine
    14 Aug 2024
    Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly provides important context to “Moving Towards Life” which examines how the issue of Palestine changed the relationship between June Jordan and Audre Lorde.
  • National Lawyers Guild
    The National Lawyers Guild Disputes Carter Center Statements on 2024 Venezuelan Presidential Elections
    14 Aug 2024
    The U.S. has crafted a narrative of a stolen election in Venezuela, supported by the Carter Center as a source. The National Lawyers Guild refutes this false claim.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us