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


  • Health Justice and Black Liberation: Dr. Angel Love Miles
    Gwendolyn Wallace and Roberto Sirvent 
    Health Justice and Black Liberation: Dr. Angel Love Miles
    21 Oct 2020
    Health and disability are interrelated and distinctive social categories that have significant implications for the black community.
  • Savannah, the Afro-Fetish-City
    David Pleasant
    Savannah, the Afro-Fetish-City
    21 Oct 2020
    The African Exposition at the Savannah Riverside Plant “is one of the most intense examples of fetishization, colonialism, exoticism, and dehumanization” the author has ever scene.
  • Liberals and Fascists Both Love Capitalism
    Margaret Flowers
    Liberals and Fascists Both Love Capitalism
    21 Oct 2020
    It is important to look at the bigger picture lest we focus on the wrong issue and play into the hands of the ruling class.
  • Trump’s Looting of CITGO Punishes Low-Income People in Venezuela and US
    Yoav Elinevsky
    Trump’s Looting of CITGO Punishes Low-Income People in Venezuela and US
    21 Oct 2020
    The sanctions on Venezuela are also hurting some two million low-income Americans who used to receive free heating oil from CITGO.
  • Nigeria SARS Protests: Amnesty Warns of “Escalating Attacks” 
    BBC staff
    Nigeria SARS Protests: Amnesty Warns of “Escalating Attacks” 
    21 Oct 2020
    Protests mount against Africa’s most populous nation’s most feared police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us