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 Blak Folk an de 8 yr Blues…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
15 Jul 2015
🖨️ Print Article

by BAR's poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

With the clock ticking down on Barack Obama's presidency,
black America discovers it was a marriage of conveninece.
And not ours.

My Wise Country Cousin on Blak Folk an de 8 yr Blues…

by BAR's poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

If you axe me, son, Blak folk got a bad case ob 8 yr Blues
Nuthin’ lak Leadbelly, B.B., Muddy— nuthin’ I can use:

“We in lub wit a wo’ crimnul, but he ain’t in lub wit us
We in lub wit a wo’ crimnul, but he ain’t in lub wit us
His mine on de Koch Bros., Buffit ,’in gawd we truss’

We in lub wit a wo’ crimnul, but he ain’t lubbin us bak
We in lub wit a wo’ crimnul, but he ain’t lubbin us bak
Way he treat us, sumtime, feel lak a sin to be bo’n blak

Wo’ crimnul cum creepin’ roun,’ ‘bout ebry fo’ years
Wo’ crimnul cum creepin’ roun,’ ‘bout ebry fo’ years
Res de time, he in de guardin wit Po-po, sippin’ beers

Got no time fo us, he busy chasin’ Al K. Duh, I. Sool
Got no time fo us, he busy chasin’ Al K. Duh, I. Sool—
Didn’t know betta, we swear he playin’ us fo’ de fool!

Knew our wo’ crimnul was no gud, runnin’ wit dat AG
Knew our wo’ crimnul was no gud, runnin’ wit dat AG
Dey should be stylin’ orange jump sootz, if you axe me

Dat ol’ AG boy jus’ wase all de freakwent-flyur mileage
Dat ol’ AG boy jus’ wase all de freakwent-flyur mileage
Flappin his flappers at funruls— cheesin’ liar smile-age…

He lak tits on a bull, sayin’ dat Dem big boyz too big to jail
He lak tits on a bull, sayin’ dat Dem big boyz too big to jail
But, he listenin’ to us conversate, an he be openin’ our mail!

We’s gonna leeb Dem no gud mens sum day, de lawd willin’…
We’s gonna leeb Dem no gud mens sum day, de lawd willin’…
Toozday, dey stay out all day an’ nite wit Dem drones, killin’

Feel lak we ben commun law, jes shackin’ up fo’ 8 long years
Feel lak we ben commun law, jes shackin’ up fo’ 8 long years
Dem men’s giffs: wo,’  fouclosur, poleez murdur, lies an’ tears…”

Raymond Nat Turner © 2015 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


  • My Mentors and me
    BAR Poet-in-Residence Raymond Nat Turner
    My Mentors and me
    13 Nov 2019
    Standing out in the cold shivering, shoveling white bean soup in my mouth, A mentor appears, two assistants in tow.  Mind butcher shop sharp with a
  • What the Chilean People’s Enemies in the US are Planning
    G1 of Rebel Diaz 
    What the Chilean People’s Enemies in the US are Planning
    13 Nov 2019
    Elites in Chile take their cues from places like the University of Chicago, where the author witnessed technocrats plotting to save the ruling order from popular uprising.
  • Policing Lumumba’s Jackson: Surveillance and Credible Messengers in the Most Radical City
    Adofo Minka
    Policing Lumumba’s Jackson: Surveillance and Credible Messengers in the Most Radical City
    13 Nov 2019
    Mayor Lumumba’s unabashed support of police demonstrates that his administration lacks the political courage and will to chart a new course.
  • Letters from Our Readers 
    Jason Choudhry, BAR Comments Editor
    Letters from Our Readers 
    13 Nov 2019
    This week Black voters and the Democrats, the passing of John Conyers, and the alleged demise of Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi were on your minds.  We share your letters for “
  • BAR Book Forum: Walter Mignolo and Catherine Walsh’s “On Decoloniality”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Walter Mignolo and Catherine Walsh’s “On Decoloniality”
    13 Nov 2019
    The dominant conceptions and ideals of Western civilization aim to violate, destroy, and eliminate all that obstructs and impedes its path.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us