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


  • Letters from Our Readers 
    Jahan Chowdhry, BAR Comments Editor
    Letters from Our Readers 
    02 Oct 2019
    Readers discuss the black electoral engagement and the politics of Hong Kong.  We share your comments for “
  • BAR Book Forum: Sara Motta’s “Liminal Subjects: Weaving (Our) Liberation”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Sara Motta’s “Liminal Subjects: Weaving (Our) Liberation”
    02 Oct 2019
    Stepping into the folds of this book one begins a shamanic journey that is both an act of defiant and joyful resistance to patriarchal capitalist-coloniality.
  • BAR Book Forum: Danielle Phillips-Cunningham’s “Putting Their Hands on Race”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Danielle Phillips-Cunningham’s “Putting Their Hands on Race”
    02 Oct 2019
    Working-class white, Black, and immigrant women are concentrated in the most underpaid and underinsured jobs.
  • Newark’s Lead-Poisoned Water and the Contradictions of a “Radical” Mayor: How Do We Fight Back?
    Jay Arena
    Newark’s Lead-Poisoned Water and the Contradictions of a “Radical” Mayor: How Do We Fight Back?
    02 Oct 2019
    Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, widely viewed as a “radical,” has worked to deny, suppress, and minimize the existence of this public health crisis.
  • Obama, the Greatest War President: a Book Review 
    a review by Ron Ridenour
    Obama, the Greatest War President: a Book Review 
    02 Oct 2019
    Obama, the drone president, stood for seven aggressive wars at once, more than any other US president.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us