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

For Fancy Miss Nancy
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
19 Dec 2018
🖨️ Print Article
Nancy Sue Wilson 1937-2018
Nancy Sue Wilson 1937-2018

Guess who I saw
today, black and white photo,
Marching, Montgomery from
Selma, ‘65?

Guess who I saw
at my high school swingin’ the
Trio; urging us to stay in school?

Guess who I,
was privileged to sequence
a later CD for, late one night?

…and you don’t know, you don’t know how
Glad I am that she
put the purr in whisper, with a sultry
Sound that could make subpoenas seem sensuous

…and you don’t know, you don’t know how
Glad I am that she
Appeared, sparkling, at the end of the
golden era—looking as good as she sounded—
Her face should grace
Buckeye State flags emblazoned
“There will never be another you…”

…and you don’t know, you don’t know how
Glad I am that she
Hovered earth— stunning hummingbird,
gorgeous humanitarian, giving the greatest
performance of her life, moments I loitered—
not seizing the time and asking, “When did
You leave heaven?”
Though, I think it was maybe ’37? I know she’s

Free Again…

© 2018. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performing artist. You can find much more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com.

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles? Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


More Stories


  • Women Lead Fight Against Police Violence in UK
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    Women Lead Fight Against Police Violence in UK
    10 Mar 2020
    One reason Black women are in the forefront of British anti-police violence campaigns, is to counter the capitalist smear that Black families are “not capable of raising children, leading to crimin
  • Fear Pervades Black Politics, and Makes Us Agents of Our Own Oppression
    Glen Ford , BAR executive editor
    Fear Pervades Black Politics, and Makes Us Agents of Our Own Oppression
    05 Mar 2020
    Many Black voters recoiled in abject terror at the very thought that the Democratic Party – “our” party, in many Black folks’ minds – might fracture under the challenge of the Sandernistas.
  • Freedom Rider: U.S. Continues Its War on the Rest of the World
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR senior columnist
    Freedom Rider: U.S. Continues Its War on the Rest of the World
    04 Mar 2020
    The duopoly corporate parties enforce silence and ignorance on foreign policy to ensure that Americans have neither the knowledge nor the tools to resist their country’s policy of endless war.
  • Why it is Unlikely Sandernistas Will Catch Russiagate Fever and Why He Should Be Held Accountable Anyway
    Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
    Why it is Unlikely Sandernistas Will Catch Russiagate Fever and Why He Should Be Held Accountable Anyway
    04 Mar 2020
    Bernie Sanders’ rise to frontrunner status has done nothing to challenge the endless wars waged by the US, yet he is sure to face more smears and attacks the more his campaign succeeds.
  • California Flags Alienated, Idealistic Kids of Color as Potential Violent Extremists
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    California Flags Alienated, Idealistic Kids of Color as Potential Violent Extremists
    04 Mar 2020
    The program deputizes teachers to spy on students and recruits social service agencies to assemble dossiers on them while providing mental health services.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us