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


  • Black Agenda Radio for Week of December 23, 2019
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    Black Agenda Radio for Week of December 23, 2019
    23 Dec 2019
    Democrats Largely Silent on Bolivia Coup
  • BAR Co-Founder Book Exposes "Sham” of US Democracy
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    BAR Co-Founder Book Exposes "Sham” of US Democracy
    23 Dec 2019
    The US has failed in its purported mission to forge a society based on human equality, said Margaret Kimberley, co-founder of Black Agenda Report and author of the new book, “
  • McCarthy Era Laid Groundwork for Sixties Repression
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    McCarthy Era Laid Groundwork for Sixties Repression
    23 Dec 2019
    Charisse Burden Stelly, professor of Africana Studies and Political Science at Carleton College, said the long US history of red-baiting led to lethal repression of radicals in the
  • Democrats Largely Silent on Bolivia Coup
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    Democrats Largely Silent on Bolivia Coup
    23 Dec 2019
    “We’ve seen very little pushback from the Democratic Party” to the military coup that deposed Evo Morales’ Native American government, said Jake Johnston, of the Center for Ec
  • Letters from Our Readers 
    Jahan Choudhry BAR Comments Editor
    Letters from Our Readers 
    19 Dec 2019
    This week readers discussed police brutality and the Trump impeachment proceedings.  We share your letters for “
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us