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


  • US Fingerprints in Bolivian Coup
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    US Fingerprints in Bolivian Coup
    19 Nov 2019
    “Whether under the Bush or Obama administrations, the US government saw the Bolivian government of Evo Morales as an adversary in the region,” as did the Trump administration, said Ale
  • Anti-Blackness Among Hispanics
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    Anti-Blackness Among Hispanics
    19 Nov 2019
    “With a few exceptions, all the presidents in Latin America are white,” notes Janvieve Williams Comrie, a pan-Africanist activist originally from Panama.
  • The Internationalism of Black Panther Women
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    The Internationalism of Black Panther Women
    19 Nov 2019
    The women of the Black Panther Party embraced the models established by women in Vietnam, North Korea and China, in part “to change the culture within the party,” said Benjamin Young
  • Mumia to Speak in Philadelphia on Global Youth Against Empire
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    Mumia to Speak in Philadelphia on Global Youth Against Empire
    19 Nov 2019
    The nation’s best known political prisoner will mark his 38th year behind bars at a “Youth Rise Up Against Empire” event, December 7th in Philadelphia.
  • Race is Central to Both Revolution and Reaction in Latin American
    Glen Ford , BAR executive editor
    Race is Central to Both Revolution and Reaction in Latin American
    14 Nov 2019
    The world birthed in the near extinction of one-fifth of humanity still exists, in the social relations bequeathed to the Americas by conquistadors and enslavers.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us