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, Week of January, 25, 2019
    Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    Black Agenda Radio, Week of January, 25, 2019
    25 Jun 2019
    Daoud Andre: The US only respects its own rigged elections, like Haiti & Venezuela; Jennifer Harvey: white parents need to train their kids to be anti-racists; In Them Goons Rule Marquis Bey of
  • A Hip Hop Portal to the Future
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    A Hip Hop Portal to the Future
    24 Jun 2019
    The language of Black English and Hip Hop may “offer us another way of existing in the world,” said Marquis Bey, author of “Them Goon Rules: Fugitive Essays on Radical Black F
  • White Kids Need Help to Become Anti-Racists
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    White Kids Need Help to Become Anti-Racists
    24 Jun 2019
    Many Black families teach their kids about race and racism, but “white families don’t do that,” said Jennifer Harvey, a professor at Drake University and author of “Raising Wh
  • US Only Respects Rigged Elections in Haiti, Venezuela
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    US Only Respects Rigged Elections in Haiti, Venezuela
    24 Jun 2019
    The Haitian people reject the demand from the Organization of American States and the US, that they abandon the street campaign against President Jovenel Moise and wait for elections, said 
  • Will Black Students Stand Up For debt Forgiveness and Free Tuition? When They Do Will Anybody Cover It?
    Bruce A. Dixon , BAR managing editor
    Will Black Students Stand Up For debt Forgiveness and Free Tuition? When They Do Will Anybody Cover It?
    20 Jun 2019
    You get a car!
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us