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

Shinobu, is this what solidarity looks like? 
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
31 Mar 2021
🖨️ Print Article
Shinobu, is this what solidarity looks like? 
Shinobu, is this what solidarity looks like? 

Now, I wasn’t Yuri Kochiyama
amidst toppled chairs, gun smoke
scented chaos, cradling Malcolm’s
heavy head on the Audubon Ballroom 
floor as his double ought buck shot 
pocked chest oozed ruby rivulets…

I arrived at the Asian elder split
second after the unmusical thud
of his head hitting concrete—after he’d missed
the curb, stumbled and fallen on 14th/Broadway

I didn’t worry whether or not scarlet streaming
from his temple was HIV or Hep C tainted; I didn’t
Worry whether or not some right turn-making, out
of control driver would wipe us out; I didn’t worry
about an out of the blue lawsuit; I didn’t worry about
Blu klux klansmen seeing me; seeing blood; Seeing
me; seeing blood; seeing me kneeling beside the Asian elder—
My magic gun—seeing me rifling his pockets robbing him…

I worried about napkins and bandaids in my backpack 
being sterile—or not sterile
I worried about speaking softly as I stanched crimson
streaming from his temple
I worried about being in over my head—and just then I
spotted EMT and asked an onlooker to flag them down

He did. And they came; they saw; praising preliminary
Work and taking over. No sirens. No flashing red, white
blue and yellow party lights. No yellow tape theater. No 
surly sauntering for overtime. No gruff barking. No dis-
respect. No baton blows. No frame-up. No dead samaritan.
No violence workers—I could breathe and leave High… 

© 2021. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved. 

BAR’s poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner is an accomplished performing artist. You can find much more of his work at https://www.youtube.com/user/zigilow

COMMENTS?

Please join the conversation on Black Agenda Report's Facebook page at http://facebook.com/blackagendareport

Or, you can comment by emailing us at comments@blackagendareport.com 

Anti-Asian Hate

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


Related Stories

Freedom Rider: Establishment Role in Anti-Asian Bigotry
Margaret Kimberley, BAR senior columnist
Freedom Rider: Establishment Role in Anti-Asian Bigotry
24 March 2021
Joe Biden is no better than Trump in advocating de facto white supremacy with his foreign policy, and corporate media fan the flames of anti-Chines
The Answer to Anti-Asian Racism Is Not More Policing
Kayla Hui
The Answer to Anti-Asian Racism Is Not More Policing
24 March 2021
More policing rarely results in justice for anyone, and only puts Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color (BIPOC), including Asian people

More Stories


  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    åEDITORIAL: Racism, Fascism, and Political Murder: Kathleen Cleaver, September 14, 1968
    15 Apr 2021
    Panthers and their radical Black contemporaries are now the stuff of Hollywood -- but with more leather jacket than political substance. The Review Team offers some historical correctives.
  • Fordham University Is One of Many Canaries in the Zionist Coal Mine
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Fordham University Is One of Many Canaries in the Zionist Coal Mine
    15 Apr 2021
    A Blacklist against those who oppose Israeli policies is now in effect at Fordham University, and can be expected to grow.
  • Reese Piece…
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Reese Piece…
    15 Apr 2021
    Salute to City of Angels’ son! He wrote, he wrote, he wrote And he wrote… Ramparts, The Progressive, The Nation, Mother Jones, Dateline Havana, 48 hills…
  • Murder of Daunte Wright Ruined Derek Chauvin Show Trial
    ​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist
    Murder of Daunte Wright Ruined Derek Chauvin Show Trial
    15 Apr 2021
    The Black-murder-by-cop next door to Minneapolis shows the world the dehumanization that is built into the white supremacist DNA of settler-colonialism will continue to produce crimes against our c
  • Spirit of Self-Emancipation Continues to Rise at the St. Louis City Justice Center
    Adofo Minka
    Spirit of Self-Emancipation Continues to Rise at the St. Louis City Justice Center
    15 Apr 2021
    Like Christ on the third day, detainees in St. Louis jails have risen to challenge state oppression.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us