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

Will we walk, talk; Chew gum, text and BREATHE at the same time?
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
14 Aug 2024
🖨️ Print Article
Protest

“Power concedes nothing without a demand.
It never did and it never will.” —Frederick Douglass

I.

Will we march and fire speak—
Bringing fiery, fresh critique?
Trashing stifling ‘black' mystique—
Not sitting silent and weak?

Will we defeat Boss Tweet
Turning up our street heat—
Fighting for the Driver’s seat—
Making slaughter obsolete?

II.
Yes, we say “No!” to hungry Budapest ‘bout to bite
Our butts.  “No!” to Gremlin gangster—punctuating
Life sentences with “a little poison … ” “No!” to
Thin-skinned strongman; to never-ever wrong man.

Yes, we say “No!” to losing our heads in public places—

“No!” to embassy butchers. “No!” to facial recognition
Knowing our shadows’ whereabouts. “No!” to murderous
Monarchs.  “No!” to “Heil Hitler!” “No!” to  “Howdy Modi!”

Yes, we say “No!” to body-snatchers on theocratic cul-de-sacs.
“No!” to violent dress code-enforcers. “No!” to capital punishing
‘Morality’ Police. “No!” to the Texas Taliban placing hot
Orange buoys in barb-wired wombs—Making America grate again!

III.
And, yes, we promise People of  The World: No mo drunken
Negroz! Bloodshot eyes rollin ‘round in their heads— Happy
Dancing thin ice! Electric Sliding slick slogans: “Yes, we can”
And bottle Jim Jones Juice; For Regime “Change you can believe in!”

Yes, we promise People of  The World: No Negroz swearing
Black Magic Mumbo-Jumbo! “Wink-Wink/Nod-Nod” coded
Communication with Offal Office occupant. That all alphabet
Agency-affiliated ‘white’ folks ..uh … simply cannot decipher!
Yes, we promise People of  The World: No red hot Negro tongues
Licking bloody combat boots—post-surgical strikes on
Hospitals! Post-tons of guarantees to … uh … “Hold his feet to the
Fire …”

Yes, we promise People of The World: “Never again!” No

Silence of The Lambs/spook-ism years … No Three Monkey
Drone Ranger/De-porter-In-Chief crime spree years …
No nappy-headed foolishness of—NO demands on Dems!

Yes, we promise People of  The World: No unhoused Negroz—
Wandering cruel streets of capitalism— Mumbling, “Protect and
Respect” a Wall Street servant. ‘Pardoner’ of sub-prime predators—
Thieves—who wiped black wealth in homes from cooked books …

Yes, we promise People of  The World: Salt of the earth Negroz
Will not “Heel!” Repudiate resistance. Abandon mass struggle.
Leave liberation on shoulders of the road—to chase optical
Delusions—Superhero—Flying stars and stripes to the rescue (????)

© 2024. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Raymond Nat Turner is a NYC poet; BAR's Poet-in-Residence; and founder/co-leader of the jazz-poetry ensemble UpSurge!NYC. You can Vote for his work at GoFundMe and PayPal.

2024 election
Palestine
Fascism
Black politics
resistance

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


Related Stories

Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
They Wear The Masks
19 August 2026
“We wear the mask that grins and lies, it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes …” 
​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist
Neoliberalism to Trumpism: The Re-Normalization of White Supremacy as State Ideology
29 July 2026
The crisis of late-stage capitalism has stripped away the liberal disguise and revealed white supremacy as the official ideology of t
Anthony Karefa Rogers-Wright
U.S. Support of Israel is Absolutely an Issue of Affordability and Economic Populism…So Why Won’t the Democrats Discuss it as Such?
29 July 2026
The Democratic Party's continued support for Israel's genocide is not just a moral and political liability but also an economic one w
Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
Lindsey Graham Was the Face of the Duopoly
15 July 2026
The late Senator Lindsey Graham played the role of chief congressional warmonger very well.
Editors, The Black Agenda Review
DOCUMENT: “We Will Find You and We Will Kill You”: United States Counterterrorism Strategy, 2026
15 July 2026
“Americans should be safe to live their lives without the fear of terror attacks, the threat of Jihadists, the flooding of our commun
Kit Klarenberg
Exclusive: Fergie Chambers Facing US Extradition Over Dubious ‘terrorism financing’ Charges
15 July 2026
The Grayzone has reviewed a sealed indictment for pro-Palestine donor Fergie Chambers, who was arrested in Spain on dubious money laundering ch
Glen Ford, BAR Executive Editor
Trump and America’s Fascist Forefathers
01 July 2026
Donald Trump is not an anomaly, but the heir of fascism which began in 1776 and continued throughout U.S. history.
Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
Could Wemby Become the Conscience of the NBA?
24 June 2026
NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama grapples with the times we’re living in, even as his career takes off.
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Short word problems: do the math
03 June 2026
Work these word problems. Work them as if your lives depend onYOUR correct answers.YOUR solutions … Because they do:
Community Movement Builders - Newark
CMB Newark Statement on the Delaney Hall Uprising
03 June 2026
The immigrants who revolted inside the Delaney Hall immigration jail are not criminals but prisoners of war, and their actions are those of res

More Stories


  • BAR Book Forum: Aishah Shahidah Simmons’ “Love WITH Accountability”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Aishah Shahidah Simmons’ “Love WITH Accountability”
    12 Feb 2020
    Simmons explores ways we can hold harm-doers accountable without getting involved with the very state that brutalizes Black and other communities of color.
  • Colombian Government Obstructs the Peace Agreement with the FARC Guerrilla Group
    Sebastián Navarrete Aldana 
    Colombian Government Obstructs the Peace Agreement with the FARC Guerrilla Group
    12 Feb 2020
    BAR’s reporter in Colombia explores how the US-backed regime is grossly violating the peace agreement with former FARC guerillas. 
  • How to Yellow-Cake a Tragedy: The New York Times Spreads the Virus of Hatred, Again
    K.J. Noh 
    How to Yellow-Cake a Tragedy: The New York Times Spreads the Virus of Hatred, Again
    12 Feb 2020
    The US corporate media, especially the Times, has turned a medical emergency into a racist campaign of ideological propaganda.
  • Keep War, Environmental Degradation and Profit Out of Space
    Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers
    Keep War, Environmental Degradation and Profit Out of Space
    12 Feb 2020
    The US is escalating the arms race because it sees its hegemonic military and economic power weakening. “This will be the most expensive arms race in history.”
  • The Democratic Party's Theatrical Performances: Fooling Black Voters for Decades
    Solomon Comissiong
    The Democratic Party's Theatrical Performances: Fooling Black Voters for Decades
    12 Feb 2020
    The Democrats are terrible at passing legislation that helps Black and poor people but fantastically talented at political theater.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us