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

​​​​​​​ 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
Anthony Karefa Rogers-Wright
Big D Dysfunction: Why The Democrat Party’s Latest Comedy of Errors is a Tragedy of Strategy 
27 May 2026
The party that installed its presidential candidate without a primary vote now blames its 2024 loss on everything except its own cont

More Stories


  • Zambia’s Debt Crisis a Warning for What Looms Ahead for Global South
    Tanupriya Singh
    Zambia’s Debt Crisis a Warning for What Looms Ahead for Global South
    28 Sep 2022
    Zambia is heading toward critical negotiations to restructure its mounting debts. The IMF has approved a $1.3 billion bailout plan for the country, which will impose cruel austerity measures on the…
  • In Response to Antonio Guterres, Haitian Organizations Point to the Responsibility of the UN in the "Gangsterization of Haiti"
    AlterPresse
    In Response to Antonio Guterres, Haitian Organizations Point to the Responsibility of the UN in the "Gangsterization of Haiti"
    28 Sep 2022
    The United Nations is complicit in what is referred to as the "gangsterization" of Haiti. The existence of criminal gangs is the result of UN Core Group interference yet is now the pretext for…
  • What is Nkrumahism-Touréism?
    All African Peoples Revolutionary Party
    What is Nkrumahism-Touréism?
    28 Sep 2022
    The Pan-African revolutionary thought of Ahmed Sékou Touré and Kwame Nkrumah is an essential guide in seeking liberation for African people.
  • Black Agenda Radio September 23, 2022
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio September 23, 2022
    23 Sep 2022
    Laith Marouf and all defenders of Palestinian rights struggle against political and media erasure, Tracy McCarter and other abuse survivors face prosecution when defending themselves, and people with…
  • Laith Marouf and the Struggle to Defend Palestine
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Laith Marouf and the Struggle to Defend Palestine
    23 Sep 2022
    Laith Marouf is Policy Consultant with the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC) in Montreal and a long-time defender of Palestine and the rights of Palestinian people. He has been publicly attacked…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us