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

What Would the Ancestors Say?
Margaret Kimberley, BAR editor and senior columnist
14 Nov 2012
🖨️ Print Article

 

by Raymond Nat Turner

Baptist, baritone strains:

"I've been to the mountaintop,

But this is not the mountaintop”

 

What Would the Ancestors Say?

by Raymond Nat Turner

 

I know

I know

I know...

Harriet Tubman didn't slide

In and out of the slave south

Nineteen times, $40,000 reward

Hanging over her head like a

Scimitar, or Samurai sword;

Medgar didn't die in his driveway

Like a dog put down in the pound;

Malcolm didn't die on floor

Of the Audubon Ballroom;

King didn't die on chitlin' curcuit

Balcony of the Lorraine Motel;

Fred didn't die in his bed, under

Hooves of Chicago death squads

For tomfoolery---nappy-headed

Foolishness--- Negroz shrinking

To plantation Rip Van Winkles

Hung over on Ol' Massa's

Jim Jones Juice (January '09)

The eve of world revolution...

 

I know

I know

I know...

She would be leveling her pistol,

Leaving at least a half dozen dead

Negroz, after commanding "Forward,

Or die!"

 

I know

I know

I know...

He would be tongue-lashing

Negroz with his Harlem-tinged

Tough love: "You've been had,

You've been took, you've been

Hoodwinked, you've been bamboozled!"

 

I know

I know

I know...

He would be intoning in African,

Baptist, baritone strains:

"I've been to the mountaintop,

But this is not the mountaintop,

No, and I'm concerned that if you

Continue traversing this treacherous

Trail you're on, during the dark and

Difficult days ahead, not only will you

Not get to the mountaintop, you will

Find yourselves descending to depths

So low that it will require you taking an

Elevator up eighty-six floors; climbing

Forty flights of stairs to a sub cellar of

Sin, standing on a step ladder on your

Tiptoes, just to suck the Devil's dick---

 

No, I'm afraid I can't be your drum

Major on this one---

The drones must be stopped,

The satanic wars ceased, and

The barbaric killing of other peoples'

Babies ended---forever..."

Raymond Nat Turner (c) 2012 All Rights Reserved

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


More Stories


  • Seven Myths about the January 6th Capitol Building Incident
    Roger D. Harris
    Seven Myths about the January 6th Capitol Building Incident
    26 Jan 2022
    The events of January 6, 2021 at the Capitol have been discussed and written about endlessly, but without much useful analysis.
  • Democrats and Trading People for Political Power
    Daniel Melo
    Democrats and Trading People for Political Power
    26 Jan 2022
    Electoral politics in this country is a cover for oligarchic rule. Democratic party victories provide very little material benefit for the people they depend upon for support.  
  • Legacy of a Black Revolutionary:  Black Agenda Report (BAR)
    Mary Uyematsu Kao
    Legacy of a Black Revolutionary: Black Agenda Report (BAR)
    26 Jan 2022
    Glen Ford's legacy is recognized all over the nation. Japanese- American newspaper Rafu Shimpo printed this tribute to his work. 
  • Key Suspects Arrested in Jovenel Moise Assassination Plot
    Kim Ives
    Key Suspects Arrested in Jovenel Moise Assassination Plot
    25 Jan 2022
    More arrests have been made in the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moise. Suspects have connections with Haitian oligarchs who control the country with the blessing of the U.S.
  • Arizona State Prison Laborers
    Michael Sainato
    Corporations are Making Millions of Dollars From U.S. Prison Labor
    25 Jan 2022
    A Freedom of Information Act request shines a light on how much private corporations and government agencies have been exploiting prison labor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us