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


  • The Drone Ranger gallops into Glasgow
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    The Drone Ranger gallops into Glasgow
    01 Dec 2021
                                                         
  • BAR Book Forum: Jessica Luther and Kavitha A. Davidson’s “Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Jessica Luther and Kavitha A. Davidson’s “Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back”
    01 Dec 2021
    In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book.
  • Democracy Scores Another Victory Over the U.S. in Honduras
    Black Alliance For Peace
    Democracy Scores Another Victory Over the U.S. in Honduras
    01 Dec 2021
    The people of Honduras secured a victory against U.S. interference with the convincing win of Xiomara Castro as their new president.
  • #NoMore Censorship of Africa’s Roving Digital Army of Peace
    Simon Tesfamariam
    #NoMore Censorship of Africa’s Roving Digital Army of Peace
    01 Dec 2021
    The removal of Twitter accounts advocating for peace in the Horn of Africa shows the connection between the state and big tech companies.
  • White Supremacy, Nazism and Fascism R U.S.
    Philippe Gendrault, Wendy C. Ong
    White Supremacy, Nazism and Fascism R U.S.
    01 Dec 2021
    Only the United States and Ukraine voted against a UN Resolution denouncing the "glorification of Nazism." History proves that racism in all its forms is foundational to this country and contin
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us