by BAR Poet-in-Residence Raymond Nat Turner
Commemorating
Beyond Vietnam,
Celebrating
Grassroots pregnant with
Struggle
Light up in Harlem
by BAR Poet-in-Residence Raymond Nat Turner
(BAR 7th Anniversary Celebration)
“Over truth there is light” – Moroccan saying
Friday night and a
Light burns bright
Up here in Harlem—
Bright like LED smiles
Of Douglass, Delaney
Walker, Cornish and Ida B.
We’re that light tonight…
We’re that light tonight,
Illumination
Lineage of tens of
Of thousands of torchbearers
Dealing Defenders,
Dispatches, Eagles,
Afro-Americans,
Mysteries, North Stars,
Freedom Journals, New York
Globes, Boston Guardians and
Memphis Free Speech & Headlights
We’re that light tonight…
We’re that light tonight,
Back at Riverside
Commemorating
Beyond Vietnam,
Celebrating
Grassroots pregnant with
Struggle birthing the
March on Washington
We’re that light tonight…
We’re that light tonight,
Not neon soldiers
Of Fortune 500
Foundation followers
Mumbling mule madness
We’re that light tonight…
We’re that light tonight
Streaming from Philly,
Connecticut, Jersey,
Filtering in from
Atlanta, Massachusetts,
Parts west, popping corks
On Champagne and wines
Red and white, toasting
Truth telling, illuminating
The people, instead of
“Speaking truth to power,”
Under Bill Clinton’s
Desk, like chittlin-breath
Buffoons are prone to do…
We’re the light tonight!
Raymond Nat Turner can be contacted at upsurgejazz.com.
Raymond Nat Turner © 2013 All Rights Reserved
France's colonial and neo-colonial history is now challenged in Francophone Africa by Russia's position as a world power rival to the US and other NATO nations.
Universities and museums around the world still hold human remains in their collections. Harvard University follows this discredited practice and has the skull of an enslaved Brazilian who took…
"Organize, Fight, Win: Black Communist Women's Political Writings", NYPD conceals evidence in the killing of Rameek Smith, and the Black is Back Coalition for Peace, Justice and Reparations says, "…
Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly is an Associate Professor of African American Studies at Wayne State University. She is co-editor of the recently published book, Organize, Fight, Win: Black Communist…
We discuss the May 10, 2022 NYPD killing of Rameek Smith, the effort to hide the incomplete body camera footage, and the continued demand for justice. QB of Bronxites for Why Accountability joins us…
