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

The Unemployment Question(s)
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
04 Feb 2014
🖨️ Print Article

by Raymond Nat Turner

Livin’ on nothin’, while hunger works full time

No wonder, some brothers stumble into crime.

 

The Unemployment Question(s)

by Raymond Nat Turner

 

Licking bitter flaps on unemployment envelopes

somewhere under the rainbow

Lies

true hues

in bright Red,

Black

and dark Blues:

 

Drawin’ unemployment’s like drawin’ straws

Drawin’ unemployment’s like drawin’ straws

We come up short under rich folks’ laws.

 

Livin’ on nothin’, while hunger works full time

Livin’ on nothin’, while hunger works full time

No wonder, some brothers stumble into crime.

 

And the rich cry, “...crime, crime, crime” every day

And the rich cry, “...crime, crime, crime” every day

While cocaine’s trafficked by the C-I-A.

 

We been slavin’ fo’ the mastahs and what we git?

We been slavin’ fo’ the mastahs and what we git?

Stack-o-papers to fill out, askin’ dumb shit!

 

“State here the reason you’re out of work.”

“Answer the following then report to the clerk.”

“Will you accept work in your usual trade?”

“What’s your income with benefits paid?”

“Do you own a farm, or a ranch?”

“Do you have a savings? What branch?”

“Did you look for work all this past week?”

“Where did you go, with whom did you speak?”

“Are you a citizen of the U.S.?”

“If answering ‘No’, then why not ‘Yes’?”

“Have a seat and wait to be seen”

“Any questions about what we mean?”

“Anyone in line who voluntarily quit?”

“Step out — go over there and sit”

“Sorry, you can’t be seen until ten —”

 

“Provided, you fill this out for WIN...”

 

We been slavin’ fo’ the mastahs and what we git?

We been slavin’ fo’ the mastahs and what we git?

Appointment

with

revolution

When we fit…

 

Raymond Nat Turner can be contacted at upsurgejazz.com.

 

Raymond Nat Turner © 1986 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


  • PSAI
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Alliance for Peace Africa Team Reports from the Pan-Africanism Summit Against Imperialism
    15 May 2026
    The Black Alliance for Peace was invited to send a delegation to the Pan-Africanism Summit Against Imperialism (PASAI) in Kenya, a counter-summit to the imperialist Africa Forward convening. Africa…
  • PSAI
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Communist Party Marxist Kenya at the Pan-Africanism Summit Against Imperialism
    15 May 2026
    Booker Omole and Adjiambo Ashlyn of the Communist Party Marxist-Kenya speak to Black Agend
  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    France Out of Africa! PASAI Shows the Way
    13 May 2026
    An international gathering of anti-imperialists in Nairobi, Kenya revealed the lies of “Africa Forward” as the presidents of France and Kenya made plans to continue the exploitation of a nation and…
  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    MANIFESTO: Analyse Schématique 1932-1934, Jacques Roumain and Étienne Charlier, 1934
    13 May 2026
    “To combat Imperialism is to combat Capitalism, foreign or native…”
  • Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Mastering the Universe: the Obscene Wealth of the Ruling Class
    13 May 2026
    Rob Larson's Mastering the Universe: The Obscene Wealth of the Ruling Class, What They Do With Their Money, And Why You Should Hate Them Even More is a fiercely pleasurable polemic. 
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us