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

My Wise Country Cousin on The State Machine’s Machinegun-Totin’ Cops… 
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
01 Jan 1970
🖨️ Print Article

My Wise Country Cousin on The State Machine’s Machinegun-Totin’ Cops… 

by BAR poet-in-residence Raymond Nat Turner

Look lak de Daltuns, Youngas an ol’ James gangs

Is resirrecit, an’ up ridin’ again, doin’ dey thangs—

Bowdin’ de D train wit machinegun-totin’ police

Dey needin’ dat firepower fo’ “keepin’ de peace?”

‘Less Al Kater on de A, Boocoo Harome on de B

Dem damn machineguns make no sense, to me…

‘Less Eyesool on de C, an’ Eyesis down on de D

Dem damn machineguns make no sense, to me…

Dey got Glocks, pumps, tasirs, peppurspray, vess—

White magik fo’ conjurin’ cases ob “resisin’ aress!”

Dey shoutin’ night an’ day‘bout Eyesool and Eyesis

Coverin’ up de fac dey sistum’s tremblin’ wit crisis:

Workin’ folk tired ob takeaways an’ myzerly charity

Caint take much mo’ ob dese heists called awesterity—

Son, I tolt you once, tolt you twice, dis makes thrice

Dis a police state Negroz an’ liberuls call ‘paradice!’

Dey got C-Is, Demografick Units an Mosk Crawlers,

Ebben mens among trash hallers, an’ cable installers…

Now, it lookin’ lak to me dat Bloody Billy Bratton

Is bringin’ dat ol’ SS mess up here in Manhattun…

Sho lookin’ lak what de youngtaz be callin’ po-po

Is jes de Furor’s ol’ gang ob thugs de Gustop-po—

Well, so much fo’ hare-splittin,’ ackademik debate,

It pas’ time fo’ callin’ dis muthafucka a police state!

Raymond Nat Turner can be contacted at Raymond (at) upsurgejazz.com
Raymond Nat Turner © 2105 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


  • Black Agenda Radio April 7, 2023
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio April 7, 2023
    07 Apr 2023
    In this segment, we have special coverage of the recent launch of the Black Alliance for Peace Zone of Peace campaign.
  • Margaret Kimberley Remarks at Chicago Area Peace Action Peace Summit
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Margaret Kimberley Remarks at Chicago Area Peace Action Peace Summit
    07 Apr 2023
    Margaret Kimberley gave the keynote address at the Chicago Area Peace Action Peace Summit.
  • Zone of Peace Campaign Press Conference
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Zone of Peace Campaign Press Conference
    07 Apr 2023
    The Black Alliance for Peace Zone of Peace campaign launch event took place in Washington DC.
  • Ajamu Baraka Discusses the Zone of Peace and Kamala Harris’ Trip to Africa
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Ajamu Baraka Discusses the Zone of Peace and Kamala Harris’ Trip to Africa
    07 Apr 2023
    Ajamu Baraka discusses the Zone of Peace campaign.
  • Trump Derangement Syndrome Returns
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Trump Derangement Syndrome Returns
    05 Apr 2023
    If democrats were smart, Donald Trump would be a disgraced former president, forgotten by all but his most ardent admirers. But they aren't smart and they may have given him a political resurrection.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us