by BAR poet-in-residence Raymond Nat Turner
“Blak Lifes Mattur, yeah, but dey’s unnecessary
Blak Lifes Mattur, ‘til Friday de 20 ob January
My Wise Country Cousin on Miss Hillree an de Matter ob Blak Lives
by BAR poet-in-residence Raymond Nat Turner
Now, Miss Hillree mean as de day is long—
Yeah, she lak two lef shooz, she so wrong,
Don’ know if she mo mean den she shady
Do know dat she ackin lak de ‘Ion Ladee’
Lak de nukler vershun ob Hellen ob Troy
‘Membur how she dun dat ol’ Kadaffy boy?
Den crow’d: “We came, we saw, he died!”
Lawd, dats one time—she ain’t nebber lied.
Hit Hayshun helpurs in de head wit hosshooz
Jus’‘cause she caut dem lissenin’ to de blues;
Head-butted Pootin at a big G-Sebben meetin’
Den gib sidekick Tony Blare a vishus beatin’
Waterbo’d a “ghos’ detanee” fo’ sevul hours—
Den turn ‘em ova to Newlun an Sam Powurs!
Occuepyd, foldin’ up her retraktabul baton—
Seem lak she fogit dat de main mic still on:
“Blak Lifes Mattur, yeah, but dey’s unnecessary
Blak Lifes Mattur, ‘til Friday de 20 ob January—
Dey mattur afta dat, as poleez, maybe millatary,
De penitentiary, mortuary—maybe de cemetery…”
Miss Hillree jus’ de latest slick re-akkkshunary—
Dem Negroz know scam-pain lyin’s customary?
Raymond Nat Turner can be contacted at upsurgejazz.com
Raymond Nat Turner © 2015 All Rights Reserved
BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist, Margaret Kimberley, analyzes the 2026 midterm election with Jamarl Thomas.
The Black Agenda Report celebrated its 20th anniversary on November 7, 2026, at Arnhold Hall at The New School in New York City, hosted by its School of Media Studies.
The recent midterm elections have brought more Black people to high elected office, but for 20 years, Black Agenda Report has warned about the dangers of the Black misleadership class.
We reprint Dr. Jemima Pierre’s remarks at the 20th anniversary celebration for Black Agenda Report, New York City, November 7, 2026.
We reprint Ajamu Baraka’s remarks at the 20th anniversary celebration for Black Agenda Report, New York City, November 7, 2026.
