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 Commander’s Legacy
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
13 Jul 2016
🖨️ Print Article

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

With the Obama era drawing to a close, it's time reflect upon what difference it all made. The poet's wise country cousin weighs in on the legacy of the First Black resident of the White House.

My Wise Country Cousin on Commander’s Legacy

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

Legussy?! Legussy?! Legussy?! Son, now you needa quit

Stop wit dis ol’ nappy-headed foolishness, dis legussy shit:

Wen Negroz wus runnin’ ‘roun’ wit his face on dey chests

I axe, “Lawd, why is Dem fools all sportin’ suicide vests?”

Negroz goin’ ga-ga, droolin’ all ober him lak damn fools

While he hab dat Dunkin boy privatizin’, closin’ schools

De Commanduh busy killin’ po’ peoples wit his drones—

onlest thing smart ‘bout sum damn Negroz is dey phones!

Legussy? Erack, Afgan surges, an’ Toozday drone kills

Also, deportin’ mo’ Mexicuns den Big Farma gots pills!

I peeped his maskaradin’, de way dat he han’l Skippy-Gate—

Beer stunt show me he a cog in de repressif mashene ob state

Prancin’ ‘roun’ de wurl wit threats as Commanduh ‘n Cheef

Unleashin’ Afri-Com bringin’ Mama Africa mo’ war an’ greef

H’m, son, yo queshun to me is jes’ a lil’ mo’ den a bit strange—

In Asia, Africa, Latun Amerka he know’d fo’ regeem change!!

An’ wit dat ol’ Holda boy sen’n de mos’ whissul-blowas to jail

But not nare one ob de sub-primers an’ banksters “too big to fail”

Legussy? Crushin’ all dem promisin’ young acktavis, Occupy kids

His massif spyin’—speshully on all de Mooselms an’ dey maskjids

Negroz runnin’ ‘roun’ praisin’ de so-called Afforduhbull Care Ack

Which, ‘tween me an’ you, is Insurenz an’ Farmasuitcul Kick Bak

While, lawd, he luv lecturin’ Negroz how “a risin’ tide lif’ all boats”

Why, dats lak sayin’ “Sir” stops Mississippians frum cuttin’ throats

De truf is, he nebbur planned to hab no Negroz an’ no po’folk baks

‘Cept fo’ croonin’ an’ otha weak-ass gestas in de afermaf ob attaks

Remebur how Mackavellan he play Flint, Fergusin’, an’ Baltimo’?

IF he cum, it’s wit “hearts an’ prayurs”, song an’ posin’ fo’ a foto

Caint you see dat de Commanduh ain’t got no legussy to stan on?

An’you wanna know de hones ta gawd truf: caint wait ‘til he gone!

His legussy? Bamboozlin’ po’ Negroz wit a Blak Face in a Hi Place

Sum speeches an’ croonin’ “Less Stay Togetha” an “Amazin’ Grace”

What he do fo’ Negroz ‘cept sing a few songs an’ sip a few beers?

He put Dem into a deep, deep…catnip sleep fo’ almos’ ten years…

Lawd, I’ll be glad wen Negroz grab Dem sefs sum Adult Politiks

Teachin’ dem sefs how to see rite thru rich folks tokenistic tricks

Maybe Negroz will wake Dem sefs up an’ really start to organize

While washin’ all ob dat gooey “hope an’ change “ frum dey eyes

Enuf wit all dis tomfoolery, dis mumbo-jumbo—leggussy my ass—

Negroz wake up: start seein’ dis ol’ wurl thru spektaculs ob class!

Raymond Nat Turner © 2016 All Rights Reserved

Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performance artist, and our poet in residence at Black Agenda Report. Find more of his work at http://www.upsurgejazz.com.

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles? Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


More Stories


  • Krys Cerisier
    U.S. Escalates Tension with Panama as the Panamanian Government Cracks Down on Domestic Protest
    02 Apr 2025
    U.S. influence over Panama has steadily increased over the years due to the active pressure from instruments like SOUTHCOM. The country seems to be headed toward a repeat of its colonial past as the…
  • Palestine Chronicle Staff
    ICRC, PRCS Condemn Israel’s Killing of Eight Medics, Five Rescuers in Gaza
    02 Apr 2025
    The medics who were killed were identified as Mustafa Khafaja, Ezzedine Sha’at, Saleh Moammar, Rifaat Radwan, Mohammad Behloul, Ashraf Abu Labda, Mohammad Al-Hila, and Raed Al-Sharif.
  • Adam Mahoney
    Natural Disasters Are Driving a School Crisis. Black Children Are Hit the Hardest
    02 Apr 2025
    Black students are losing classrooms, homes, and support systems after climate events.
  • Black Alliance for Peace US Out of Africa Network
    AFRICOM Watch Bulletin #55
    02 Apr 2025
    For nearly 50 years, the Sahrawi people have waged Africa’s longest anti-colonial struggle against the Moroccan occupation, which is backed by U.S. arms and AFRICOM’s military muscle. Their fight…
  • O. Dave Allen
    US Agenda in Jamaica Exposed
    02 Apr 2025
    Jamaica’s upcoming election has become a litmus test for Caribbean sovereignty as the U.S. and China compete for dominance. Washington’s threats to seize the Panama Canal and Marco Rubio’s heavy-…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us