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

Oscars?
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
02 Nov 2016
🖨️ Print Article

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

From cops good and bad to drone rangers, from wicked witches to lecherous buffoons, candidates and messages in this year's presidential race are scarcely distinguishable from some bad old movies.

Oscars?

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

“…It’s a Barnum and Bailey world,

Just as phony as it can be…”

—E.Y. ‘Yip’ Harburg

Best Picture?

“Olympics of Lying”

“Mike & Ike; Good Cop, Bad Cop”

“$campaigns and $elections”

“PSYOP 24 Months”

“Drone Ranger Rides 8 Years Past The Hague”

“All The Above…”

…And the winner is: “All The Above!”

Best Supporting Actor?

Best Bogeyman since McCain?

Hooray for Hollywood—

For The Rich Tourettes Hood:

Lewd Buffoon!

Perfect foil for

Best Actor:

Wicked Witch of War

Warmongering lead—

Paired perfectly with

Lewd Buffoon!

Best Director?

Wall Street

The 1%

The Capitalist Class

The Bourgeoisie

The Bosses

The Corporatocracy

The Police State

The Warfare State

All The Above

…And the winner is: All The Above!

Raymond Nat Turner © 2016 All Rights Reserved

Besides being BAR's poet in residence, Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet, educator and performance artist. You can find more of his work at http://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


  • ​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist
    Fascism Born in the Colonies, Not Europe
    05 Nov 2025
    Europe refined fascism in its colonies long before bringing the model home.
  • Adele Robichez , José Eduardo Bernardes , Larissa Bohrer
    Brazilian Lawmaker From the Landless Rural Workers’ Movement Demands Investigation of “Planned Massacre” That Left 121 Dead
    05 Nov 2025
    The lawmaker states that Governor Cláudio Castro’s operation was “a massacre carried out in secret” and calls for an independent forensic investigation.
  • Roger McKenzie
    The Devastation in Melissa’s Wake and the ‘new normal’
    05 Nov 2025
    Hurricanes might have natural causes, but the tragedy that follows is entirely human-made and a consequence of capitalist greed, asserts Roger McKenzie.
  • Michael F. Brown
    Trump Ambassador Pick Vows to Pressure South Africa Over Gaza Genocide Case
    05 Nov 2025
    The nomination of an ambassador to South Africa who vows to "pressure" the country over its Gaza case confirms that the U.S. considers the practice of following international law to be a punishable…
  • book
    Dylan Evans
    Book Review: The Sword and the Neck – Reading the al-Aqsa Flood by Yanis Iqbal
    05 Nov 2025
    Operation Al Aqsa Flood was immediately cast as unprovoked terrorism. This review examines a work that dares to reframe it as the inevitable act of a people pushed to the brink.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us