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

Welcome (To the United Front Aganist Facism)
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
15 Feb 2017
🖨️ Print Article

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

Come as you are, and be ready to build the world we all deserve, invites our poet, to the united front against facism. Wherever you come from, wherever you were this morning or last week, your hand your mind your heart and energies are welcomed in this collaborative effort...

WELCOME
(To The United Front Against Fascism)

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Welcome if you come from the ‘30s

Welcome if you come from the ‘60s

Welcome if you come from the ‘90s

Welcome if you come from yesterday

Welcome if you come from today—tomorrow…

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Welcome if you come from Coveralls

Welcome if you come from Apron

Welcome if you come from Costume

Welcome if you come from Scrubs

Welcome if you come Womb wear

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Welcome if you come from the Res

Welcome if you come from the Barrio

Welcome if you come from the ‘Hood

Welcome if you come from the ‘Burb

Welcome if you come from Solitary

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Welcome if you come from Kingdom Hall

Welcome if you come from Mosque

Welcome if you come from Synagogue

Welcome if you come from Storefront

Welcome if you come from Ashram

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Welcome if you come from the Bible

Welcome if you come from the Quran

Welcome if you come from the Talmud

Welcome if you come from the Constitution

Welcome if you come from the Communist Manifesto

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Welcome if you come from Front-lines

Welcome if you come from Rearguard

Welcome if you come from Ground Zeros

Welcome if you come from Welfare Lines

Welcome if you come from Shelters

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Welcome if you’ve come by canoe, slave ship,

raft, riverboat, cruise, sub, barge, tug—

We’re all in one boat, now—Not

Dogs sniffing each others’ baggage—

Two carryons each—

One’s bullshit: best left curbside…

Poet’s Note: The Great John Coltrane’s composition “Welcome” Inspired this…
Raymond Nat Turner © 2017 All Rights Reserved
Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performing artist. Find much more of his work at

http://uspsurgejazz.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


  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    Introduction: The Black Messiah, Albert B. Cleage, Jr., 1968
    23 Apr 2025
    “Jesus was a revolutionary black leader, a Zealot, seeking to lead a Black Nation to freedom.”
  • Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Power Shift in the Horn of Africa: Somalia Recognizes SSC-Khaatumo
    23 Apr 2025
    Somalia’s recognition of SSC-Khaatumo as its sixth Federal Member State (FMS) has radically shifted the Horn of Africa’s geopolitical dynamics, with implications for Israel, Palestine, and Ansar…
  • Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Erik S. McDuffie’s Book, “The Second Battle for Africa”
    23 Apr 2025
    This week’s featured author is Erik S. McDuffie. McDuffie is Associate Professor of African American Studies and History at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His book is The Second Battle…
  • Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Poem For The Great Dr. Freeman (My ’19 Lemlich Nominee)
    23 Apr 2025
    "Poem For The Great Dr. Freeman (My ’19 Lemlich Nominee)" is the latest from BAR's Poet-in-Residence.
  • Jon Jeter
    Tell No Lies, Claim No Easy Victories: Liberal Media Blames Trump for Economic Woes That Began Years Ago
    23 Apr 2025
    Corporate media peddle the myth of a pre-Trump economic golden age, but for working-class Americans, especially Black families, the struggle began long before he took office.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us