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

A Li'l Somethin' for Dick Gregory
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
31 Aug 2017
🖨️ Print Article
A Li'l Somethin' for Dick Gregory
A Li'l Somethin' for Dick Gregory

A Li'l Somethin' for Dick Gregory

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

Our white-bearded cannon
fell silent—
The day became grayer…
I know, I know, I know, I know…
He was my Mom’s favorite funnyman—
She bought his books, his vinyl
Speaking to her like Malcolm
(who she shared Turkish Coffee
with on his trips west, fishing for men)

I remember his mantra
He chanted like a Buddhist Priest:
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
Doubling us over,
splitting our sides, shaking our cores…

I remember his mantra
He chanted like a Buddhist Priest:
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
Piercing steel veils with X-ray vision
puncturing absurdities with barbed tongue—
Soul-ar powered bullshit detector
administering smell tests

I remember his mantra
He chanted like a Buddhist Priest:
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
while coming as close as we’ve come to
Having a Super Hero
putting his body
On the line running,
Marching, fasting, speaking,
Teaching us to follow
the money where the
bodies are buried…

Raymond Nat Turner © 2017 All Right 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


  • The FBI Wants to Put Me On Trial for Fighting for Black Freedom. Put the Colonial State on Trial! We Will Win!
    Omali Yeshitela
    The FBI Wants to Put Me On Trial for Fighting for Black Freedom. Put the Colonial State on Trial! We Will Win!
    11 Jan 2023
    Omali Yeshitela, Chairman of the African People's Socialist Party, writes about the liberation struggle in the wake of a possible federal indictment.
  • Bolsonaro Supporters Attack the Brazilian Government
    Brian Mier , Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Bolsonaro Supporters Attack the Brazilian Government
    11 Jan 2023
    Supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro vandalized the supreme court, congress, and presidential palace. Brazilian based journalist Brian Mier explains.
  • The Urgent Need for Internationalism on the Left in the US
    Ryan Napoli
    The Urgent Need for Internationalism on the Left in the US
    11 Jan 2023
    Any person or movement claiming to be leftist must be internationalist and anti-imperialist.
  • Spirit of Mandela Launches About the People Project
    Broadcast Team of Spirit of Mandela Coalition
    Spirit of Mandela Launches About the People Project
    11 Jan 2023
    The Spirit of Mandela coalition announces the launch of the About the People (AtP) broadcast project. 
  • Human Rights Organizations Warn About the Looming Danger of Apartheid and Ethnic Cleansing in the Dominican Republic
    Vladimir Fuentes
    Human Rights Organizations Warn About the Looming Danger of Apartheid and Ethnic Cleansing in the Dominican Republic
    11 Jan 2023
    The Dominican Republic continues its policy of detaining and expelling Haitian descended people, including children who are separated from their parents. Some of those expelled are in fact legal…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us