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


  • Black Agenda Radio December 9, 2022
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio December 9, 2022
    09 Dec 2022
    Rwanda's M23 proxy militia terrorizes the Congo with U.S. permission, Chicago organizes for community control of police, and charges are dismissed in the case of abuse survivor Tracy McCarter.
  • Rwanda's M23 Proxy Terrorizes the Eastern Congo
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Rwanda's M23 Proxy Terrorizes the Eastern Congo
    09 Dec 2022
    Maurice Carney is Executive Director of Friends of the Congo. He provides an update on recent events in the Democratic Republic of Congo created by the Rwandan and U.S. proxy militia group M23 and…
  • Community Control of Police in Chicago
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Community Control of Police in Chicago
    09 Dec 2022
    Frank Chapman is Executive Director of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. That organization has led the fight for community control of the police, with the creation of the…
  • Charges Dismissed Against Tracy McCarter
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Charges Dismissed Against Tracy McCarter
    09 Dec 2022
    In the September 23, 2022 segment of Black Agenda Radio we discussed the case of Tracy McCarter. The New York City nurse was charged with murder as she attempted to defend herself from her violent…
  • Hakeem Jeffries and the Railroad Workers
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Hakeem Jeffries and the Railroad Workers
    07 Dec 2022
    A new Black "first" came along at the same moment that the Democratic Party showed itself to be a servant of the ruling classes. Hakeem Jeffries is a very willing tool of powerful people. There is no…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us