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

For Sistar Kiilu Nyasha: Freedom Is A Constant Struggle…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
19 Apr 2018
🖨️ Print Article
Kiilu Nyasha
Comrade Kiilu Nyasha

Never thought I’d see
the day that I’d pray
for: Fake News;
Never thought I’d see
the day that I’d pray
for: Alternative Facts
from Boss Tweet— pray that
scribblers screwed up tenses
scribbling ‘bout a constant struggler—
3-time loser in capitalist Amerikkka:
Disabled; Black and Woman— Panther to the core,
Ida B-child soldier speaking, writing in real time—
Mentoring men and women for battlefront lives
worth living…
Flying warrior woman kites coded in humanity
through concertina censorship; smuggling
Love and hope between bars, amplifying voices…

Maybe I’m selfish and don’t wanna let go—
don’t wanna lose the grace, the smile
Sweetly staunch as principles behind it?
Maybe I’m lazy and don’t wanna lift her
Load, clicking, guiding, electric silence…
whizzing down steep hills, in swift traffic like
little cablecars that climb half way to the stars?

Maybe her meeting after meeting, march after march,
demonstration after demonstration, decade after decade
Shamed my temporarily-abled body to another level?
Or, maybe I’m afraid of losing the constant struggler—
the long distance runner— reminding me: WE WILL WIN?

© 2018. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Our poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed performing artist. You can find much more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com.

 

Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Kiilu Nyasha from proj-ect PRO:JECT on Vimeo.

poetry

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


Related Stories

Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
A few lines for the Poet Ojenke...
21 May 2025
RIP: Rise In Poetics to Ra
Another June 1
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Another June 1
07 June 2023
                                       
BAR Book Forum: Jon Jon Moore’s “The Calling: Poems”
Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
BAR Book Forum: Jon Jon Moore’s “The Calling: Poems”
16 February 2022
In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book.
Our ‘democracy’
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Our ‘democracy’
23 July 2021
Shangri-La—untaxed, socially-distanced champagne- caviar, Cayman Island, yacht crowds who
Pigment of your Imagination: Black magic mascots, props and sops?
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Pigment of your Imagination: Black magic mascots, props and sops?
15 July 2021
Could the pigment of your imagination cause Black magic mascots, props, sops— Black faces in high places—
A known known…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
A known known…
08 July 2021
“…there are known knowns. There are things we know that we know. There are known
Twerkers of the World you might…(Or when they go low we get high?)
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Twerkers of the World you might…(Or when they go low we get high?)
01 July 2021
“History repeats itself,  first as tragedy, second as farce.” —Karl Marx
The Town Crier’s Big Tooth Fund (For Drs. Rosenthal, Sapir and Ferdowsi)
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
The Town Crier’s Big Tooth Fund (For Drs. Rosenthal, Sapir and Ferdowsi)
23 June 2021
"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs…” —Karl Marx
The Town Crier’s List of Who’s Who in the capitalist state machine
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
The Town Crier’s List of Who’s Who in the capitalist state machine
16 June 2021
“Ain’t no power like the power of the people— ‘cause the power of the people don’t stop!” bouncing 
Ladee Blu: Another Monroe Doctrine delivery system 
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Ladee Blu: Another Monroe Doctrine delivery system 
09 June 2021
Raytheon’s craven raven Co-signing for mass murder: “Mowing the grass…” Now… Ladee Blu on a fool’s errand dis- seminating

More Stories


  • Viewing Ukraine Through the Davos Lens
    Conor Gallagher
    Viewing Ukraine Through the Davos Lens
    25 Jan 2023
    Why have Europe's politicians followed U.S. dictates regarding Ukraine and undermined the wellbeing of their own nations? The influence wielded by the World Economic Forum's Young Global…
  • Women in Nicaragua: Power and Protagonism – Delegation Report-Back (January 2023)
    Alliance for Global Justice
    Women in Nicaragua: Power and Protagonism – Delegation Report-Back (January 2023)
    25 Jan 2023
    The United States has targeted Nicaragua ever since the days of Ronald Reagan. Members of a recent delegation made observations that are far different from hostile narratives presented by the U.S.…
  • EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says that calling Israel an apartheid state is anti-Semitic. 
    Ali Abunimah
    EU Says It’s Anti-Semitic to Call Israel an Apartheid State
    25 Jan 2023
    EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says that calling Israel an apartheid state is anti-Semitic.
  • Black Agenda Radio January 20, 2023
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio January 20, 2023
    20 Jan 2023
    The Biden administration provokes Russia in the Ukraine proxy war while simultaneously threatening China. Ken Roth was denied a Harvard fellowship due to mild criticism of Israel while he served as…
  • Biden's Dangerous Foreign Policy
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Biden's Dangerous Foreign Policy
    20 Jan 2023
    Dr. Gerald Horne joins us in a wide ranging discussion about the dangers of U.S. foreign policy. Joe Biden is waging a proxy war against Russia while also antagonizing China.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us