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 Fancy Miss Nancy
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
19 Dec 2018
🖨️ Print Article
Nancy Sue Wilson 1937-2018
Nancy Sue Wilson 1937-2018

Guess who I saw
today, black and white photo,
Marching, Montgomery from
Selma, ‘65?

Guess who I saw
at my high school swingin’ the
Trio; urging us to stay in school?

Guess who I,
was privileged to sequence
a later CD for, late one night?

…and you don’t know, you don’t know how
Glad I am that she
put the purr in whisper, with a sultry
Sound that could make subpoenas seem sensuous

…and you don’t know, you don’t know how
Glad I am that she
Appeared, sparkling, at the end of the
golden era—looking as good as she sounded—
Her face should grace
Buckeye State flags emblazoned
“There will never be another you…”

…and you don’t know, you don’t know how
Glad I am that she
Hovered earth— stunning hummingbird,
gorgeous humanitarian, giving the greatest
performance of her life, moments I loitered—
not seizing the time and asking, “When did
You leave heaven?”
Though, I think it was maybe ’37? I know she’s

Free Again…

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

Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performing artist. You can find much 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


  • Update on Charges Against the Venezuela Embassy Protectors
    Ajamu Baraka and Bahman Azad
    Update on Charges Against the Venezuela Embassy Protectors
    17 Jun 2020
    It was agreed that dropping the federal charges and seeking no jail time in return for pleading to a very low-level DC Code charge was an important victory.
  • Political ABCs: Maybe the Difference between a “Cop” and a “Crook” is Just a Badge
    T.P. Wilkinson
    Political ABCs: Maybe the Difference between a “Cop” and a “Crook” is Just a Badge
    17 Jun 2020
    What has recently been condemned as corrupt and brutal policing is actually consistent with historical tradition of localized repression.
  • Stolen Breaths
     Rachel R. Hardeman, Ph.D., M.P.H., Eduardo M. Medina, M.D., M.P.H., Rhea W. Boyd, M.D., M.P.H.
    Stolen Breaths
    17 Jun 2020
    Demonstrators are laying bare the deep pain that persists for black people fighting to live under the crushing weight of injustice that has long been at our necks.
  • To Observe and Protect: Community Alert Patrol and the Fight Against Police Terror in the 1960s
    Ron Wilkins
    To Observe and Protect: Community Alert Patrol and the Fight Against Police Terror in the 1960s
    17 Jun 2020
    The Black Panther Party modeled their policing initiatives after Black citizens’ patrols in Los Angeles.
  • Black Agenda Radio for Week of June 15, 2020
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Black Agenda Radio for Week of June 15, 2020
    15 Jun 2020
    Police Must Answer to the Community
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us