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


  • Coup in Niger and the U.S. Response
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Coup in Niger and the U.S. Response
    11 Aug 2023
    Wilmer Leon and Margaret discussed the true reasons for antipathy towards Niger, and why other African nations are used as proxies for western interests.
  • Eritrea Celebrates Freedom
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Eritrea Celebrates Freedom
    09 Aug 2023
    Eritrea is an example of an independent and self-determining African state. Its people are rightly proud of their history.
  • ESSAY: Why Africa Must Unite, Kwame Nkrumah, 1963
    Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    ESSAY: Why Africa Must Unite, Kwame Nkrumah, 1963
    09 Aug 2023
    ​​​​​​Sixty years ago, Nkrumah told us why it was important that Africa unite. Today, his message and roadmap for Pan-African unity is needed more than ever.
  • Musings from the Margins #2: From Atlanta and Haiti, to Niger, the Western War Against Africans and Collective Humanity Intensifies
    ​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist
    Musings from the Margins #2: From Atlanta and Haiti, to Niger, the Western War Against Africans and Collective Humanity Intensifies
    09 Aug 2023
    The war against Africans intensifies, the puppets and stooges do as they are ordered, while others are satisfied with empty gestures. But the revolutionary path is unchanged, as Ajamu Baraka…
  • Eritrea: A Bright Spot on a Planet near the Edge of Armageddon
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Eritrea: A Bright Spot on a Planet near the Edge of Armageddon
    09 Aug 2023
    Last week I attended the Eritrean American Festival in the Seattle/Tacoma area, at the Tacoma Convention Center. This was the speech I would have given if the festival had not been disrupted by…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us