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


  • Legacy of a Black Revolutionary:  Black Agenda Report (BAR)
    Mary Uyematsu Kao
    Legacy of a Black Revolutionary: Black Agenda Report (BAR)
    26 Jan 2022
    Glen Ford's legacy is recognized all over the nation. Japanese- American newspaper Rafu Shimpo printed this tribute to his work. 
  • Key Suspects Arrested in Jovenel Moise Assassination Plot
    Kim Ives
    Key Suspects Arrested in Jovenel Moise Assassination Plot
    25 Jan 2022
    More arrests have been made in the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moise. Suspects have connections with Haitian oligarchs who control the country with the blessing of the U.S.
  • Arizona State Prison Laborers
    Michael Sainato
    Corporations are Making Millions of Dollars From U.S. Prison Labor
    25 Jan 2022
    A Freedom of Information Act request shines a light on how much private corporations and government agencies have been exploiting prison labor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • On the Biden Plantation
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    On the Biden Plantation
    19 Jan 2022
    The idea that Joe Biden would provide harm reduction was created to help the unpopular candidate secure an electoral victory.
  • SPEECH: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., All Labor Has Dignity, March 18, 1968
    Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    SPEECH: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., All Labor Has Dignity, March 18, 1968
    19 Jan 2022
    Martin Luther King was assassinated when he supported Black workers on strike in Memphis, Tennessee.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us