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

“No Matter What Sign You Are,”4th Supreme
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
16 Jan 2019
🖨️ Print Article
the supremes
The Supremes

Mary was mysterious,
but the best dancer
Diana, the magnetic,
cooing romancer—
But, here’s a secret I know:
cats like me dug Miss Flo—
And the 4th Supreme’s ‘fro!

The 4th Supreme came
Singing tones ‘tween
Douglass and Carmen McRae—
Malcolm X and Lady Day

The 4th Supreme came
Singing “Stop In The Name Of Love!”
by way of Brandeis/Bombing-ham—
hitting Dynamite Hill high notes

The 4th Supreme came
Singing “Reflections”
in silver bracelets, on a
Newsweek cover captioned:
“Red, Black and Wanted!”

Hoover hated her harmonies with millions…
But I heard, “Set me free, why don’t you, babe?”
Rocking me to “ …Try Something New:”
Dialectics…

 

The 4th Supreme came
Singing, “I Hear A Symphony—”
“No Matter What Sign You Are,”
in ’08—but I
forgive her and comrades
and friends for singing flat
Madison Avenue smash hits: “Yes,
we can and bottle Jim Jones Juice;”
“regime Change you can believe in—”
delivering “Nothing But Heartaches” to
Honduras, Libya, Syria, Mother Africa…

© 2018. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.
Raymond Nat Turner, our poet in residence, is an accomplished performing artist. You can find much more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com.

poetry

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


More Stories


  • How to Yellow-Cake a Tragedy: The New York Times Spreads the Virus of Hatred, Again
    K.J. Noh 
    How to Yellow-Cake a Tragedy: The New York Times Spreads the Virus of Hatred, Again
    12 Feb 2020
    The US corporate media, especially the Times, has turned a medical emergency into a racist campaign of ideological propaganda.
  • Keep War, Environmental Degradation and Profit Out of Space
    Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers
    Keep War, Environmental Degradation and Profit Out of Space
    12 Feb 2020
    The US is escalating the arms race because it sees its hegemonic military and economic power weakening. “This will be the most expensive arms race in history.”
  • The Democratic Party's Theatrical Performances: Fooling Black Voters for Decades
    Solomon Comissiong
    The Democratic Party's Theatrical Performances: Fooling Black Voters for Decades
    12 Feb 2020
    The Democrats are terrible at passing legislation that helps Black and poor people but fantastically talented at political theater.
  • Georgia Governor Kemp Loses Vote Purge Suit Brought by Reporter Palast 
    Nicole Powers
    Georgia Governor Kemp Loses Vote Purge Suit Brought by Reporter Palast 
    12 Feb 2020
    The judge ruled that Kemp’s defense was so weak that no trial is needed.
  • Black Agenda Radio for Week of February 10, 2020
    Black Agenda Radio with Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford
    Black Agenda Radio for Week of February 10, 2020
    10 Feb 2020
    Embassy Activists Face Prison in Trial Based on Trump Venezuela Fantasy
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us