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


  • Abolish the GILEE Program and Stop Cop City: A Statement From the Black Alliance for Peace Atlanta Citywide Alliance
    Black Alliance for Peace Atlanta City-Wide Alliance
    Abolish the GILEE Program and Stop Cop City: A Statement From the Black Alliance for Peace Atlanta Citywide Alliance
    24 May 2023
    The purpose of U.S. law enforcement training in Israel is to learn the violent tactics used against Palestinians and bring them back to this country. 
  • Rising Tensions in Colombian Government Peace Talks with the ELN
    Peoples Dispatch
    Rising Tensions in Colombian Government Peace Talks with the ELN
    24 May 2023
    Colombia's president Gustavo Petro met with Afro-descendant, Indigenous and peasant communities affected by illicit crops and guerrilla and paramilitary groups in Colombia. Talks between the…
  • Sudan: The Left Welcomes Ceasefire, Calls for Involvement of Civil Society, Regional Institutions
    Pavan Kulkarni
    Sudan: The Left Welcomes Ceasefire, Calls for Involvement of Civil Society, Regional Institutions
    24 May 2023
    The Sudanese Communist Party has welcomed the ceasefire between the army and the Rapid Support Forces but has warned against monopolization of the peace process by US and Saudi Arabia. It has called…
  • Black Agenda Radio May 19, 2023
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio May 19, 2023
    19 May 2023
    How bail reform has been undermined by legislators in New York State and around the country, and New York City mayor Eric Adams’ response to the killing of Jordan Neely. But first we learn about the…
  • Haitian Flag Day and US Imperialism
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Haitian Flag Day and US Imperialism
    19 May 2023
    Dahoud Andre is a member of KOMOKODA, the Committee to Mobilize Against Dictatorship in Haiti.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us