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


  • ‘Tools of Russia’: FBI Raid on Black Political Party Seen as Part of ‘Black Scare/Red Scare’ in United States
    Julie Varughese
    ‘Tools of Russia’: FBI Raid on Black Political Party Seen as Part of ‘Black Scare/Red Scare’ in United States
    03 Aug 2022
    Black political organizations condemne
  • BAR Book Forum: Jamil W. Drake’s “To Know the Soul of a People”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Jamil W. Drake’s “To Know the Soul of a People”
    03 Aug 2022
  • Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Marisol LeBrón’s “Against Muerto Rico”
    03 Aug 2022
  • The United Nations designated the years 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent. But the project has not only been neglected, it has also focused on “recognition” instead of “reparations,” reinforcing the structural racism inherent in the liberal capitalist system.
    Mireille Fanon Mendes France
    The International Decade for People of African Descent : Who have these 10 years served?
    03 Aug 2022
  • Abayomi Azikiwe
    Africa Remains at the Center of a 21st Century Cold War
    03 Aug 2022
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us