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


  • BAR Book Forum: Sharon Lynette Jones’ “Conversations with Angela Davis” 
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Sharon Lynette Jones’ “Conversations with Angela Davis” 
    25 Aug 2021
    BAR Book Forum delves into Conversations with Angela Davis.
  • Summer of Soul/Summer of Struggle…
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Summer of Soul/Summer of Struggle…
    25 Aug 2021
    BAR's poet in residence pays tribute to fallen Black Panther Party comrades. Chalk silhouettes, bullet-violated bodies of Bunchy and John—UCLA, cold Campbell Hall
  • Nicaragua at a Revolutionary Crossroads and in Imperialist Crosshairs
    Netfa Freeman
    Nicaragua at a Revolutionary Crossroads and in Imperialist Crosshairs
    25 Aug 2021
    U.S. attack on Nicaragua targets its Black community.
  • Afghanistan is No 'Graveyard' for U.S./EU/NATO Axis of Domination
    Black Alliance For Peace
    Afghanistan is No 'Graveyard' for U.S./EU/NATO Axis of Domination
    25 Aug 2021
    Black Alliance for Peace analysis on Afghanistan, Haiti and the U.S. effort to maintain hegemony.
  • The Return of the Marines
    Thomas Peralte
    The Return of the Marines
    25 Aug 2021
    It’s hard to teach an empire new tricks. Once again, the U.S. Marines invade Haiti “for the umpteenth time” under the guise of humanitarian assistance.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us