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

Wizard of Oz redux— …and some casting questions…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
24 Aug 2022
🖨️ Print Article
Wizard of Oz redux—  …and some casting questions…

                                                                                                                     Wizard of Oz redux—

                                                                                                            …and some casting questions…

Suppose Hollywood hits you up
‘bout this big budget redo of
The Wizard of Oz? What if they
say it’s all your call…’cept this?

They say you must shoot in Uvalde
using locals. No big name stars. Do you say
“OK” when they say, “And you must cast the
Cops?” Or, do you ask—“What as?”

Angry Apple Tree? Crows in the Corn
Field? Ozmites? Tin Polishers? Horse
of Another Color? Almira Gulch’s bi
cycle?

Lullaby League? Lollipop Guild? Scare
crow? Sleepyheads? Munchkin Fiddlers?
Munchkin Soldiers? Munchkin Barristers?
Munchkin Mayor? Munchkin Coroner?

Hunk? Uncle Henry? Hickory? Toto?
Dorthy Gale? Aunt Em? Almira Gulch?
Professor Marvel? Tin Man? Glinda?
Wizard? Wicked Witch? Ruby Slippers?

Winged Monkeys instructed: “Take your Army
to the Haunted Forest and bring me those boys
and girls! Do what you want with the others—
They'll give you no trouble I promise you that?”

Winkies chanting, “O-Ee-Yah! Eoh-Ah!” into
radios in the school hallway? Hearing, “Poppies,
poppies, poppies” instead of some shooter’s
Pop-pop-pop-pops for some 70 minutes?

Are we leaving any characters out?

© 2022. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Raymond Nat Turner is a NYC poet; BAR's Poet-in-Residence; and founder/co-leader of the jazz-poetry ensemble UpSurge!NYC. You can Vote for his work at: GoFundMe and PayPal.

Uvalde

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


More Stories


  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    LECTURE: How U.S. Imperialism Ruled Cuba, Armando G. Entralgo, 1965
    24 Jun 2026
    “The U.S.A. decided to annex Cuba economically and Cuba made history by becoming the first country in the world to be a victim of neocolonialism.”
  • Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Could Wemby Become the Conscience of the NBA?
    24 Jun 2026
    NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama grapples with the times we’re living in, even as his career takes off.
  • Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    War House hosted cage-fighting for 250th what’s next?
    24 Jun 2026
    "War House hosted cage-fighting for 250th what’s next?" is the latest form BAR's Poet-in-Residence.
  • Anthony Karefa Rogers-Wright
    New York City Voters Just Proved that AIPAC is an Electoral Albatross, Will the Democrat Party Establishment Get the Message?
    24 Jun 2026
    The Democrat establishment poured millions into protecting its incumbents in New York City, but voters chose progressive anti-genocide challengers. That party will fight against the reality that…
  • Joshua Reaves Charmelus
    "You Gotta Do the Road Work": Ben Passmore on the UFC, White Nationalism, and Radical Fight Culture
    24 Jun 2026
    Joshua Reaves-Charmelus spoke with Ben Passmore to discuss the “Freedom 250” UFC event, its meaning, and the broader problem of right-wing fighting culture.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us