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


  • COVID-19 and America - The Fire This Time
    Wilmer J. Leon III
    COVID-19 and America - The Fire This Time
    06 May 2020
    It is immoral if not criminal for the US to increase sanctions through its “maximum pressure campaigns” against Venezuela, Iran, Cuba and Palestine.  
  • Over 70 Percent of Jobless Americans Didn’t Receive March Unemployment Benefits 
    Igor Derysh 
    Over 70 Percent of Jobless Americans Didn’t Receive March Unemployment Benefits 
    06 May 2020
    The problem is even worse in Southeastern states like Florida, where fewer than 8% of applicants received benefits.
  • Tribute to My Beloved Sister Barbara Allimadi – Fighter for Justice in Uganda
    Milton G. Allimadi 
    Tribute to My Beloved Sister Barbara Allimadi – Fighter for Justice in Uganda
    06 May 2020
    We owe it to Barbara to march those extra miles and create a new Uganda.  “She was arrested multiple times for leading protests against the regime.”
  • Overcrowded DRC Prisons 'Ticking Time-Bomb' for COVID-19 Pandemic
    Peter Young
    Overcrowded DRC Prisons 'Ticking Time-Bomb' for COVID-19 Pandemic
    06 May 2020
    The Democratic Republic of Congo’s main prisons are filled at 432 percent on average, making them some of the most overcrowded in the world.
  • Venezuela Thwarts Invasion Attempt by Mercenaries
    Peoples Dispatch Staff
    Venezuela Thwarts Invasion Attempt by Mercenaries
    06 May 2020
    Venezuelan officials reported that a group of mercenaries attempted to invade the country on Sunday but were stopped by the country’s army and police.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us