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


  • Orisanmi Burton and his book, "Tip of the Sphere"
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Orisanmi Burton’s Book, “Tip of the Spear”
    25 Oct 2023
    This week’s featured author is Orisanmi Burton. His book is Tip of the Spear: Black Radicalism, Prison Repression, and the Long Attica Revolt
  • Javonte Alexander (left) and Basaime Spate (right), researchers at Center for Justice Innovation.
    Shannon Chaffers
    Driven By Fear: Why Some Brooklyn Youth Carry Guns
    25 Oct 2023
    Tropes about violent Black youth prevail but efforts to analyze the causes of firearm use are rarely seen.
  • Niger army sergeant and artist Maman Sani Maigochi performs as supporters gather at Place de la Concertation in the capital Niamey
    Black Alliance For Peace
    AFRICOM Watch Bulletin #48
    25 Oct 2023
    The Black Alliance for Peace U.S. Out of Africa Network provides an update of events taking place on the African continent.
  • Caribbean Solidarity Network
    Caribbean Solidarity Network
    The Caribbean Solidarity Network Rejects Calls for Canadian Intervention in Haiti
    25 Oct 2023
    The Toronto based Caribbean Solidarity Network explains why Canada should end its interference in Haiti.
  • An injured child is treated at a hospital after an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, 18 October
    Maureen Clare Murphy , Ali Abunimah
    Biden’s Gaza “Aid” Plan a Fig Leaf for Genocide
    25 Oct 2023
    Biden's phony plea for aid to Gaza is a ruse meant to accelerate Israel's war crimes.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us