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


  • Piura No Longer a Fujimori Stronghold
    Clau O'Brien Moscoso
    Piura No Longer a Fujimori Stronghold
    19 Apr 2023
    Peru is facing popular struggle in the wake of a coup which ousted President Castillo. It must also confront a legacy of political corruption.
  • Haiti, Hunger, and US Prison Imperialism
    James Patrick Jordan
    Haiti, Hunger, and US Prison Imperialism
    19 Apr 2023
    Imposing coups, forcing fake elections, denying asylum claims, and kidnapping a president aren't enough subjugation for the US to carry out against Haiti. US built prisons are a death trap for…
  • France in 2023
    Philippe Gendrault
    France in 2023
    19 Apr 2023
    France raised the pension age in the name of a "reform" that is nothing more than the EU sanctions regime at work. French workers have been in a continued state of protest in response.
  • As Army and Rapid Support Forces Battle It Out, Sudanese Left Calls for Restoring the Revolution
    Pavan Kulkarni
    As Army and Rapid Support Forces Battle It Out, Sudanese Left Calls for Restoring the Revolution
    19 Apr 2023
    The Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have begun fighting each other. The root of the conflict lies in disagreements over integrating the paramilitary into the army. The…
  • Efforts to Reduce Israeli Influence in Africa Continue
    Abayomi Azikiwe
    Efforts to Reduce Israeli Influence in Africa Continue
    19 Apr 2023
    Israel's efforts to influence African nations is opposed by individuals and nations who are committed to Palestinian solidarity.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us