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


  • The Ukrainian Solidarity Network: The Highest Stage of White Western Social Imperialism
    ​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist
    The Ukrainian Solidarity Network: The Highest Stage of White Western Social Imperialism
    25 Jan 2023
    The Ukraine conflict was caused by the U.S. backed right wing coup in 2014 and the duplicity of Europeans who claimed to be working for peace. Anyone who supports these actions but claims leftist…
  • “Latin America is Not a Racial Disneyland”: An Interview with Dash Harris Machado
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor , Dash Harris Machado
    “Latin America is Not a Racial Disneyland”: An Interview with Dash Harris Machado
    25 Jan 2023
    BAR Book Forum editor Roberto Sirvent interviews Dash Harris Machado.
  •  BAR Book Forum: Christopher D. E. Willoughby’s Book, “Masters of Health”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Christopher D. E. Willoughby’s Book, “Masters of Health”
    25 Jan 2023
    This week’s featured author is Christopher D. E. Willoughby. Willoughby is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the History of Medicine Health at Pitzer College. His book is Masters of Health: Racial…
  • Targeting Eritrea and Ethiopia: The Warmongering Campaign of Disinformation
    The National Council of Eritrean-Americans NCEA
    Targeting Eritrea and Ethiopia: The Warmongering Campaign of Disinformation
    25 Jan 2023
    Washington think tanks are home to the propagandists who help guide US foreign policy decisions. The National Council of Eritrean Americans highlights the words of one individual who uses his…
  • AFRICOM Watch Bulletin #44
    US Out of Africa Network
    AFRICOM Watch Bulletin #44
    25 Jan 2023
    The Black Alliance for Peace AFRICOM Watch Bulletin discusses the first session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and provides updates on the latest news from the African…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us