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


  • Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: An Interview with Dylan Rodriguez
    Dylan Rodríguez , Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: An Interview with Dylan Rodriguez
    02 Nov 2022
    Roberto Sirvent and Dylan Rodriguez discuss the challenges of sustaining radical liberation movements.
  • BAR Book Forum: Foluke Adebisi’s Book, “Decolonisation and Legal Knowledge”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Foluke Adebisi’s Book, “Decolonisation and Legal Knowledge”
    02 Nov 2022
    This week’s featured author is Foluke Adebisi. Adebisi is Associate Professor at the University of Bristol. Her book is Decolonisation and Legal Knowledge: Reflections on Power and Possibility.
  • Truth Cops: Leaked Documents Outline DHS’s Plans to Police Disinformation
    Ken Klippenstein , Lee Fang
    Truth Cops: Leaked Documents Outline DHS’s Plans to Police Disinformation
    02 Nov 2022
    An exposé reveals the extent of collusion between big tech social media platforms and the surveillance state. Far from being independent actors, social media companies restrict access and de-platform…
  • Afghanistan News Update #14
    Black Alliance For Peace
    Afghanistan News Update #14
    02 Nov 2022
    The United States continues its theft of Afghanistan's assets. The economy has collapsed and the population suffer from poverty and hunger. The Black Alliance for Peace explains in its latest update.
  • The Crime Panic That Helped Elect Eric Adams Is Now Turning Against Him
    Ashoka Jegroo
    The Crime Panic That Helped Elect Eric Adams Is Now Turning Against Him
    02 Nov 2022
    Hyperbolic crime coverage by local media helped pave the way for former NYPD cop Eric Adams to become the mayor of New York City. But now that same media-manufactured crime panic is preventing Adams…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us