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

 For Brother Bruce
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
03 Jul 2019
🖨️ Print Article
 For Brother Bruce
 For Brother Bruce

Here’s the FOIA requested,
Redacted part of the story they never tell
You. 

Baby Bruce was wandering
the Midwest with Dorothy and Toto—
Before they picked up the Tinman in 
Pittsburgh, the Scarecrow on Staten Island,
the Cowardly Lion in Los Angeles
Baby Bruce had a baby brain, a huge
heart and fully formed courage that
would be schooled and steeled at the 
point of production—
Molding a straight-up soldier on
The Long March; A rank-in-file, 
meet ‘em where they’re at,
shoe leather, serve the people, 
door-to-door knocking, 
troublemaking organizer;
Chitown stubborn kinda fella— 
stubborn as a Georgia mule—
Refusing to slip, on Iceberg Slim
posing as community organizer…

He had huge heart, big brain and 
courage. Barrel of his pen blazing—
welcoming me from the wilderness,
Cali isolation, to fight side by side
Against the masked man— The
Drone Ranger; when icons and 
Legends were losing their minds

and Slutty Professors dangled
on the dick of Deporter-in-Chief!

When Bruce’s 404 popped up on my phone
It was business—but personal—laughing, joking, 
we’d cover the waterfront with lunch bucket language…
I pray The Wizard put a Bruce Dixon Organizer’s App
 on my phone countering some spyware…

© 2019. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Bruce Dixon

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles? Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


Related Stories

The Courage to Write the Truth: Where and When Bruce Dixon Enters History
Dr. Matthew Quest
The Courage to Write the Truth: Where and When Bruce Dixon Enters History
21 August 2019
Bruce entered history as the most distinguished critic of the Black political class during the Age of Obama.

More Stories


  • Radikha Desai and Ajamu Baraka
    The State of Trump’s Union: Geopolitical Economy Hour with Ajamu Baraka
    24 Apr 2026
    In this Geopolitical Economy Hour, Radhika converses with one of the foremost left political leaders and Black political activist and journalist in the US, Ajamu Baraka. Together, they understand the…
  • BAR Radio Logo
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio April 24, 2026
    24 Apr 2026
    In this week’s segment, we discuss the importance of including African-descended people in discussions around climate change and a just transition from fossil fuel production. But we begin with a…
  • Carmella Charrington
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Deed Theft and the Loss of Black Property
    24 Apr 2026
    Evangeline of the People’s Coalition to Stop Deed Theft, a grassroots New York City organization, discusses efforts to stop deed theft and the need for legislation to protect homeowners. She also…
  • End colonialism
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    African Descendants and Just Transition in the Climate Crisis
    24 Apr 2026
    The first International Conference to Phase Out Fossil Fuels takes place in Santa Marta, Colombia, from April 24 to April 29. Anthony Rogers-Wright, a Black Agenda Report contributor, provides…
  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Trump Uses Immigration Enforcement to Make America Whiter Again
    22 Apr 2026
    The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies are racist and are intended to send even documented Global South immigrants and naturalized citizens out of the country. The evidence is…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us