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


  • Abayomi Azikiwe, Black Agenda Report Contributor
    Mali and Niger Breaks Diplomatic Relations with Ukraine Accusing NATO Ally of Involvement in Terrorist Attacks
    14 Aug 2024
    The United States proxy war against the Russian Federation continues to impact the African continent.
  • Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    Will we walk, talk; Chew gum, text and BREATHE at the same time?
    14 Aug 2024
    "Will we walk, talk; Chew gum, text and BREATHE at the same time?" is the latest from BAR's Poet-in-Residence.
  • Aisha
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Aisha Beliso-De Jesús’ Book, “Excited Delirium”
    14 Aug 2024
    In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book. This week’s featured author is Aisha Beliso-De Jesús.  Dr. Beliso-De Jesús is Olden Street Professor of…
  • Essam Elkorghli , Kribsoo Diallo , Matteo Capasso
    The Imperialist Attack on the Alliance of Sahel States
    14 Aug 2024
    The recent attack on Mali has the fingerprints of Western imperialism all over it. This series of events is part of the tried and true imperialist method of creating the conditions for intervention…
  • Charisse Burden-Stelly, PhD
    The June Jordan-Audre Lorde Dispute, Kamala Harris, and Palestine
    14 Aug 2024
    Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly provides important context to “Moving Towards Life” which examines how the issue of Palestine changed the relationship between June Jordan and Audre Lorde.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us