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

Hooked On Hopium
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
13 Jun 2012
🖨️ Print Article

 

by Raymond Nat Turner

There will be no replay of 2008’s greatest hits, but the reflux is debilitating in the extreme – for those who got hooked on Hopium.

 

Hooked On Hopium

by Raymond Nat Turner

*Look at the people –

I know you’re wonderin’ what they’re doin’

Crawlin’ ‘round the marble

Floors lookin’ for his

Feet, and the fire be-

Longing to Boeing,

And the other Big

Boys, Negroz have hit

Rock bottom, powerless

To admit they are

Addicts who will lie,

Steal, leave their babies

And homes in hands of

The Hope Man— even

Act as accessories

To murder— ever

Since that first hit, ’08.

 

*“Look at the people—

I know you’re wonderin’ what they’re doin’

They’re just standin’ there…

Caught up in the rap-

Ture of Hopium’s

Side effects:

Stupor, paralysis,

Heart palpitations,

Ringing ears, dry mouths,

Slurred speech, confused thinking,

Hallucinations,

Delusional, schizophrenic,

Suicidal behavior…

If symptoms persist,

Longer than 4 years,

Negroz must consult

Mental health professionals

Immediately and avoid

Operating heavy equipment,

Like tanks, helicopters,

Aircraft carriers,

Armored personnel

Carriers, or drones…

 

(*Based on Bobby Blue Bland’s Blues classic “I Pity The Fool”)

Raymond Nat Turner @ 2012 All Rights Reserved

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


More Stories


  • BAR Radio Logo
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio February 6, 2026
    06 Feb 2026
    In this week’s segment, we analyze the first month of Zohran Mamdani’s administration as mayor of New York City. But we begin with discussion of a new book from an activist and writer about the…
  • Arlene Eisen
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    In The Worldwide Family of Militant Women
    06 Feb 2026
    We're joined by Arlene Eisen, author of the new book, In the Worldwide Family of Militant Women, published by Iskra Books. Arlene Eisen has been a militant in the struggle against imperialism since…
  • Zohran Mamdani
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Leftist Analysis of Zohran Mamdani's First Month in Office
    06 Feb 2026
    Lance Hawkins joins us from New York City to discuss the first month of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration. Lance Hawkins is a community, labor, and anti-war organizer, and a proud socialist born…
  • X
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist , Garland Nixon
    Margaret Kimberly - The Duopoly War Dance - The Democrat/Republican Pillow Fight
    04 Feb 2026
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist, joined Garland Nixon in a conversation about the coordination between the Democratic and Republican parties in the descent into an…
  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Epstein Files Shows How the Elites Move
    04 Feb 2026
    The importance of the Epstein files cannot be underestimated. They provide a view not just of scandal and sex trafficking but of international ruling class corruption.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us