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
  • omnibus

Malcolm X Tic-Tac-Toe in the Age of…Austerity?
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
28 May 2013
🖨️ Print Article

by Raymond Nat Turner

Tic-Tac-Toe, X versus O

Shrewd black buck dancer

O a cancer— X an answer

 

Malcolm X Tic-Tac-Toe in the Age of…Austerity?

by Raymond Nat Turner

 

Vertical, diagonal, horizontal moves

Of Malcolm X, martyr, giant, live on

Like simple grid, paper and pencil games

Of Noughts and Crosses, 3-in-a-row—

Tic-Tac-Toe in the age of… Austerity

 

X, like exciting, expanding, extending,

X, like exalting, exemplary, example,

Excelling, exceeding— revolutionary as

Exponential, unlimited—far as you dare!

 

O, as in hollow, phony, posture, nothing!

O as diversion, like COINTELPRO, Psy-

Op or false consciousness like blue-collar

Workers masquerading as middle-class!

 

3-in-a-row, X versus O

Tic-Tac-Toe, X versus O

Shrewd black buck dancer

O a cancer— X an answer!

 

Africom boots on the Congo

Banksters bagging big dough

Mother Africa their hoe

A peculiar quid pro quo

Slaves cheering status quo

Their beer full of GMO—

Madison Avenue mojo!

 

3-in-a-row, X versus O

Tic-Tac-Toe, X versus O

Shrewd black buck dancer

O a cancer— X an answer!

 

Negroz go pianissimo

Fiery X’s blocked by O,

Rich white house Negro,

Attorney Generalissimo

Super of Guantanamo

Teachers rise against O

Working-class Tic-Tac-Toe!

 

3-in-a-row, X versus O

Tic-Tac-Toe, X versus O

Shrewd black buck dancer

O a cancer— X an answer!

 

Raymond Nat Turner can be contacted at upsurgejazz.com.

 

Raymond Nat Turner © 2013 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


  • Jon Jeter
    Trump’s Tariffs Won’t Reverse Globalization or Resurrect America’s Dying Industrial Base
    02 Apr 2025
    Throughout history, trade restrictions have reshaped economies for good or for ill. As Trump increases tariffs across industries, it is clear that this move will not revitalize the economy as he…
  • Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Judith Weisenfeld’s Book, “Black Religion in the Madhouse”
    02 Apr 2025
    This week’s featured author is Judith Weisenfeld. Weisenfeld is Agate Brown and George L. Collord Professor in the Department of Religion at Princeton University. Her book is Black Religion in the…
  • Clau O'Brien Moscoso
    As Elections Near, Ecuador's Working Poor and Colonized under Siege - Part 3
    02 Apr 2025
    As Ecuador heads into a run-off election on April 13, the issues of security, state violence and the economy remain at the forefront. Dollarization, submission to U.S. dictates, the proliferation of…
  • Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    DEI (Drunk, Epicurean, Incompetent) War Criminals (Nod to Allen)
    02 Apr 2025
    "DEI (Drunk, Epicurean, Incompetent) War Criminals" is the latest from BAR's Poet-in-Residence.
  • Krys Cerisier
    U.S. Escalates Tension with Panama as the Panamanian Government Cracks Down on Domestic Protest
    02 Apr 2025
    U.S. influence over Panama has steadily increased over the years due to the active pressure from instruments like SOUTHCOM. The country seems to be headed toward a repeat of its colonial past as the…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us