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

The Unemployment Question(s)
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
04 Feb 2014
🖨️ Print Article

by Raymond Nat Turner

Livin’ on nothin’, while hunger works full time

No wonder, some brothers stumble into crime.

 

The Unemployment Question(s)

by Raymond Nat Turner

 

Licking bitter flaps on unemployment envelopes

somewhere under the rainbow

Lies

true hues

in bright Red,

Black

and dark Blues:

 

Drawin’ unemployment’s like drawin’ straws

Drawin’ unemployment’s like drawin’ straws

We come up short under rich folks’ laws.

 

Livin’ on nothin’, while hunger works full time

Livin’ on nothin’, while hunger works full time

No wonder, some brothers stumble into crime.

 

And the rich cry, “...crime, crime, crime” every day

And the rich cry, “...crime, crime, crime” every day

While cocaine’s trafficked by the C-I-A.

 

We been slavin’ fo’ the mastahs and what we git?

We been slavin’ fo’ the mastahs and what we git?

Stack-o-papers to fill out, askin’ dumb shit!

 

“State here the reason you’re out of work.”

“Answer the following then report to the clerk.”

“Will you accept work in your usual trade?”

“What’s your income with benefits paid?”

“Do you own a farm, or a ranch?”

“Do you have a savings? What branch?”

“Did you look for work all this past week?”

“Where did you go, with whom did you speak?”

“Are you a citizen of the U.S.?”

“If answering ‘No’, then why not ‘Yes’?”

“Have a seat and wait to be seen”

“Any questions about what we mean?”

“Anyone in line who voluntarily quit?”

“Step out — go over there and sit”

“Sorry, you can’t be seen until ten —”

 

“Provided, you fill this out for WIN...”

 

We been slavin’ fo’ the mastahs and what we git?

We been slavin’ fo’ the mastahs and what we git?

Appointment

with

revolution

When we fit…

 

Raymond Nat Turner can be contacted at upsurgejazz.com.

 

Raymond Nat Turner © 1986 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


  • One Year After a Brutal Crackdown, the Struggle for Democracy Remains Alive in Swaziland
    Tanupriya Singh
    One Year After a Brutal Crackdown, the Struggle for Democracy Remains Alive in Swaziland
    13 Jul 2022
    June 29 was observed as a day of commemoration in Swaziland to honor the dozens of people killed by the forces of King Mswati III during the unprecedented anti-monarchist uprising of 2021
  • The Black Alliance For Peace Denounces Biden Regime’s New Sanctions on Cuba and Stands with the Cuban People
    Black Alliance For Peace
    The Black Alliance For Peace Denounces Biden Regime’s New Sanctions on Cuba and Stands with the Cuban People
    13 Jul 2022
    Black Alliance for Peace condemns U.S. sanctions on Cuba and supports self-determination and sovereignty for that nation.
  • Black Agenda Radio July 8, 2022
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Black Agenda Radio July 8, 2022
    08 Jul 2022
    U.S. involvement in Cuban protests on July 11, 2021, Black community in Atlantic City, NJ fights for justice, and Democrats' political pressure and voter intimidation remove Green Party from North…
  • U.S. Interference in Cuba on July 11, 2021
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    U.S. Interference in Cuba on July 11, 2021
    08 Jul 2022
    The U.S. played a role in orchestrating what were described as anti-government protests in Cuba on July 11, 2021. Isaac Saney is a history professor and Cuba specialist at Dalhousie University in…
  • Atlantic City's Black Community Fights for Justice
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Atlantic City's Black Community Fights for Justice
    08 Jul 2022
    On July 4, 2020, seven Black men were arrested while protesting the police killing of George Floyd. But Atlantic City’s black community also suffers from ineffective political leadership, corporate…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us