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


  • Massive General Strike in South Africa Highlights Demand for Radical Policy Changes
    Pavan Kulkarni
    Massive General Strike in South Africa Highlights Demand for Radical Policy Changes
    03 Mar 2021
    Millions of workers took part in the general strike on February 24, according to the South African Federation of Trade Unions which called for the labor action.
  •  Black Agenda Radio for Week of March 1, 2021
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Black Agenda Radio for Week of March 1, 2021
    02 Mar 2021
    Jamal Journal: Mumia Says He Has Covid
  •  Two US Parties, One Imperial Policy
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Two US Parties, One Imperial Policy
    02 Mar 2021
    “We should not expect any fundamental alteration” in US foreign policy under President Joe Biden, said Ajamu Baraka, national organizer of the Black Alliance for Peace, at a joint
  •  “Fascism” Invoked When Bad Things Happen to White People
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    “Fascism” Invoked When Bad Things Happen to White People
    02 Mar 2021
    The question of fascism emerges “when one sector of the ruling class introduces measures that bear some resemblance to the colonial condition that Africans and other oppressed peoples live with all
  •  Abu Jamal Salutes “Madam Cicely Tyson”
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Abu Jamal Salutes “Madam Cicely Tyson"
    01 Mar 2021
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us