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…
Son, it look lak Unca Jim say, “Las’ time I chek I’se de whip— an’ got no time fo’ young Negroz wit all dey Blak Life lip…”
The idea that we can resolve racism by integrating a fundamentally anti-Black institution is the most absurd notion of all.
The Bureau’s COINTELPRO deployed every trick and crime in the book to crush left dissidents, from disruption to assassination.
This week the presidential election and the legacy of Paul Robeson were on your minds.
Politicians ignore at their peril the power of popular culture and its people-moving practitioners.
