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

History’s Hired US
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
11 Dec 2024
🖨️ Print Article
resistance

Artificial intelligence cries
Freeze-dried tears over twisted,
Cruel contradictions of
Capitalism …

Corporations are people—yet
Never labor giving
Birth. Never cutting umbilical cords.
Never nursing newborns, night shift.

We are not war criminals …   Yet,
Weakness is our war crime!
Our movements not yet muscular,
Militant, robust—numerous enough …

Jobless, yet blessed with majestic work!
Penniless—yet far, far richer than spiritual
Paupers primping, preening, prancing and
Posing as the “World’s Richest!”

History’s hired us. She shouted, “Start immediately!
Erect edifices of truth reaching for the Sun and
Arresting light—Capturing castles of compassion …
Build your better world, mirroring recurring dreams!”

She commanded, “Comrade hearts—No left-
Sounding circular firing squads! Show up on time!
Lend muscle! Gift grey matter militantly— And
I will roll a big red toolbox your way for work: 24/7!”

She exhorted, “Weaponize white men in your wallets and
I’ll roll toolbox overflowing with ‘Nader Hour’ vice grips;
‘Democracy Now’ drills; ‘Upfront’ flashlights; ‘HardKnock’
Hammers; and ‘Building Bridges’/‘Move The Crowd’ magic!”

History ordered, “Hand over genocidal real estate thieves;
Slavers—and enablers—in your wallets; And,
I’ll roll toolbox loaded with ‘Letters and Politics’ pliers; ‘Jazz
Line’ levels; ‘Full Circle’ compasses; ‘Bay Native Circle’ blueprints!”

She shouted, “Purge your wallets of hypocrites and I’ll roll toolbox
Stuffed with ‘Law and Disorder’/‘Counter Spin’ saws slicing thru
White noise; ‘Africa Today’ awls piercing leather lies; ‘Flashpoints’
Files/‘Against The Grain’ sandpaper smoothing ‘Old Hickory’ splinters!”

“I’ll roll ‘On The Ground,’ holding ‘Houston Jazz Spotlight,’
Illuminating ‘Transitions On Traditions;’ ‘Talkies’ tape measure—
Measuring twice/cutting once— your losses to remote-controlled
Traitor-thugs …           And those suffocating confederate cults …”

© 2024. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Raymond Nat Turner is a NYC poet; BAR's Poet-in-Residence; and founder/co-leader of the jazz-poetry ensemble UpSurge!NYC. You can Vote for his work at GoFundMe and PayPal.

Working Class
revolution
Capitalism

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


Related Stories

Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
U.S. Liberal Media Literacy Guide: Wealthy People
28 October 2026
The media uses vague language to protect billionaires from judgment and pressures people to pursue change through polite, respectable
Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
"Woke 1" and Democratic Party Deceit
19 August 2026
The democrats’ backtracking on what they dismissively refer to as “wokeness” is the newest iteration of their political trickery as o
Anthony Karefa Rogers-Wright
U.S. Support of Israel is Absolutely an Issue of Affordability and Economic Populism…So Why Won’t the Democrats Discuss it as Such?
29 July 2026
The Democratic Party's continued support for Israel's genocide is not just a moral and political liability but also an economic one w
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Slimy green cesspool reflecting capitalist rule
22 July 2026
Capitalism says corporations are people …  It says,Money’s speech …    Buying, bossing, sock-puppet
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Short word problems: do the math
03 June 2026
Work these word problems. Work them as if your lives depend onYOUR correct answers.YOUR solutions … Because they do:
Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
BAR Book Forum: Zophia Edwards’ Book, “Fueling Development”
01 April 2026
In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book.
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Kid growing up under growing fascism
25 February 2026
When I became old enough to drink —then I became old enough to vote.When I became old enough to think —
Gary Wilson
Dow 50,000 — and workers selling blood
18 February 2026
The Dow Jones hit 50,000, yet 200,000 people a day are selling their blood plasma to survive.
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Operation Piracy or Pedophile Protection, mates?
21 January 2026
Pomade man moves. Demented Don moves. Gun moll, puppy-killingmoves. Reich Ministers move and groove ghoulishly to Vanilla Ice —
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Reclaiming our time back from February 30th Fighters
03 December 2025
I.Whisperings of stuffed envelopes; preachings of coldCash in attache cases; White Supreme Courtesans say 

More Stories


  • As Coronavirus Spreads Through Prisons, States Are Failing Incarcerated People
    Victoria Law
    As Coronavirus Spreads Through Prisons, States Are Failing Incarcerated People
    29 Apr 2020
    Although prisons have become hot spots of the pandemic, most of the penal overseers have taken only token measures, if any, to evacuate inmates.
  • ​​​​​​​Cuban-Trained Doctor Fights Pandemic in The Bronx
    Granma International Staff
    ​​​​​​​Cuban-Trained Doctor Fights Pandemic in The Bronx
    29 Apr 2020
    In the South Bronx, Dr Melissa Barber battles COVID-19, putting into practice the lessons she learned in Cuba, at the Latin American School of Medicine.
  • Debating Black Freedom
    Robert Greene II 
    Debating Black Freedom
    29 Apr 2020
    Time and again, Black radicals have pressed for an expanded scope of political and economic freedoms, for Americans at home and for people abroad.
  • Puerto Rico, Protest, Prison: Johanna Fernández and Jose Saldaña on The Young Lords 
    Susie Day  
    Puerto Rico, Protest, Prison: Johanna Fernández and Jose Saldaña on The Young Lords 
    29 Apr 2020
     “There’s something profoundly liberating for people who’ve been told all their lives that they ain’t shit to stand up.”
  • Michael Jordan's Sad Legacy as the Plutocrats' Champ, and the Anti-Ali
    Jon Jeter
    Michael Jordan's Sad Legacy as the Plutocrats' Champ, and the Anti-Ali
    29 Apr 2020
    Ali, the People’s Champ, hurtled into the breach to come to the aid of his community while Jordan did all he could to distance himself.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us