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

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 
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
Day 40-something pedophile-protecting government shutdown
19 November 2025
Day 40-something of pedophile-Protecting-government shutdown —Snapshot of resistance revealed our unwillingness to 

More Stories


  • The Black Agenda Review: A Manifesto of First Principles
    Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    The Black Agenda Review: A Manifesto of First Principles
    02 Dec 2020
    The Black Agenda Review will function as a weekly supplement to the regular editorial content of the Black Agenda Report.
  • Will This Be the Radicalization of Black Lives Matter?
    ​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist
    Will This Be the Radicalization of Black Lives Matter?
    02 Dec 2020
    Ten Black Lives Matter chapters are demanding that those who have amassed millions of dollars in the movement’s name submit to both a financial and political accounting.
  • People Power (Or 30 min. men and women every 4 yrs?)
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    People Power (Or 30 min. men and women every 4 yrs?)
    02 Dec 2020
    The People earned a dancing in the streets day, horn honking, slogan shouting day—collective sigh/exhale of relief day…Yes, The People deserve
  • "Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens" Demonstrates the Depths of New Cold War Propaganda against China
    Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
    "Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens" Demonstrates the Depths of New Cold War Propaganda against China
    02 Dec 2020
    In the season finale, the liberal mask comes off and the program morphs into a screed for the U.S.’s New Cold War on China.
  • Letters from Our Readers
    Jahan Chowdhry, BAR Comments Editor
    Letters from Our Readers
    02 Dec 2020
    This week the ideological education of the working class, the need for socialism, and the aims of a Biden administration were on your minds.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us