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

Oscars?
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
02 Nov 2016
🖨️ Print Article

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

From cops good and bad to drone rangers, from wicked witches to lecherous buffoons, candidates and messages in this year's presidential race are scarcely distinguishable from some bad old movies.

Oscars?

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

“…It’s a Barnum and Bailey world,

Just as phony as it can be…”

—E.Y. ‘Yip’ Harburg

Best Picture?

“Olympics of Lying”

“Mike & Ike; Good Cop, Bad Cop”

“$campaigns and $elections”

“PSYOP 24 Months”

“Drone Ranger Rides 8 Years Past The Hague”

“All The Above…”

…And the winner is: “All The Above!”

Best Supporting Actor?

Best Bogeyman since McCain?

Hooray for Hollywood—

For The Rich Tourettes Hood:

Lewd Buffoon!

Perfect foil for

Best Actor:

Wicked Witch of War

Warmongering lead—

Paired perfectly with

Lewd Buffoon!

Best Director?

Wall Street

The 1%

The Capitalist Class

The Bourgeoisie

The Bosses

The Corporatocracy

The Police State

The Warfare State

All The Above

…And the winner is: All The Above!

Raymond Nat Turner Š 2016 All Rights Reserved

Besides being BAR's poet in residence, Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet, educator and performance artist. You can find more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com

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


More Stories


  • x
    North-South Project for People(s)-Centered Human Rights
    Inequality in Kenya: View from Kibera
    02 Sep 2025
    Poverty i
  • x
    The Editors
    Black Agenda Report Will Return on September 10, 2025
    02 Sep 2025
    Black Agenda Report will return with our next issue on Wednesday, September 10. Please watch our new video, "Inequality in Kenya: View From Kibera," produced in collaboration with the North-South…
  • asdf
    Glen Ford, BAR Executive Editor
    Katrina Victims: Relocated or Forced into Exile?
    27 Aug 2025
    Black Agenda Report's late Executive Editor, Glen Ford, gave this interview a decade after Hurricane Katrina to explore how the narrative of "starting over" is being used to whitewash the forced…
  • Hurricane Katrina man on car
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Why We Remember Katrina
    27 Aug 2025
    Twenty years ago, the world witnessed more than the suffering of hurricane Katrina's victims. The United States was exposed as a failed state controlled by the cruelties of racialized capitalism.
  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    ESSAY: This is Criminal, Malik Rahim, New Orleans, September 1st, 2005
    27 Aug 2025
    “It’s not like New Orleans was caught off guard. This could have been prevented.”
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us