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

A Poet's Proposal for DT's Inauguration
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
10 Jan 2017
🖨️ Print Article

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

Word is that president-elect Donald Trump still has performance openings for next week's inaugural. In the selfless and noble spirit of public service, our poet kindly offers his own services, and anxiously awaits a response from Rump tower.

A Poet's Proposal for DT's Inauguration

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

Bet you wonderin’ how I knew

Few are willin’ to perform for you?

I heard it through the grapevine

Also on TV, radio and online…

I ain’t A-list—

F-list, maybe?

Not a seven-figga n**** or War House Hoet in the

Retinue the Drone Ranger plays like plastic kazoos—

Yet, I’m willing to serve, sir:

Call it Patriot Act III!

Willing to audition, practice, rehearse—gratis—

get on the back of a Greyhound bus, brown bag,

greasy fried chicken, like the good ol’ days…

Apply a plastic smile, applaud on cue, shuffle, shake hands with

Strong-arm Williams, Sheriff Stephen Judas Clarke, Thom-ass

Clarence, and other warlike Bassackwards Tribal leaders

I’m willing to get William Withers with you, sir:

It’s my appointed duty

To let you use me

Get me in a crowd of right-wing racists and act real rude to me—

‘Cause I wanna spread the news:

That if it trends this good gettin’ used

Come on, use me ‘til you use me up—

My fifteen-minutes of FLAME!!

Raymond Nat Turner is an acclaimed poet and performance artist. 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


  • Cuban Spies Disguised As Doctors
    Roger Stoll
    Cuban Spies Disguised As Doctors
    08 Jul 2020
    The European Union now excludes travelers from the COVID-ridden U.S., but
  • What’s in a Name Change?: A New Black/Native American Solidarity
    Gustavus Griffin
    What’s in a Name Change?: A New Black/Native American Solidarity
    08 Jul 2020
    Native American and African/Black people in America have both been victims of Settler Colonialism.
  • Black Agenda Radio for Week of July 6, 2020
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Black Agenda Radio for Week of July 6, 2020
    06 Jul 2020
    George Floyd Protests Were Result of Years of Organizing
  • “Kwaito” Music Moves South African Youth
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    “Kwaito” Music Moves South African Youth
    06 Jul 2020
    Xavier Livermon, professor of African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, sees “many parallels” between the US-based Hip Hop phenomenon and the Kwaito music belo
  • Celebrating the “Father of Black Liberation Theology”
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Celebrating the “Father of Black Liberation Theology”
    06 Jul 2020
    Theologian James Cone, who died two years ago, “sent shock waves throughout the Christian world” in 1969 when he published his book on Black liberation theology, said Matt Harris
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us