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
šŸ–Øļø 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—

ā€˜Cause I wanna spread the news:

That if it trends this good gettin’ used

Come on, use me ā€˜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


  • Atlanta to Host National Conference for Black Self-Determination and Pan-African Unity
    Tunde Osazua
    Atlanta to Host National Conference for Black Self-Determination and Pan-African Unity
    17 May 2023
    Community Movement Builders is hosting a National Black Radical Organizing Conference in Atlanta, Georgia from June 23 to June 25, "Connecting the national Black struggle for self-determination with…
  • U.S. Backs Dominican Republic As Violence Against Haitians Escalates After 22% of Haitians Deported
    Vladimir Fuentes
    U.S. Backs Dominican Republic As Violence Against Haitians Escalates After 22% of Haitians Deported
    17 May 2023
    The Dominican Republican continues acts of violence and deportations against Haitian descended people with near complete impunity as a result of making thousands of people stateless.
  • South Africa, the ICC and the Global Arms Trade
    Abayomi Azikiwe
    South Africa, the ICC and the Global Arms Trade
    17 May 2023
    Washington continues to pressure African states over their relations with the Russian Federation and the war in Ukraine.
  • First Public Comments After African People’s Socialist Party Members Indicted for Colluding with Russia
    Julie Varughese
    First Public Comments After African People’s Socialist Party Members Indicted for Colluding with Russia
    17 May 2023
    Members of the African People's Socialist Party and its Solidarity Committee were indicted on charges of acting under the influence of the Russian government. They vigorously defended themselves in…
  • Black Agenda Radio May 12, 2023
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio May 12, 2023
    12 May 2023
    African People's Socialist Party indictments, Cuban solidarity, and the 1970 police killings at Jackson State.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us