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


  • Why We Focus on Africa
    Black Alliance For Peace
    Why We Focus on Africa
    30 Sep 2020
    Africa can’t demonstrate independence and power because the entire continent has a giant U.S. military boot on its neck.
  • Hamilton and the Minstrel Show Remix
    Deborah L. Bowen and Tryon P. Woods
    Hamilton and the Minstrel Show Remix
    30 Sep 2020
    Hamilton has sent white people with emotional investments in not being racist over-the-moon.
  • Letters from Our Readers
    Jahan Chowdhry, BAR Comments Editor
    Letters from Our Readers
    30 Sep 2020
    This week the governments of Mexico and Rwanda, the dictatorship of capital in the US, and this dictatorship’s wars in Africa were on your minds.
  • BAR Book Forum: GerShun Avilez’s “Black Queer Freedom”
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: GerShun Avilez’s “Black Queer Freedom”
    30 Sep 2020
    The author helps us think about Blackness, queerness, and artistic production in new lights.
  • Health Justice and Black Liberation: Ugo Edu
    Gwendolyn Wallace and Roberto Sirvent 
    Health Justice and Black Liberation: Ugo Edu
    30 Sep 2020
    State violence directly impacts communities’ and individual’s ability to feel well, safe, dignified, respected, and valued.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us