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 Li'l Somethin' for Dick Gregory
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
31 Aug 2017
🖨️ Print Article
A Li'l Somethin' for Dick Gregory
A Li'l Somethin' for Dick Gregory

A Li'l Somethin' for Dick Gregory

by BAR poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner

Our white-bearded cannon
fell silent—
The day became grayer…
I know, I know, I know, I know…
He was my Mom’s favorite funnyman—
She bought his books, his vinyl
Speaking to her like Malcolm
(who she shared Turkish Coffee
with on his trips west, fishing for men)

I remember his mantra
He chanted like a Buddhist Priest:
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
Doubling us over,
splitting our sides, shaking our cores…

I remember his mantra
He chanted like a Buddhist Priest:
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
Piercing steel veils with X-ray vision
puncturing absurdities with barbed tongue—
Soul-ar powered bullshit detector
administering smell tests

I remember his mantra
He chanted like a Buddhist Priest:
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
“You youngsters got a lotta work to do…”
while coming as close as we’ve come to
Having a Super Hero
putting his body
On the line running,
Marching, fasting, speaking,
Teaching us to follow
the money where the
bodies are buried…

Raymond Nat Turner © 2017 All Right Reserved

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


More Stories


  • Feuding With Donald Trump Is Not Police Reform
    Jay Willis
    Feuding With Donald Trump Is Not Police Reform
    14 Oct 2020
    Democratic mayors denounce Trump’s brutality but fail to keep their own cops from beating and gassing protesters. 
  • Assange Faces Extradition For Exposing US War Crimes
    Marjorie Cohn
    Assange Faces Extradition For Exposing US War Crimes
    14 Oct 2020
    The prosecution of Assange would set a disturbing example for journalists and media outlets that publish information critical of the government.
  • The “Non-Aligned” Nations Realign
    Wilmer J. Leon III
    The “Non-Aligned” Nations Realign
    14 Oct 2020
    The formerly colonized peoples of the planet say No to US bullying, sanctions and regime change. “The ‘Third World’ sees the US as a monster.”
  • The US is on a Path to War with China.  What is to be done?
    K.J. Noh 
    The US is on a Path to War with China.  What is to be done?
    14 Oct 2020
    Unwilling to accept China’s rise, the US puts its lie machine on full blast and moves towards war.
  •  Black Agenda Radio for Week of October 12, 2020
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford
    Black Agenda Radio for Week of October 12, 2020
    12 Oct 2020
    Beware the Movement’s “Controlled Opposition”
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us