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


  • Iran
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Dr. Gerald Horne Analyzes the U.S. War of Aggression Against Iran
    01 May 2026
    Dr. Gerald Horne is a prolific author and historian who holds the John J. and Rebecca Moores Chair of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston. He joins Margaret Kimberley to…
  • BAR Radio Logo
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio May 1, 2026
    01 May 2026
    Listen and watch Black Agenda Radio as we begin hosting our program on the Black Agenda Report Youtube channel. In this week’s segment we hear from Dr. Butch Ware, the Green Party’s nominee in the…
  • Butch Ware
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist , Butch Ware
    Dr. Butch Ware's Green Party Campaign in the California's Governor's Race
    01 May 2026
    Black Agenda Report Executive Editor Margaret Kimberley speaks with Dr. Butch Ware, the Green Party's nominee in the California governor's race. Dr. Ware discusses why the Democratic Party is…
  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Truth, Lies and an Assassination Attempt
    29 Apr 2026
    The impetus to question official narratives is quite logical, given the U.S. history of promoting war propaganda and other lies.
  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    ESSAY: José Martí Today, Jesús Colón, 1961
    29 Apr 2026
    “Fidel Castro, the heir of José Martí is certainly throwing all colonial concepts and attitudes in history’s ash can.”
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us