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

Amerikkka Was Built on Busting Up Families…
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
20 Jun 2018
🖨️ Print Article
Amerikkka Was Built on Busting Up Families…
Amerika was built on busting up families. They're just making Amerika great again.

“I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13, to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes”           

— Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, III,  Human Impersonator

Bottom of the boat

rocking, rolling, thrashing

Violently— the quaking black

hole now her life. She had

No idea where she was

on the awful ocean,

Traveling shackled for

thousands of miles;

belly beginning to bulge

with the baby of her foul-

smelling rapist and his

“Zero Tolerance” policy

for

tears…

She would bore four more for

a ‘Master,’ who’d sell her

to the West Virginian wanting

her in the worst way—

Ripping picaninnies from

nursing breasts to become

bucks and wenches, working

fields and lusts of slavers—“that

was then,” they say, “this is now:”

“Mama, Mama, Papa, Papa, Mama, Papa…”

tears of toddlers flooding searing shrieks,

Torturous cacophony; the satanic symphony,

counterpoint to cool BOP, ICE acronyms—

Amerikkka's great again—

At separating children from parents;

At spinning swastikas into scripture…

Once upon a time, mint julep-sipping,

Bullwhip-wielding christians in castles whitewashed by

Black labor, worked children and parents to death—

“And everyone lived happily ever after…”

© 2018. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Raymond Nat Turner is Black Agenda Report's poet in residence. Click his name in red to see more of his work here at Black Agenda Report. For much more of his work, or to contact him for booking and other purposes visit 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


  • Stepin Fetchit with Will Rogers in "The County Chairman"
    Mark P. Fancher
    Negroes Steppin’ and Fetchin’ for Imperialism
    10 Jan 2024
    The current Black political leadership in the country is filled with puppets, content with acting in the service of the empire. This misleadership class works to undermine international solidarity…
  • Stop Genocide banner
    International Coalition to Stop Genocide in Palestine
    International Organizations Sign Letter Urging International Support For South Africa’s Genocide Case Against the State of Israel
    10 Jan 2024
    The Black Alliance for Peace played a leading role in coordinating global support for South Africa's inv
  • Palestinian resistance capturing hostages during the Al Aqsa Flood operation
    Jon Jeter
    Oriental Blindess: How the New York Times Reimagined Israel's Mass Murderers as Victims
    10 Jan 2024
    Victimhood is determined by those who hold power. In Palestine as in the US, despite fact and evidence, the media works at the behest of the capitalist class to construct the narrative. The…
  • Ralph Poynter delivered a solidarity message from Lynne Stewart
    Lallan Schoenstein
    Ralph Poynter Used His Strong Voice and Stout Heart to Fight for Justice
    10 Jan 2024
    Ralph Poynter was a pioneer in the fight against white supremacy, oppression, and injustice around the world. His voice and presence cannot be replicated.
  • Dr. Claudine Gay
    Aaryan Morrison
    On White Supremacy and Zionism: a Reflection on Claudine Gay’s Tenure as President of Harvard University
    10 Jan 2024
    Anti-Black racism and Zionism are two cornerstones of Harvard’s flawed foundation. We should mourn Claudine Gay’s tenure at Harvard because she was both a victim and an agent of white supremacy.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us