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

“No Matter What Sign You Are,”4th Supreme
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
16 Jan 2019
🖨️ Print Article
the supremes
The Supremes

Mary was mysterious,
but the best dancer
Diana, the magnetic,
cooing romancer—
But, here’s a secret I know:
cats like me dug Miss Flo—
And the 4th Supreme’s ‘fro!

The 4th Supreme came
Singing tones ‘tween
Douglass and Carmen McRae—
Malcolm X and Lady Day

The 4th Supreme came
Singing “Stop In The Name Of Love!”
by way of Brandeis/Bombing-ham—
hitting Dynamite Hill high notes

The 4th Supreme came
Singing “Reflections”
in silver bracelets, on a
Newsweek cover captioned:
“Red, Black and Wanted!”

Hoover hated her harmonies with millions…
But I heard, “Set me free, why don’t you, babe?”
Rocking me to “ …Try Something New:”
Dialectics…

 

The 4th Supreme came
Singing, “I Hear A Symphony—”
“No Matter What Sign You Are,”
in ’08—but I
forgive her and comrades
and friends for singing flat
Madison Avenue smash hits: “Yes,
we can and bottle Jim Jones Juice;”
“regime Change you can believe in—”
delivering “Nothing But Heartaches” to
Honduras, Libya, Syria, Mother Africa…

© 2018. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.
Raymond Nat Turner, our poet in residence, is an accomplished performing artist. You can find much more of his work at http://upsurgejazz.com.

poetry

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


More Stories


  • Israeli Ambassador at the United Nations
    Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
    Israel Declares Most of Humanity Illegitimate and Irrelevant
    01 Nov 2023
    After 120 members of the 193 members of the UN General Assembly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Israel demonstrated its increasing isolation by declaring the UN illegitimate and irrelevant.
  • Facebook censorship
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Pro-Israel War Propaganda and Censorship
    25 Oct 2023
    Any public statement which questions Israel's war against Gaza is potentially met with personal attack and punishment but the stamp of approval from the Biden administration is the real cause of the…
  • Orisanmi Burton and his book, "Tip of the Sphere"
    Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
    BAR Book Forum: Orisanmi Burton’s Book, “Tip of the Spear”
    25 Oct 2023
    This week’s featured author is Orisanmi Burton. His book is Tip of the Spear: Black Radicalism, Prison Repression, and the Long Attica Revolt
  • Javonte Alexander (left) and Basaime Spate (right), researchers at Center for Justice Innovation.
    Shannon Chaffers
    Driven By Fear: Why Some Brooklyn Youth Carry Guns
    25 Oct 2023
    Tropes about violent Black youth prevail but efforts to analyze the causes of firearm use are rarely seen.
  • Niger army sergeant and artist Maman Sani Maigochi performs as supporters gather at Place de la Concertation in the capital Niamey
    Black Alliance For Peace
    AFRICOM Watch Bulletin #48
    25 Oct 2023
    The Black Alliance for Peace U.S. Out of Africa Network provides an update of events taking place on the African continent.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us