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


  • Haiti – CARICOM caves in to US pressure
    A.T. Freeman
    Haiti – CARICOM caves in to US pressure
    12 Jul 2023
    The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has succumbed to US pressure and endorsed a new invasion of Haiti.
  • More Than Meets the Silk Press: Kamala Harris and U.S. Imperialism
    Salifu Mack
    More Than Meets the Silk Press: Kamala Harris and U.S. Imperialism
    12 Jul 2023
    Kamala Harris can be the object of derision for her word salads and oddly nervous laughter. But she plays an important role in promoting US imperialism and the cynical politics of representation.
  • Journalists or Witch Hunters? Examining the New York Times’ Shameful Red Scare History
    Jasper Saah
    Journalists or Witch Hunters? Examining the New York Times’ Shameful Red Scare History
    12 Jul 2023
    Joseph McCarthy carried out his red scare with the help of establishment media like the New York Times. Its recent Sinophobic screeds follow the Biden administration narrative and are consistent with…
  • Black Agenda Radio July 7, 2023
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio July 7, 2023
    07 Jul 2023
    Glen Ford explained the end of affirmative action in 2013, CIA experiments on indigenous children and Black prisoners, and the Peoples' Senate builds its formation.
  • Glen Ford on the End of Affirmative Action
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Glen Ford on the End of Affirmative Action
    07 Jul 2023
    Black Agenda Report co-founder, the late Glen Ford, spoke to the Real News Network after another affirmative action ruling in 2013.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us