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


  • Black Agenda Radio May 19, 2023
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio May 19, 2023
    19 May 2023
    How bail reform has been undermined by legislators in New York State and around the country, and New York City mayor Eric Adams’ response to the killing of Jordan Neely. But first we learn about the…
  • Haitian Flag Day and US Imperialism
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Haitian Flag Day and US Imperialism
    19 May 2023
    Dahoud Andre is a member of KOMOKODA, the Committee to Mobilize Against Dictatorship in Haiti.
  • Bail Reform Undermined in New York and Across the Country
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Bail Reform Undermined in New York and Across the Country
    19 May 2023
    Erin George is National Director of Policy for the Bail Project.
  • Eric Adams' Response to the Killing of Jordan Neely
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Eric Adams' Response to the Killing of Jordan Neely
    19 May 2023
    Margaret Kimberley was a guest on the Sputnik program, The Critical Hour, with co-hosts Dr. Wilmer Leon and Garland Nixon. She discussed New York City mayor Eric Adams’ response to the killing of…
  • Durham Report Reveals the Real Threat to “Democracy” – The FBI Weaponized by Democrat Party Affiliated Elites
    ​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist
    Durham Report Reveals the Real Threat to “Democracy” – The FBI Weaponized by Democrat Party Affiliated Elites
    17 May 2023
    Donald Trump calls Russiagate a "hoax" but it is in fact much worse. The manufactured scandal was part of successful efforts to intimidate, to censor, and to discredit opposition to state…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us