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


  • NYPD Conceals Information in the Death of Rameek Smith
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    NYPD Conceals Information in the Death of Rameek Smith
    14 Oct 2022
    We discuss the May 10, 2022 NYPD killing of Rameek Smith, the effort to hide the incomplete body camera footage, and the continued demand for justice. QB of Bronxites for Why Accountability joins us…
  • Black is Back Coalition Says Hands Off the African Liberation Movement
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black is Back Coalition Says Hands Off the African Liberation Movement
    14 Oct 2022
    The Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace, and Reparations has joined the call for anti-war actions taking place from October 15th to October 22nd. Lisa Davis joins us from New Jersey to…
  • Haiti Special Issue
    The Editors
    Haiti Special Issue
    12 Oct 2022
    Black Agenda Report focuses on Haiti in this week's issue.
  • Biden's Marijuana Policy Frees No One
    Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Biden's Marijuana Policy Frees No One
    12 Oct 2022
    Biden's announcement of pardons for federal convictions of marijuana possession is meaningless. The pardons free no one from prison and don't even expunge records.
  • Trump Calls for Peace in Ukraine While Democrats Make Support for War a Midterm Campaign Issue
    ​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist
    Trump Calls for Peace in Ukraine While Democrats Make Support for War a Midterm Campaign Issue
    12 Oct 2022
    Donald Trump is no peace maker, but his stance on negotiations to end the war in Ukraine is in stark contrast to that of the democrats, who fully support continuing the dangerous proxy war against…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us