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


  • In Ukraine, U.S. Support for Self-determination is Both Political and Conditional
    Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
    In Ukraine, U.S. Support for Self-determination is Both Political and Conditional
    02 Mar 2022
    The US determination to exercise hegemony over Ukraine is the cause of this latest crisis. Despite those efforts, the multipolar world is asserting itself.
  • Without Even Realizing How We Were Being Played. Could This Be Russiagate's Checkmate?
    Jacqueline Luqman
    Without Even Realizing How We Were Being Played. Could This Be Russiagate's Checkmate?
    02 Mar 2022
    Tales of Donald Trump collusion with Vladimir Putin absolved the democrats of electoral blame, and supported the war party in its attacks on Russia. Yet it was the democratic administration of Barack…
  • short school struggle poem
    Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
    short school struggle poem
    02 Mar 2022
                                                           …
  • France Withdraws From Mali, But Continues to Devastate Africa’s Sahel
    Vijay Prashad
    France Withdraws From Mali, But Continues to Devastate Africa’s Sahel
    02 Mar 2022
    The French presence in Africa continues. Even as its troops leave Mali, they head to Niger. The US and its EU/NATO allies should leave all of Africa alone.
  • As US Renews Support for Saudi War in Yemen, Civilian Death Toll Nearly Doubles
    Ahmed Abdulkareem
    As US Renews Support for Saudi War in Yemen, Civilian Death Toll Nearly Doubles
    02 Mar 2022
    Joe Biden's pledge to end the war against Yemen is yet another broken promise. US ties to Saudi Arabia and the commitment to the military industrial complex keep that war raging.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us