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

Shinobu, is this what solidarity looks like? 
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
31 Mar 2021
🖨️ Print Article
Shinobu, is this what solidarity looks like? 
Shinobu, is this what solidarity looks like? 

Now, I wasn’t Yuri Kochiyama
amidst toppled chairs, gun smoke
scented chaos, cradling Malcolm’s
heavy head on the Audubon Ballroom 
floor as his double ought buck shot 
pocked chest oozed ruby rivulets…

I arrived at the Asian elder split
second after the unmusical thud
of his head hitting concrete—after he’d missed
the curb, stumbled and fallen on 14th/Broadway

I didn’t worry whether or not scarlet streaming
from his temple was HIV or Hep C tainted; I didn’t
Worry whether or not some right turn-making, out
of control driver would wipe us out; I didn’t worry
about an out of the blue lawsuit; I didn’t worry about
Blu klux klansmen seeing me; seeing blood; Seeing
me; seeing blood; seeing me kneeling beside the Asian elder—
My magic gun—seeing me rifling his pockets robbing him…

I worried about napkins and bandaids in my backpack 
being sterile—or not sterile
I worried about speaking softly as I stanched crimson
streaming from his temple
I worried about being in over my head—and just then I
spotted EMT and asked an onlooker to flag them down

He did. And they came; they saw; praising preliminary
Work and taking over. No sirens. No flashing red, white
blue and yellow party lights. No yellow tape theater. No 
surly sauntering for overtime. No gruff barking. No dis-
respect. No baton blows. No frame-up. No dead samaritan.
No violence workers—I could breathe and leave High… 

© 2021. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved. 

BAR’s poet in residence Raymond Nat Turner is an accomplished performing artist. You can find much more of his work at https://www.youtube.com/user/zigilow

COMMENTS?

Please join the conversation on Black Agenda Report's Facebook page at http://facebook.com/blackagendareport

Or, you can comment by emailing us at comments@blackagendareport.com 

Anti-Asian Hate

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


Related Stories

Freedom Rider: Establishment Role in Anti-Asian Bigotry
Margaret Kimberley, BAR senior columnist
Freedom Rider: Establishment Role in Anti-Asian Bigotry
24 March 2021
Joe Biden is no better than Trump in advocating de facto white supremacy with his foreign policy, and corporate media fan the flames of anti-Chines
The Answer to Anti-Asian Racism Is Not More Policing
Kayla Hui
The Answer to Anti-Asian Racism Is Not More Policing
24 March 2021
More policing rarely results in justice for anyone, and only puts Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color (BIPOC), including Asian people

More Stories


  • Akela Lacy
    After Michael Brown’s Killing, Wesley Bell Called for “Accountability on Both Sides” in Ferguson Racism
    14 Aug 2024
    The AIPAC-backed challenger to Rep. Cori Bush also said the decision not to release Darren Wilson’s side of the story was “tragic.”
  • Black Agenda Radio
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio August 9, 2024
    09 Aug 2024
    In this week’s segment, we examine why there are violent racist and Islamophobic riots in Britain. But first, we talk about the upcoming trial of the Uhuru Three, which is yet another state attack on…
  • Uhuru rally
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Solidarity With the Uhuru Three
    09 Aug 2024
    Omali Yeshitela joins us to discuss the looming federal trial of the Uhuru Three on charges of being foreign agents. We also talk about this year’s presidential election and the defeat of…
  • Refugees welcome signs at a rally
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Racist And Islamophobic Riots In Britain
    09 Aug 2024
    Roger McKenzie speaks with us about the wave of Islamophobic and racist attacks in the UK. We also discussed his Morning Star Online article, “Only Class Solidarity Will Defeat Racism.”
  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Racists Riot in Britain
    07 Aug 2024
    The United Kingdom’s ugly history of subjugating people in the global south has created a deeply racist country. The criminal ruling class exploits, but white racism blames the desperate newcomer.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us