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

State of the Union—or state of Capitalist decay?
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
12 Mar 2025
🖨️ Print Article
Donald Trump State of the Union
Photo: ABC News

“Every man for himself
and the devil take the hindmost.”

Something’s soothing, lobotomizing, about the snotty
Voice flooding from Fox-boxes. Something’s
Lobotomizing about an ignorant comedian coming to
Kill—but bombing—yet, still killing …

Something’s soothing about Jumping Jack Fascists—
Springing up at every absurd utterance and
Thunder of rattling rubbish. Their hand bones
Fracturing from clapping so damn loud—so long …

Something’s soothing about Jumping Jack Fascists
Springing up like they got the Holy Ghost! Fits of
Ecstasy applauding poor people used as props—
Mascots—human shields for class war’s unpopular policies

Something’s soothing about Jumping Jack Fascists
Springing up, sane-washing a lipsticked pig. And face-
Lifting lies about capitalism’s impossible promises to
The People …

Forked tongue tour de force— False from beginning to
End. 1hour, 40 minute Mussolini masterpiece. Il DOGE
Smashed Dr. Goebbels’ Guinness Book of Records for
Orwellian wizardry: misinformation/disinformation/1/2 truths/big lies.

Barren make believe desert. Echo chamber of hollow mockery—
Hypocrisy, humbuggery/thuggery, treachery, treason, truth-less-
Ness and alternative facts where up is down. Bad’s good. Worse
Is better. Woke's worrisome/and straw’s spun orange into fools gold …

Leaning in, listening to bosh-laden blizzards of fabrications—
Falsifications— bleached bone white lies—but not eating the
Dogma does cause trauma. Trauma of two car crashes;
Three boxing matches; And four NFL and hockey games …

Blitzkrieg! Warp speed war on the working-class—
Moving fast! Breaking things! Things shoe leather, steel spines,
Blood and grit won working people long, long ago.
Things we long to make more muscular, more robust. And for all …

© 2025. Raymond Nat Turner, The Town Crier. All Rights Reserved.

Raymond Nat Turner is a NYC poet; BAR's Poet-in-Residence; and founder/co-leader of the jazz-poetry ensemble UpSurge!NYC. You can Vote for his work at GoFundMe and PayPal.

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


More Stories


  • When America No Longer Exports Carnage As A Business Model, Maybe We'll Stop Seeing It In The Streets Here
    Jacqueline Luqman
    When America No Longer Exports Carnage As A Business Model, Maybe We'll Stop Seeing It In The Streets Here
    08 Jun 2022
    The tears, prayers, and thoughts regarding mass shootings are sincerely expressed by most people. But hypocrisy and cynicism loom very large for Joe Biden and congress. They want us to believe…
  • A Recap of My Trip to Cali and Buenaventura, Colombia
    Charisse Burden-Stelly, PhD
    A Recap of My Trip to Cali and Buenaventura, Colombia
    08 Jun 2022
    The author recounts her experiences as a member of an election delegation in Colombia which also made connections with African descended communities.
  • Haiti and the Americas Syllabus
    Haiti/Americas Committee Black Alliance For Peace
    Haiti and the Americas Syllabus
    08 Jun 2022
    The Black Alliance for Peace Haiti-Americas Team Syllabus is a vital source of information and political education with articles, media resources, and statements which support BAP's mission "to…
  • Colombia: World Power of Life or Neo-Fascist Pillar?
    Agustín Laó-Montes
    Colombia: World Power of Life or Neo-Fascist Pillar?
    08 Jun 2022
    The leftist Historical Pact emerged as the favorite of Colombian voters in the recent election. But rightist forces are working to prevent Gustavo Petro and Francia Marquez from winning in the …
  • Hubert Henry Harrison - Tribune of the People
    Sean I. Ahern
    Hubert Henry Harrison - Tribune of the People
    08 Jun 2022
    Hubert Henry Harrison was one of the foremost Black socialist and nationalist thinkers of the early 20th century. He was known as "the father of Harlem radicalism." This is the first of a three-part…
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us