Go See: Poet Amiri Baraka

Amiri Baraka, born in 1934 in Newark, New Jersey, is the author of over 40 books of essays, poems, drama, and music history and criticism, a poet icon and revolutionary political activist who has recited poetry and lectured on cultural and political issues extensively in the USA, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe.

Baraka will be making an appearance tonight, November 3, on the University of Kansas’ campus in the Alderson Auditorium (1450 Jayhawk Blvd) from 7-10pm. It’s an all ages event open to the public and brought to you by Afrodisiac.

Listen to Baraka preform his poem entitled “Dope” below

Amiri Baraka was Poet Laureate of New Jersey at the time of the September 11 attacks and wrote a poem titled “Somebody Blew Up America” in response to the event. The poem was controversial and highly critical of racism in America, and includes angry depictions of public figures such as Trent Lott, Clarence Thomas, and Condoleezza Rice. Baraka also claims in the poem that both Israel and George W. Bush knew about 9/11 before it occurred.  After the poem’s publication Baraka was stripped of the Poet Laureate title by New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey in 2003 because of supposed “anti-Semitic” material, a criticism Baraka vehemently denies.

Watch Baraka defend his poem to Connie Chung on CNN in 2003.

Listen to more of Baraka’s poetry here in order to judge the artistic merit for yourself.

posted by: Brent Carter