AMIRI BARAKA was born Everett LeRoi Jones on this day in Newark, New Jersey. He was a poet, writer, teacher, and political activist.
His first book of poems "Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note," was published in 1961.
He was the author of numerous books of poetry during his writing career which spanned nearly 50 years. His themes ranged form Black liberation to White racism.
Baraka's poetry and writing has attracted both extreme praise and condemnation.
In July 2002, Baraka was named Poet Laureate of New Jersey.
Amiri Baraka died in 2014. He is recognized as one of the most respected and widely published Black writers of his generation.
To read his life and times, and sample his poetry and writings GOOGLE his name.
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